House ratifies Bangsamoro bill, finally

THE House of Representatives on Tuesday endorsed for President Duterte’s signature the proposed Organic Law for Bangsamoro in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).

This, after the new leadership of the lower chamber under Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo ratified the bicameral committee report on the proposed organic law.

The ratification of the measure by the House was aborted last Monday following a standoff between former Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez and now Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. The Senate, however, ratified its copy of the bill.

The 28-member bicameral conference committee earlier said the proposed organic law seeks to abolish the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) and creates BARMM. The committee also said that can withstand constitutional scrutiny before the Supreme Court (SC).

Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri said that once the measure is ratified through a plebiscite, President Rodrigo Duterte could start appointing members of the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) by early next year.

As the ratification of the proposed law deems offices of the ARMM abolished, the Bangsamoro Transition Authority shall be tasked with scheduling the gradual phasing out of the concerned offices.

He added the parliamentary elections for the new region may be held in 2022 along with the national elections.

Iligan Rep. Frederick Siao, a member of the House Committee on Economic Affairs, urged the public, including “detractors,” to give this proposed BOL a chance to be implemented.

“I appeal once more to the detractors and all who remain unsatisfied. Let us give this Bangsamoro Organic Law a chance to be implemented,” he said.

“I strongly urge the voters in the Bangsamoro autonomous region to please elect the most peace-loving, competent, and untiring leaders from among your communities. The success of this new law depends largely on your votes and their abilities to steer your region toward lasting peace and prosperity,” Siao added.

Now that the Bangsamoro Organic Law is ratified, Assistant Majority Leader Rep. Ron Salo of Kabayan called on lawmakers to support the bills related to rebuilding Marawi City.

“As the Islamic City of the Bangsamoro Region, Marawi occupies a pivotal role in Bangsamoro autonomy. It is at the crossroads to Northern Mindanao and other parts of Mindanao. As a strategic city, its rebuilding will spur growth through out the region,” Salo said.

“We will also follow through on the funding needed to support the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region,” he added.

Salo said the Marawi City Rebuilding Act or House Bill 6700, which his group filed, is meant to directly address the unprecedented housing and business crises in the wake of the destruction of homes and businesses in Marawi City.

“What we propose through this bill is that the residential and commercial buildings to be built in Marawi will be at virtually zero cost to the residents and business owners in Marawi,” he added.

Siquijor Rep. Ramon Rocamora also said the ratification of this landmark legislation is a giant step towards the direction of peace and justice in Mindanao.

“The longstanding grievances of our Muslim citizens in Mindanao have been a constant hurdle that numerous presidents have tried hard to resolve, most to no avail,” he added.

“The complex socioeconomic problems of Mindanao can never be solved through sheer military might but through dialogue and understanding. This legal framework is part of that,” Rocamora said.

House ratifies Bangsamoro law a day after SONA, Gloria takeover

The House of Representatives on Tuesday ratified the bicameral conference committee report on the proposed Bangsamoro Organic Law, a day after it was supposed to be signed into law.

The chamber approved the motion of Deputy Speaker Fredenil Castro to ratify the proposed measure, which is seen to bring just and lasting peace in strife-torn Mindanao.

The approval of the measure came after a six-day marathon deliberations of the several members of the Senate and the House to reconcile the disagreeing provisions of their respective versions of the bill.

Among the key provisions of the proposed law are:

• the freedom to exercise religion under the Bangsamoro government;
• the enumeration of the powers to be devolved to the Bangsamoro government instead of listing down the reserved and concurrent powers of the national and local government;
• inland bodies of water in the Bangsamoro region will be co-managed by the regional government and the national government while those not used to produce energy will be under the control of the Bangsamoro regional government;
• former Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) and Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) fighters will be free to join the police force;
• six municipalities of Lanao del Norte and the 39 barangays of North Cotabato could vote to join the BBL territory in a referendum to be conducted on the mother territory of the areas involved.

A plebiscite shall be held not earlier than 90 days and no later than 150 days after the effectivity of the BOL for the people of what will be called as Bangsamoro Autonomous Region to vote if they are for or against it.

Presidential Peace Adviser Jesus Dureza welcomed the ratification by the House.

"?It's been a long and arduous road for all.?? When President Duterte approves and signs it into law, it will be a new beginning for all Bangsamoro and all citizens to work for a better and peaceful Mindanao and country," he said in a statement.

"It will not be easy. But let's all stay the course."

President Rodrigo Duterte was supposed to sign the proposed Bangsamoro Organic Law before he delivered his third SONA.

The House, however, failed to ratify the measure after their morning session on Monday was abruptly suspended.

The Senate, however, was able to ratify during their own session.

Duterte himself vowed to establish a Bangsamoro country as he received on July 17 last year the Bangsamoro Transition Commission's draft of the proposed law.

