Senate Majority Floor Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri said he is hopeful that President Duterte will be able to report the signing of the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) in his third State of the Nation Address on July 23.
Zubiri, in a television interview today, said this despite the several differing provisions in the versions of the Senate and House of Representatives, that they aim to thresh out when the bicameral conference committee convenes on July 9 to 13.
“Hopefully maipasa na po namin d’yan. And ‘pag naipasa na namin ‘yan we’re confident na by July 23, magkakaroon ng ratification. By July 23, maa-announce na po ng Pangulo na tapos na po ang BBL, which is the government’s promise for the peace process (Hopefully we could approve BBL in the bicam, and should we approve it, then there will be ratification. ByJuly 23, the President would be able to announce that BBL is completed, which is the government’s promise for the peace process),” said Zubiri, sponsor of the proposed BBL in the Upper Chamber, and chair of the Senate contingent in the bicameral committee.
Zubiri said he and his counterpart House Majority Leader Rudy Fariñas have agreed to hold a “pre-bicameral” meeting wherein points of the bicameral committee’s discussion will be organized, particularly, the clashing and “controversial” provisions in the two versions.
These include provisions on the prohibition of political dynasties in the proposed Bangsamoro parliament, which the Senate had provided while the Lower House did not.
Zubiri said the deletion of provision on reserved and concurrent power of the Bangsamoro government and the national government in the Senate version will also be tackled.
He said the retention of such provision “may result in a deadlock” should its constitutionality is questioned in the Supreme Court (SC).
Zubiri maintained that the Senate version will stand the test of constitutionality in the SC.
“We combed through it page by page, we have adopted some 150 amendments to it. Our colleagues in the Senate have pooled together to make sure it would be constitutional,” he said in Filipino.
Senators earlier vowed to push for their version in the bicameral meeting.
Zubiri, in a television interview today, said this despite the several differing provisions in the versions of the Senate and House of Representatives, that they aim to thresh out when the bicameral conference committee convenes on July 9 to 13.
“Hopefully maipasa na po namin d’yan. And ‘pag naipasa na namin ‘yan we’re confident na by July 23, magkakaroon ng ratification. By July 23, maa-announce na po ng Pangulo na tapos na po ang BBL, which is the government’s promise for the peace process (Hopefully we could approve BBL in the bicam, and should we approve it, then there will be ratification. ByJuly 23, the President would be able to announce that BBL is completed, which is the government’s promise for the peace process),” said Zubiri, sponsor of the proposed BBL in the Upper Chamber, and chair of the Senate contingent in the bicameral committee.
Zubiri said he and his counterpart House Majority Leader Rudy Fariñas have agreed to hold a “pre-bicameral” meeting wherein points of the bicameral committee’s discussion will be organized, particularly, the clashing and “controversial” provisions in the two versions.
These include provisions on the prohibition of political dynasties in the proposed Bangsamoro parliament, which the Senate had provided while the Lower House did not.
Zubiri said the deletion of provision on reserved and concurrent power of the Bangsamoro government and the national government in the Senate version will also be tackled.
He said the retention of such provision “may result in a deadlock” should its constitutionality is questioned in the Supreme Court (SC).
Zubiri maintained that the Senate version will stand the test of constitutionality in the SC.
“We combed through it page by page, we have adopted some 150 amendments to it. Our colleagues in the Senate have pooled together to make sure it would be constitutional,” he said in Filipino.
Senators earlier vowed to push for their version in the bicameral meeting.
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