House panel to hold BBL hearings in Mindanao this week

MANILA, Philippines - Congressional hearings on the proposed Bangsamoro basic law are set in Mindanao this week.

Cagayan de Oro City Rep. Rufus Rodriguez,  House of Representatives special committee on the Bangsamoro basic law  chairman, said yesterday Muslims, Christians, indigenous people, local officials, businessmen, and other stakeholders would be consulted.

“They have a stake in the proposed law, in the envisioned Bangsamoro region and in peace in Mindanao,” he said.

This week’s hearings will be held in Cotabato City, other towns of Cotabato, Maguindanao, Sultan Kudarat, and General Santos City.

Though Cotabato City is not part of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), it is the seat of the regional government.

A new Bangsamoro entity would replace ARMM if the people ratify the proposed law in a plebiscite.

The draft law covers Cotabato City and other areas, including Isabela City in Basilan, which had voted against inclusion in the ARMM.

However, they will not be part of the Bangsamoro region if they again vote against it in a plebiscite.

The special committee will break up into three groups to expedite the consultations and cover more ground.

It has scheduled hearings up to December.

The areas to be covered include Zamboanga City, Tawi-Tawi, Sulu, Basilan, Zamboanga Sibugay, Marawi City, Iligan City, Lanao del Norte, Cagayan de Oro City, Davao City, North Cotabato, and Butuan City.

The special committee has heard government and Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) peace negotiators, resource persons and officials of concerned state agencies on the proposed law.