"May I say to you, my brother Moros, that I commit to support – in front of everybody – my covenant with you that I will support and husband this instrument as it goes in the legislator for its consideration," he said.

“And there will be no objections of the provisions of all that is consistent with the Constitution and the aspiration of the Moro people,” he added.

Duterte said he would to sign the measure into law within 48 hours from the time he received it . —NB/BM, GMA News

Congress ratifies Bangsamoro Organic Law

The House of Representatives ratified the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL) on Tuesday.

Congress failed to ratify the BOL yesterday in time for the State of the Nation Address (SONA) of President Duterte .

A change in leadership at the Lower House installed former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo (GMA) as the new Speaker.

After one-day delay, House ratifies Bangsamoro law

The ratification should have happened ahead of the 3rd State of the Nation Address, but the leadership showdown at the House of Representatives caused the delay

The House of Representatives finally ratified the bicameral conference committee (bicam) report on the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL).

Speaker Gloria Macapagal Arroyo made good on her promise for the lower chamber to ratify the BOL during the session on Tuesday, July 24.

This was a process that should have happened on Monday, July 23, but got delayed after the ouster of Davao del Norte 1st District Representative Pantaleon Alvarez as House Speaker, and Arroyo's subsequent election.

Critics have slammed the takeover in the House, as the power play among lawmakers delayed the passage into law of the landmark bill that would abolish the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) and replace it with the more powerful Bangsamoro Autonomous Region.

The bicam wanted both the House and the Senate to ratify the measure on Monday morning, before President Rodrigo Duterte's 3rd State of the Nation Address (SONA). Bicam members spent 6 grueling days just to finish the amendments to beat their own deadline.

Senators were able to ratify the bicam report on the BOL in their morning session on Monday.

During his SONA, Duterte said he would be able to sign the BOL into law within 48 hours. (READ: After Bangsamoro law, a bright yet bumpy path to peace)

Once signed, the BOL would establish the Bangsamoro government, headed by a chief minister and a ceremonial leader called a Wali.

There would also be a parliament composed of 80 members – 50% party representatives, 40% district representatives, and 10% sectoral representatives, including two reserved seats for "non-Moro indigenous peoples and settler communities." A Shari'ah High Court would be created as well.

The bill also grants fiscal autonomy to the Bangsamoro, which would have a 75-25 wealth sharing scheme with the national government.

An annual block grant, pegged at a 5% share of the national internal revenue or some P59 billion, would also be automatically appropriated to the region without any conditions.

First on Arroyo’s agenda: Ratify Bangsamoro law, aid to calamity victims

Prior to her arrival at the House of Representatives on her first full day as Speaker, former president Gloria Arroyo meets with her allies at her La Vista home in Quezon City to organize her transition team

SPEAKER ARROYO. Newly installed Speaker Gloria Macapagal Arroyo talks to the media on Juy 24, 2018. Photo by Mara Cepeda/Rappler

On her first full day as House Speaker, former president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo said that the first thing she would work on as the new leader of the House of Representatives is the ratification of the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL).

Arroyo made the commitment in a chance interview with the media upon arriving at the Batasang Pambansa at around 3 pm on Tuesday, July 24.

“I view my role as Speaker with having a primary and specific objective, that is to carry out the legislative agenda of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte. And that means for today, we must get the Bangsamoro Organic Law ratified,” the Pampanga 2nd District Representatives told reporters.

Both the House and the Senate were set to ratify the BOL on Monday morning, July 23, so that Duterte could sign it into law before his 3rd State of the Nation Address (SONA) that afternoon.

But this did not happen following the ouster of Davao del Norte 1st District Representative Pantaleon Alvarez as speaker, which delayed the SONA for more than hour.

Arroyo also said she would assis lawmakers representing 9 districts that were badly hit the southwest monsoon enhanced by several tropical cyclones.

“Right now, I am very glad soon we will have an end to politicking hopefully this afternoon so that we can attend to the calamities of various districts that compose our Congress who have been hit,” she said,

“Just today, we have identified about 9 district which have been very badly hit by the typhoon. And we would like to help our congressmen be able to address, at least for today or this coming week, the immediate needs of their constituents. That is the task that we see for ourselves this week,” Arroyo added.

Prior to her arrival at the House, Arroyo met with her allies at her La Vista home in Quezon City.

During that meeting, the lawmakers set up Arroyo’s transition team who will help ensure an easier transition of Arroyo as House leader They are as follows:

• Capiz 2nd District Representative Fredenil Castro (National Unity Party)
• Batangas 2nd District Representative Raneo Abu of the (Nacionalista Party)
• Iloilo 3rd District Representative Arthur Defensor Jr (Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan)
• Marikina 2nd District Representative Miro Quimbo (Liberal Party)
• Bohol 3rd District Representative Arthur Yap (Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan)

Davao City 1st District Representative Karlo Nograles told reporters members of Arroyo’s transition team met with the Alvarez bloc ahead of the 4 pm session. Arroyo herself had yet to speak to Alvarez.

