Palace expects MILF to recognize possible revisions to proposed BBL

Although the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) earlier urged Congress to pass the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) with "no changes,” Malacañang expects the group to recognize revisions that the legislature may introduce to the controversial measure.

 

At a press briefing on Tuesday, Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. stressed that the legislative branch has the power to amend bills, and that this authority must be respected by both the MILF and the Philippine government.

 

"Batid po natin na the legislative process involves the process of review and the process of proposing amendments. Ito ay kasama naman sa dynamics ng political process sa pagsasagawa ng anumang batas,” Coloma told reporters.

 

"Inaasahan naman natin na ito ay kikilalanin at nauunawaan ng lahat ng mga panig na merong sangkot sa prosesong pangkapayapaan,” he added.

 

Coloma further said that the final version of the BBL should “pass Congress and Constitutional tests.”

 

Asked if the legislation’s final version should be acceptable to the MILF, the communications secretary said: "Marami pong stakeholders dito. Hindi lamang po sila at ang Philippine panel. Lahat ng stakeholder interest ay kailangang pag-aralan at tingnan kung paano ito matutugunan."

 

Lawmakers want BBL revisions

 

The Palace official made these statements after some lawmakers expressed intention to introduce amendments to the proposed BBL, following the Mamasapano incident which left 44 police commandos killed after a firefight with MILF members.

 

In a statement on Monday, Senate President Pro-Tempore Ralph Recto, an administration ally, said the Bangsamoro “cannot pass in its present form” and “has to undergo revision and improvements.”

 

Recto particularly wanted to scrutinize financing for the planned Bangsamoro entity, which he said might reach P75 billion during the first year of the law’s implementation.

 

Another administration lawmaker, House Majority Leader Neptali Gonzales II, also said the proposed BBL cannot “cannot pass on an 'as is' or 'take-it-or-leave-it basis.'”

 

Lawmakers however assured the MILF that the Bangsamoro bill will not be mangled or watered down.

 

In a letter submitted to the House of Representatives last December, MILF chairman Al Haj Murad urged lawmakers to “pass the mutually agreed BBL draft with no changes and without diminishing, diluting or watering down its provisions, except probably for minor changes.”

 

Pressed further if Aquino still has enough clout in Congress to pass the BBL, Coloma said, "Mahalaga ang pagtatatag ng kapayapaan. Hindi lang naman ito isyung pampulitika o batay sa popularidad ng isang lider. Ang pinaglalaban natin ay isang prinsipyo na mahalaga sa kinabukasan ng ating bansa."

 

The BBL will embody the peace agreement signed by the Philippine goverment and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) last March, which aims to end the decades-old conflict in Mindanao.

 

The legislation seeks to create the Bangsamoro political entity, which will replace the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao. It will also specify wealth- and power-sharing arrangements between the national government and the new political entity. —KG, GMA News