Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri said Wednesday the Senate is on track with the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law, assuring the public that the measure will be approved within the day.
The Senate suspended its session past midnight Wednesday as it tackled the amendments to the proposed measure.
“These past two days and nights disproved the disbelievers that the Senate can hack it. At this time, the landmark measure is being forged by senators across party lines,” Zubiri said in a message to reporters.
“The committee report which was drawn mainly from the work of the BTC (Bangsamoro Transition Commission) is being rewritten by senators who hold their legal torches aloft on their own,” he added.
He said Minority Leader Franklin Drilon ,who propounded difficult questions during the period of interpellation and the ongoing period of amendments, headed the Justice Department for many years.
“While it may appear that he was unfeeling in peeling away provisions that the BTC laboriously put together, Senator Frank Drilon was in fact cutting through the verbiage to craft not just better language, but even enhanced it,” said Zubiri.
The majority leader said they will tackle later fiscal autonomy, which is not just about the pesos-and-cents issue, but about pumping up the future Bangsamoro government's ability to rebuild communities ravaged by war and neglect.
“We expect proposals to increase provisions that will ensure transparency and public accountability. Senator (Ralph) Recto promised questions and proposals in all of the 18 chapters. If last night is indicative of how things will be today, then I think the BBL will be a better document coming out of the plenary than when it first landed in the Senate,” he said.
Zubiri said among the amendments they have tackled were that Bangsamoro territory was changed to Bangsamoro territorial jurisdiction. He said there will be further discussion.
He said all provisions referencing to a sub-state status has been disposed of to clarify that the BBL is about an autonomous region like any other. He added the Republic's flag and Lupang Hinirang shall always be flown and played along with the Bangsamoro heraldic symbols.
He said Senators Panfilo Lacson and Gregorio Honasan polished the chapters on the Bangsamoro police to state that it is part of the Philippine National Police with recruitment and promotions following what is nationally implemented.
He said military, national, and Bangsamoro defense were also made more explicit.
Zubiri said the provisions on the Judiciary and system of courts took cognizance and clarified the extent of applicability of the Shariah justice system on Muslim and non-Muslims.
He said land titling, management of protected areas, and ancestral domains issues were also enriched and made more accurate with correlation to existing land, environment, and fisheries resources laws.
Zubiri said the anti-political dynasty provisions were also discussed and even got support for the BTC language.
“We expect another long day. It's all for the better version. Coming from all failed attempts of past administrations to build lasting peace in Mindanao, I am very hopeful we can have a BBL that satisfies the concerns of Muslim Mindanao and most of all our Constitution,” said Zubiri.
President Rodrigo Duterte certified as urgent Tuesday the proposed BBL. The certification will allow Congress to do away with the three-day rule and immediately pass the bill on third and final reading after its approval on second reading.
The 2nd regular session of Congress will adjourn its session Wednesday and will return on July 23 when the 3rd regular session starts. — RSJ, GMA News
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