For now, committee chairpersons and deputy speakers appointed by Alvarez get to keep their post, but Arroyo is expected to change the House leadership as well in the coming days.

After delay due to leadership row, House ratifies Bangsamoro bill

The House on Tuesday ratified the Bangsamoro Organic Law after the chamber failed to act on it Monday because of an ugly leadership row.

Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo (Pampanga) on Tuesday vowed that it would be the chamber's priority on Tuesday.

The Senate ratified the bill on Monday, which means President Rodrigo Duterte can sign it into law as soon as it is transmitted to Malacañang.

The ratification of the measure, which was supposed to happen in time for President Rodrigo Duterte's State of the Nation Address, was delayed after an intense and dramatic leadership tug-of-war between Arroyo and former Rep. Pantaleon Alvarez (Davao del Norte) which played out on national television and in front of political and diplomatic guests on Monday.
President Rodrigo Duterte's annual constitutionally-mandated address to the nation was also delayed by more than an hour after chaos erupted in the House over Arroyo's attempt.

The political intramurals lasted hours after Duterte's State of the Nation Address, which was upstaged by the leadership row.

Arroyo was eventually elected after 184 members of the House voted for her while 12 abstained from the process.

Arriving after her successful bid to wrest control of the speaker's gavel, Arroyo thanked her colleagues who supported her.

She also vowed that her leadership would be focused on two objectives: steering the legislative agenda of Duterte and extending help to those representatives whose districts were badly affected by the rains in recent weeks.

"We must ensure that BOL is ratified today," Arroyo told reporters upon her arrival at the legislature's complex in Quezon City.

Arroyo, whose political career was thought to be dead during former President Benigno Aquino III's administration, is a former president who served for nine years.

She first arrived in the presidential palace after a military-backed popular uprising ousted former President Joseph Estrada.

Estrada was later convicted of plunder but was pardoned by Arroyo.

In 2004 after she initially said that she would not run for reelection, she sought her own term and won the presidency amid allegations of massive cheating.

Upon stepping down from power, she was incarcerated under Aquino for allegations of graft during her term.

Rep. Rolando Andaya (Camarines Sur), a deputy speaker and one of Arroyo's lieutenants, apologized to the guests for the fracas that happened in front of them.

He, however, stressed that this was how democracy worked.

Senate President Vicente Sotto III meanwhile said that the president almost walked out of the House session hall due to the delays in his speech.

He said that Duterte threatened to leave unless the row was fixed.

Arroyo: House to ratify Bangsamoro Organic Law on Tuesday

Former President and now Speaker Gloria Macapagal Arroyo said the House of Representatives will ratify the proposed Bangsamoro Organic Law in their session on Tuesday afternoon.

Arroyo made the assurance a day after the proposed measure was supposed to be signed into law by President Rodrigo Duterte.

In an interview with the media, Arroyo said she sees herself as having a very specific role as the newly-elected Speaker.

"I view my role as Speaker with having a primary specific objective that is to carry out the legislative agenda of President Rodrigo Duterte," she said.

"And that means for today, we must get the Bangsamoro Organic Law ratified," she added.

With a vote of 184 among House members, Arroyo was elected Speaker of the House on Monday, replacing Davao del Norte Representative Pantaleon Alvarez.

In the interview, Arroyo thanked her colleagues for their trust and confidence on her.

She also said that her job as Speaker includes helping lawmakers to assist their constituents when most needed.

For one, Arroyo said she wants to help her fellow lawmakers in giving aid to their constituents who have been affected by calamities.

"Just today, we identified about nine districts which have been very badly hit by the typhoon and we would like to help our congressmen to be able to address at least for today, or this coming week, the immediate needs of their constituents," she said.

"That is the task that we see for ourselves this week," she added.

The House failed to ratify the proposed Bangsamoro Organic Law after their morning session on Monday was abruptly suspended.

The Senate, however, was able to ratify the bicam report.

Duterte vowed to sign the measure into law within 48 hours from the time he receives it. — RSJ, GMA News

PRRD to sign BOL right after House ratification

Malacañang on Tuesday said President Rodrigo Duterte will sign the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL) as soon as it is ratified by the House of Representatives.

“The President to sign it into law is for the House to ratify the bicam version of the bill. So if it will be ratified later, then the President can sign it tonight,” Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said in a regular Palace press briefing.

Duterte was not able to sign the BOL as scheduled before his third State of the Nation Address (SONA) on Monday due to the House’s failure to ratify the bicameral conference committee report on the proposed measure.

