Senate panel mull inclusion of anti-dynasty provision in BBL

MANILA, Philippines — Senators and invited resource speakers zeroed in on the inclusion of anti-dynasty law provision on the resumption of deliberation of the proposed the Bangsamoro Basic Law.

Minority Leader Sen. Franklin Drilon said that he is in favor of including an anti-political dynasty provision in BBL, a "fair provision, fair limitation given the cultural idiosyncracies of the country, Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao, and Bansamoro people."

Anti-dynasty bills have been languishing in the Senate halls for years now.

RELATED: Anti-political dynasty bills gathering dust at Senate | Drilon seeks anti-political dynasty law

However, Sen. Juan Miguel Zubiri, chairperson of the Senate subcommittee on BBL, raised that the inclusion of the provision may be met with "strong resistance," citing the "cultural and traditional aspect of Bangsamoro that do political marriages."

Such resistance, Zubiri said, may result in the stoppage of the passing of the proposed measure.

Senate Majority Leader Vicente "Tito" Sotto III asked former Chief Justice Hilario Davide Jr., one of the framers of the 1987 Constitution, why a provision was not included in the current Constitution.

Retired Chief Justice Hilario Davide Jr. said the inclusion of the anti-dynasty provision was "debated on lengthily," but the framers agreed that the "political environment may change later," that would need an "amendment in the entire constitution."

READ: Duterte: BBL may not hurdle constitutional barriers

BTC opposes

Members of the Bangsamoro Transition Commission, however, raised opposition to Drilon's proposal.

Commissioner Omar Yasser Sema  said such provision would be a “clear violation of the equal protection clause of the Constitution, which is the right of every people to vote and be voted upon."

Sema said that there is "no necessity" since the BBL's provision of election of officials stresses on "party affiliation, platforms and sectoral representation."

Meanwhile, Commissioner Maisara Dandamun-Latiph, for her part, raised that the political clans exist in the entire country, as such, the Congress should make a move against it.

“We would like to see both houses  to take the lead on the matter. We have been fighting for equal treatment. But what we are seeing is that we may be a possible experiment in our area,” she said.

“We are being singled out, considering that it (dynasty) is a national epidemic,” she added.

"If it's a national problem, maybe we can compromise. Senate and House [of Representatives] can do this," she added.

The panel continues to deliberate on the constitutionality of the proposed law that aims to implement the final peace agreement signed by the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front in 2014.

The BBL seeks to create a new region in place of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, which will have more autonomy but will also remain a part of the Republic of the Philippines.

Zubiri said that the panel is seeing the approval of the BBL next month.

President Rodrigo Duterte, the country's first president from Mindanao, had earlier promised to shepherd the bill through Congress, which has shown a willingness to vote according to his policy statements.

But the Senate and the House of Representatives are in a middle of a debate on what mode they will use to draft a new Constitution.

The lower house has already adopted a resolution to convene as a constituent assembly.

The Senate, however, has insisted that it would not meet with the House as a constituent assembly without assurances that voting would be separate.

READ: Senators commit to passage of Bangsamoro Basic Law