Rodriguez eyed to head House panel reviewing Bangsamoro Law

MANILA, Philippines - Cagayan de Oro City Rep. Rufus Rodriguez is being eyed as chair of the ad hoc committee that will tackle the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law, which will create a new autonomous region in Muslim Mindanao.

A senior administration lawmaker, who declined to be identified, also said Basilan Rep. Jim Hataman-Salliman, chairman of the House committee on peace, reconciliation and unity, is also being considered to head the panel.

“But the leadership is looking at someone who is from Mindanao but at the same time is also somewhat detached from Bangsamoro matters, so that the chairperson will not be identified with any group from Mindanao,” the administration lawmaker said.

Rodriguez and Hataman could not be reached for comment yesterday.

Earlier, Hataman and Sulu Rep. Tupay Loong, chairman of the committee on Muslim affairs, said they got word from Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. that at least five House panels are being eyed to jointly conduct public hearings on the proposed law.

They said that aside from their panels, among the House bodies that would likely compose the ad hoc committee are the committees on Mindanao affairs, local governments, and national defense and security.

Loong said it is possible that other House panels may be included in the ad hoc committee, and also being worked out is the designation of the chairperson, the venue of the hearings due to the large number of members, and resource persons to be invited.

Belmonte earlier expressed hope that both the government and Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) panels can resolve soon their differences over Malacañang’s review of the proposed law before Congress opens session on July 28.

“Their failure to agree on the final version of the proposed Bangsamoro draft law is a source of concern that they should address with dispatch. They have to transmit to us the proposed law,” Belmonte said.

Leyte Rep. Ferdinand Martin Romualdez, leader of the independent bloc, warned that the longer Malacañang waits before it submits the document, the greater the chances that the government would break its timetable to enact the measure into law by the end of the year or early 2015.

He also said Malacañang should not rush lawmakers into immediately approving the proposed law after submitting it late.

Malacañang earlier said it would submit the proposed law that will create a new autonomous region in Mindanao last May. However, officials said President Aquino wanted to make sure that the document does not violate the Constitution.

Romualdez said he was puzzled that after the comprehensive agreement was signed with the MILF witnessed by the international community, Aquino still wanted it reviewed.

“Right now, my colleagues here will join me in saying, if anybody is doing great disservice to the peace process, it’s the Palace because they have promised our Muslim brothers, the Bangsamoro, that we will have this done as soon as possible, yet we are hostage here,” Romualdez said.

“If there will be delays in the passage of the proposal, then they heap the blame on congressmen for delaying the peace process,” he added.