It was only the Senate that unanimously approved the bicam report hours before the joint opening session of the third regular session of the 17th Congress on Monday.

In his SONA, Duterte has expressed commitment to sign the BOL after reading the bicameral conference version.

“Despite all that has been said [for] or against the Bangsamoro Organic Law by all sectoral groups, I make this solemn commitment that this administration will never deny our Muslim brothers and sisters the basic legal tools to chart their own destiny within the Constitutional framework of our country,” Duterte said.

“When the approved version is transmitted [to] and received by my office… The law has been passed actually and I intend to… Give me 48 hours to sign it and ratify the law,” he added.

Since the proposed law was not signed during SONA, Roque said “a ceremony of sort” should highlight the signing of the BOL seen to end decades-long conflict in Mindanao.

“Because the BOL did not take center stage in the SONA, there’s some kind of ceremony here in the Palace to highlight the singing,” Roque said. (PNA)

House leadership dispute delays BOL ratification

A leadership challenge in the House of Representatives on Monday delayed ratification of the proposed Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL) that would establish a new autonomous region for Muslims in Mindanao and, many hope, bring peace and development to the war-torn island.

The Senate unanimously ratified the conference report on the BOL, but the House members adjourned their session early without ratifying the act that would serve as the charter of the proposed Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.

No comment

Both chambers need to ratify the BOL for it to be signed into law by President Rodrigo Duterte, who had been expected to highlight the passage of the Bangsamoro charter in his State of the Nation Address to a joint session of Congress.

The President promised to sign the BOL within 48 hours of submission by Congress.

The Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), which helped write the BOL, declined to comment on the delay.

“I don’t want to comment on that. The situation is fluid,” Mohager Iqbal, chair of the MILF peace panel, told the Inquirer.

Malacañang expressed disappointment.

“We find it unfortunate that the Bangsamoro Organic Law was not ratified before the adjournment of today’s session of the House of Representatives,” presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said in a statement.

Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri also held out hope for the ratification of the BOL in the House.

“Politically, the House is in shambles at the moment … We’ll just wait tomorrow. We’ve waited for this for a long time. One day won’t hurt,” he said.

‘Collateral damage’

Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Jesus Dureza also lamented the failure of the House to ratify the measure.

“The BOL suffered this temporary setback, as a collateral damage to an internal leadership issue in the House, but I trust and expect that in due time, the ratification, which it deserves, will take place as a matter of course,” Dureza said.

Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto said he had reservations about the deletion of important proposals from the Senate-House conference report.

One, he said, is the deletion of the 40-percent development fund. Without this, he said, the money for Bangsamoro could be spent for other purposes instead of development projects.

Recto was also concerned over the deletion of the 50-50 sharing of locally generated revenue. This was increased to 75-25 in favor of Bangsamoro.

The conference report also does not require Bangsamoro to contribute anything to the national government for 10 years, he said. —WITH REPORTS FROM JULIE M. AURELIO, JEOFFREY MAITEM, BONG SARMIENTO AND AP

Read more: http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1013608/house-leadership-dispute-delays-bol-ratification#ixzz5M9ta0xwg 
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PCOO’s gov’t satellite network hailed

President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday commended the Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) for setting up the Government Satellite Network, which allows the transmission of government videos, photos, and data to remote parts of the country and the rest of the world via advanced satellite and IPTV (Internet Protocol Television) technology.

“I was informed that satellite facilities were set up by the PCOO in certain far-flung barangays. So as of today, the residents of these communities can watch the State of the Nation and for the first time, see you on TV,” Duterte said in his third State of the Nation Address (SONA) during the joint session of the third regular session of the 17th Congress at the Batasang Pambansa.

“I hope you have enjoyed the experience,” he added, drawing applause from the audience.

Under the PCOO’s GSN project, set-top boxes or satellite receivers are also being set up in government agencies, particularly the government media under PCOO, such as Radyo Pilipinas and PTV.

PCOO Secretary Martin Andanar had said barangay officials will not only be able to watch the President’s speeches and other government activities but they can talk to the Chief Executive through the GSN project.

He said the GSN is another platform to boost the government’s efforts to inform even the remote barangays about the government’s policies, plans and programs.

Radio Television Malacañang (RTVM) will serve as the main hub of the government channel that would operate 24/7. (PNA)

State of the nation’s anger

We are a divided country. This we saw yesterday. Outside the Batasan building, supporters of President Rodrigo Duterte converged to cheer him as he delivers his third State of the Nation Address (Sona) during a joint session of the House of Representatives and the Senate. Representatives and Senators, and their guests, came in their Filipiniana best, stood and applauded politely at the right lines. Standing out for me were the Makabayan legislators with their beautiful protest barongs and gowns. I would have emulated them if I were in those halls.

Overshadowing the usual pomp of the Sona, former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and her allies made a move to replace Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez just before the President delivered his speech. I have no love lost for the Speaker as he has done many objectionable political decisions himself. Some would say he got what he deserved, with several saying his ouster was political karma. But the spectacle yesterday was ugly and at the expense of an important piece of legislation—the Bangsamoro Organic Law which was supposed to be dramatically signed before or during the Sona.

That bill, while imperfect, is a product of a united country‚—the work of four administrations (Ramos, Arroyo, Aquino, and Duterte) and was shaped by a bipartisan group of legislators—Zubiri and Drilon stood out in the Senate, Fariñas, Sema, and Lobregat were crucial in the House, with the Bangsamoro Transition Commission, the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, and even indigenous peoples from Mindanao advocating their interests. That would have been a good moment for the country but politics stole it from us.

What is the state of the nation? In an attempt at crowdsourcing, I asked my Facebook and Twitter friends to suggest what the “A” could stand for. I said I would like a word that would capture the broadest number of the people, one that could describe both the pro and anti Duterte Filipino. I got interesting suggestions. I had many suggestions, including “State of National Agony”, “State of National Anger”, “State of National Abomination”, “State of National Anathema”, “State of National Absurdity”, “State of National Apathy”, “State of National Animosity”, “State of National Away”, “State of National Abandonment”, “State of National Away”, “State of National Ambivalence”, “State of National Atonement”, “State of National Affliction”, “State of National Affront”, and “State of National Adversity.”

Originally, I was attracted to choose a more neutral term to describe the national mood, thus the original title of this column was “State of national anxiety” but upon reflection, applying judgment, I think it is best to call the situation as accurately as possible: the country is in a state of national anger. Adversity rules the day, we are in a state of “away” to use Ateneo School of Government Dean Ronald Mendoza suggested word.
For sure, the Duterte supporters are constantly on edge, have been angry from the start of his presidency as they feel they have to defend the president they voted for from what they consider unrelenting attacks on a leader who is just being authentic and wants nothing but the good of the country. Duterte critics, on the other hand, have become more intensely angry at a president who they believe is killing thousands of poor people, selling our territory to China, intends to be a dictator, and badmouths women and God.

It is ironic that the objective of this year’s Sona is the portrayal of the President as the “Father of the nation”. Immediately, when Joyce Bernal, this year’s Sona director said this, the images that came to my mind right away were that of Althea Barbon (4 years old) from Guhuilngan City, Negros Oriental, Danica May Gracia (5 years old) from Dagupan, Pangasinan, Francis Mañosca (5 years old) from Pasay City, San Niño Batican (7 years old) from Consolacion, Cebu; and Kimberly Sailog (12 years old) from Laguna—all of whom, according to Rappler and Inquirer reports, were killed by stray bullets in anti-drug operations. In my mind also were the high-profile murders of Kian de los Santos (18 years old), Carl Arnaiz (19 years old), and Reynaldo de Guzman (14 years old), all killed in Metro Manila in 2017 allegedly by policemen.

I agree with the assessment of Rowena Legaspi of the Children’s Legal Rights and Development Center (CLRDC), during the War on Drugs: Looking Behind the Numbers forum held last April 5, 2018: Children in Duterte’s war against drugs “are no longer collateral damage, they are seen as targets.”

How can one not be angry at this killing of children, at the massacre of the poor? Crimes against humanity are being perpetuated in our neighborhoods egged on by speeches of Joyce Bernal’s father of the nation. And he made it clear yesterday: his war on the poor will continue without mercy, wrongly opposing human rights and human life.

How can not one be angry at the continuing poverty of our people? The latest SWS survey on self-rated poverty shows again an uptick, and this is likely because of increasing inflation.

The promise to end contractualization has remained just that; in fact, companies who have been ordered to stop contractualization have been having a heyday in firing many of its so-called contractuals, defying the orders of the Department of Labor and Employment. Duterte’s executive order, which he proudly talked about yesterday, has been more of a bane than a boon for workers. How can one not be angry with such social injustice?

How can one not be angry at the failure of the President to acknowledge the grave mistakes of his administration’s foreign policy with respect to defending our national territory from Chinese incursions? Generations of Filipinos will pay the cost for such a mistake.

How can one not be angry at the vulgar statements and actions against women, the Catholic Church, and against God Himself? I think that the words of the President are from his heart and we should take them seriously. And make it clear to him that his language and actions are unacceptable.

Finally, how can not one be angry at the politics that this administration has fostered as we saw also yesterday in the way the politics of the House of Representatives played out? How can we trust these politicians to change our constitution?

Yesterday, as expected, the President called for constitutional change and asked Congress to convene as a constituent assembly.

My advice to the Senate: Absolutely, absolutely do not consider convening into a constituent assembly even if the House agreed on separate voting. On principle, for changing a constitution, a constitutional convention is the only good way forward. For targeted amendments, ConAss can work but not for a wholesale revision or adoption of a new constitution. An agreement on separate voting is not going to work as well because it can be questioned in the Supreme Court and the numbers are not there to uphold the interpretation that voting must be separate.

The Senate agreeing to convene as a constituent assembly is a sure path to charter change and it will not be the Puno draft but a very bad version, without anti-dynasty provisions for example, that will be approved.
When the nation is in a state of anger, anxiety, and adversity, it is not time to change our Constitution. We need to be united for such a whole of country project. Let’s work on that unity first.

At the same time as the Sona yesterday, less than a kilometer away in Commonwealth Avenue, activist and citizen groups converged to hear the Unified People’s Sona. The Sona protest this year is historic as for the first time, groups of different (even opposing) political tendencies came together as one to stand united against the Duterte government. More than 40,000 participated the biggest Sona protest ever.

I echo the voices heard in the People’s Sona: No to charter change through constituent assembly! No to dictatorship! No to giving up territory to China! No to EJKs! No to endo! No to misogyny! No to blasphemy No to an angry and divided nation! Yes to human rights! Yes to democracy! Yes to social justice! Yes to a united Philippines!

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House coup stalls signing of Bangsamoro Organic Law

Leadership infighting at the House of Representatives derailed yesterday the expected approval of the proposed Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL), which the administration and its authors claim would promote peace in Mindanao.

The House abruptly adjourned its session in the morning without approving the bicameral conference committee report on the bill just hours after the Senate ratified it.

Without ratification by the two chambers, the measure could not be presented to President Duterte as planned before his third State of the Nation Address (SONA) in the afternoon so he could sign it into law.

The adjournment of the session at about 12:30 p.m. was obviously intended to avert the impending replacement of Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez by former president and now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

It was also aimed at allowing Alvarez to thresh things out with his colleagues and with his Malacañang principal, whose spokesman said he did not want to meddle in the House intramural.

It likewise allowed him to sit side by side with the President and Senate President Vicente Sotto III for Duterte’s SONA.

Alvarez initially presided over the morning session and declared a recess after the House passed two resolutions informing the Senate that it has convened and invited Duterte to address a joint assembly of Congress for his third SONA.

The House was to tackle the BOL bill following the adoption of the customary resolutions.

After a break of more than one hour, it was deputy speaker and Cebu Rep. Gwen Garcia who ascended the Speaker’s podium, and upon motion of deputy majority leader and Pampanga Rep. Juan Pablo Bondoc, declared the session adjourned until the President’s address at 4 p.m., prompting House members to leave the session hall.

Former Arroyo budget secretary and now Camarines Sur Rep. Rolando Andaya Jr. tried to object to the adjournment but Garcia ignored him.

Shortly after, Arroyo’s allies were summoned to reconvene the session to oust Alvarez and to approve the BOL bill, which the conference committee chaired jointly by House Majority Leader Rodolfo Fariñas and his Senate counterpart Juan Miguel Zubiri worked on day and night for more than a week.

Among those who responded were members of the Liberal Party (LP) of former president Benigno Aquino III, during whose watch Arroyo was detained for plunder in connection with the alleged misuse of more than P300 million in Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office intelligence funds. She was released in July 2016 after nearly four years on hospital arrest.

Arroyo’s supporters also circulated a manifesto on Alvarez’s ouster. As of early afternoon, over a hundred members have reportedly signed.

LP member Deputy Speaker and Marikina Rep. Romero Quimbo told reporters that they were asked to return to the plenary hall to resume their session.

He refused to say who called them.

Other LP members who returned to the session hall were Edgar Erice of Caloocan City, Raul Daza of Northern Samar and Jorge Banal of Quezon City.

Others who were seen in the hall huddled with Arroyo were Davao del Norte Rep. Antonio Floirendo Jr., one of the alleged oust-Alvarez plotters, and Davao City Rep. Karlo Nograles, who is appropriations committee chairman and cousin of presidential daughter and Mayor Sara Duterte, another supposed plotter.

Asked if they would vote for Arroyo, Quimbo said, “Let us see.”

Erice said they would not vote for the former president.

“We just want to replace Alvarez for being unfair to us and our constituents, whom he deprived of infrastructure funds in the current budget. Even our road maintenance funds had been scrapped,” he said.

Daza said the Arroyo camp would violate House rules if they proceeded to resume the adjourned proceedings.

“This will be a rump session. It’s the current leadership that should reconvene us,” he said.

He said the BOL bill, if approved in a “rump” session, could be questioned before the Supreme Court.

Quimbo disagreed with Daza, a veteran lawmaker from the pre-martial law days, claiming that Arroyo allies could reopen the deliberations “if that is the wish of the majority of House members.”

“Any of the deputy speakers could assume the role of presiding officer, while another member could act as majority leader,” he said.

He said they could also approve the Bangsamoro bill “and ratify it again tomorrow.”

However, the rump session fizzled out, giving Alvarez another day as Speaker and the country’s fourth highest-ranking official.

‘Temporary setback’

Malacañang yesterday described as “unfortunate” the failure of the House to ratify the BOL before the adjournment of its session. 

“We consider this as a temporary setback in the administration’s goal of laying the foundation for a more genuine and lasting peace in Mindanao,” presidential spokesman Harry Roque Jr. said in a statement.

Despite the delay, the administration remains optimistic that the measure would be signed into law soon.

“We, however, remain confident that (President Duterte) will sign the (BOL) as soon as both houses of Congress finally ratify the bill,” Roque said.

Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Jesus Dureza said the BOL was a “collateral damage” to the issues in the House.

“The failure to ratify is unfortunate but it has nothing to do with the BOL itself. It was due to some leadership issues internal to the (House),” Dureza said in a text message.

“The BOL suffered this temporary setback, as a ‘collateral damage’ to an internal leadership issue in the House but I trust and expect that in due time, the ratification which it deserves will take place as a matter of course,” he added.

BOL ratification

The Senate ratified yesterday the proposed BOL.

The bicameral conference committee worked until late Sunday to come up with a clean copy of the BOL after both chambers last week finished reconciling their respective provisions of the landmark measure.Sen. Juan Miguel Zubiri, principal sponsor of the BOL in the Senate, was gratified the chamber finally ratified the measure after three administrations have tried and failed to come up with such a law. – With Alexis Romero, Paolo Romero, Jose Rodel Clapano

Pantaleon Alvarez ousted; Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo is House Speaker

SONA Highlights

• No term extension for Duterte; public support seen for federalism

• TRAIN to continue

• Rice prices to go down by P7 per kilo; hoarders to face economic sabotage raps

• Corruption must stop… justice will catch up with those who steal

• Bangsamoro Organic Law signed in 48 hours

• Government to protect interests in West Philippine Sea

• Third telco to be opened to all groups, local and foreign

As the nation waited for President Duterte to deliver his third State of the Nation Address (SONA) yesterday, a power play broke out at the House of Representatives and ended with Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez losing his seat to Pampanga congresswoman and former president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

For nearly an hour, the two House members were claiming the speakership until President Duterte broke the impasse minutes before he delivered his third SONA.

This meant Alvarez was allowed to perform his last official function as Speaker when the President delivered his SONA an hour behind schedule.

Convening after the SONA last night, however, 184 House members officially voted Arroyo to the position. Twelve abstained.

The vote was a reaffirmation of a manifesto of support for Arroyo signed by more than 180 of the 292-member Congress.

House Deputy Speaker Rolando Andaya Jr., who presided over the session, said they decided to continue the proceedings despite the absence of the mace since it is the lawmakers who comprise the chamber, and not any instrument or symbol.

The President arrived at the Batasang Pambansa complex on a helicopter a few minutes before his scheduled 4 p.m. SONA.

Sources said President Duterte met separately with Alvarez and Arroyo at the presidential legislative liaison office for about 30 minutes before he delivered his SONA.

The President later held a shorter conference with Arroyo.

The President had reportedly told her to wait at least one more day, as he would ask Alvarez to immediately step down.

“Tomorrow (Tuesday), GMA (Arroyo) will be the Speaker,” said one House member who voted for Alvarez’s ouster. The impasse delayed the SONA for over an hour.

Alvarez and Senate President Vicente Sotto III welcomed Duterte upon his arrival at the Batasan complex.

The two congressional leaders led Duterte to the nearby presidential legislative liaison office. With Alvarez was Majority Leader Rodolfo Fariñas.

Presidential legal counsel Salvador Panelo confirmed Duterte’s meetings with Alvarez and Arroyo. He said he did not know what was taken up.

Special Assistant to the President Christopher “Bong” Go told reporters Duterte also separately met with Alvarez in private.

Before the SONA, the former president took her oath of office as Alvarez’s successor in an informal session.

The former president’s supporters include former first lady and Ilocos Norte Rep. Imelda Romualdez Marcos.

Sources told The STAR that Marcos’ eldest daughter Gov. Imee Marcos and the congresswoman’s nephew former Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez attended meetings of the Arroyo camp.

The Marcoses are reportedly demanding the replacement of Majority Leader Rodolfo Fariñas, who had initiated a House investigation of Gov. Marcos’ alleged misuse of tobacco funds.

The committee on good government and public accountability chaired by Surigao del Sur Rep. Johnny Pimentel has recommended the filing of criminal and administrative charges against the governor and other provincial officials. Gov. Marcos has consistently denied wrongdoing.

At least 161 members of the 292-member lower chamber signed a manifesto showing their shift of loyalty to the former president, whom Alvarez removed as deputy speaker in mid-2017 for voting against the restoration of the death penalty.

A leadership change only needs a vote of a majority among the House members. There were 271 lawmakers who attended yesterday’s SONA.

With the leadership squabble, President Duterte had to put off signing the Bangsamoro Organic Law and delay his delivery of his SONA.

Reliable sources revealed the attempt to unseat the Davao del Norte-based Alvarez started late Sunday upon the instigation of presidential daughter Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte.

Stalwarts of the PDP-Laban, Villars’ Nacionalista Party, billionaire Danding Cojuangco’s Nationalist People’s Coalition and the multi-party National Unity Party responded to Sara’s call.

Breakfast with GMA

Insiders likewise told The STAR that all the “party leaders” under the administration coalition had a breakfast at the office of Arroyo, except those from the Liberal Party.

Alvarez, now on his third year as Speaker, opened the resumption of the session in the morning and even delivered a lengthy speech about his accomplishments, although there had notably been small caucuses before the session.

But all these changed dramatically after House Deputy Speaker Gwendolyn Garcia – an ally of the Speaker – banged the gavel around lunchtime and called for “adjournment” despite calls and a formal motion by another Deputy Speaker, Rolando Andaya Jr. to the contrary.

“I object,” the Camarines Sur congressman, who had served as budget secretary of Arroyo, shouted repeatedly.

Before the SONA, Andaya could be seen reading a “signed manifesto” of support for Arroyo.

Her allies at the session hall first nominated Davao del Norte Rep. Antonio Floreindo Jr. – a political foe of Alvarez – as speaker but the former nominated Arroyo instead.

House reporters watched events unfold from the Batasan-wide security-installed CCTV without any audio, together with a large group of lawmakers, and tried hard to listen to what Andaya was announcing.

Also seen in the video in the House media center were Rep. Marcos, former senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and socialite philanthropist Pangasinan Rep. Rosemarie Arenas.

The gathering was technically unofficial, however, as the sessions had already been adjourned.

It was also reported that the House Mace – a symbol of authority – had gone missing.

Almost half an hour later, Arroyo – in red dress – was seen taking her oath before Rep. Dennis Laogan of party-list Ang Kabuhayan, the chamber’s youngest member. She could be seen shouting or calling her supporters to join her on the podium.

An Arroyo speakership, good only for less than a year, will be marked with historical firsts – first for a woman and for an ex-president.

House Deputy Speaker Romero Quimbo – the highest LP official in the chamber – said his party decided not to join the oust-Alvarez move. Quimbo was administrator of Pag-IBIG fund during the Arroyo administrator.

He said those who didn’t sign the oust-Alvarez manifesto were Reps. Edcel Lagman (Albay), Gabriel Bordado (Camarines Sur), Tom Villarin (Akbayan), Bolet Banal (Quezon City), Teddy Baguilat (Ifugao), Kaka Bag-ao (Dinagat Islands), Gary Alejano (Magdalo), Jocelyn Limkaichong (Negros Oriental) and Francis Gerald Abaya (Cavite).

Apprehensions

Earlier yesterday, Sotto said the chamber is ready to work with Arroyo if she is elected speaker. He stressed the need for harmonious relations between the Senate and the House for the speedy passage of reform legislation.

But Sen. Grace Poe aired her apprehensions over an Arroyo speakership, citing various anomalies and controversies that took place during her administration.

“I don’t think I have to repeat myself and remind the people about the corruption and all of the other anomalies that happened during her term in office,” Poe said in an interview over ABS-CBN News Channel before the start of SONA.

“For me, is there no one else who can probably take over the speakership?” she added.

Poe said she expects the administration and the House to push for Charter change with Arroyo at the helm of the House.

If the effort succeeds, Poe said Arroyo would be “either next in line to be the president of the country or at par with the president.”

“Is this the change that we wanted? Somebody led by the former president, with her style of governance during her time? I’d rather have somebody totally different. Not from the choices that they are presenting right now,” Poe said.

Poe reiterated that Charter change is not among the priorities of the public right now as they have so many other problems to deal with.

“There are so many problems that could be addressed without charter change,” she said. – With Marvin Sy, Jess Diaz

Legislative Priorities

1. Ratify Bangsamoro Organic Law

2. Establish Coconut Farmers Trust Fund

3. Pass National Land Use Act

4. Create Department of Disaster Management, like FEMA in US

5. Bring down rice prices

6. Pass TRAIN Package 2 before yearend

7. Pass Universal Health Care Law