MANILA, Philippines - The House of Representatives has been briefing the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) on changes lawmakers plan to introduce in the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL).
“I have been meeting with some MILF lawyers and explaining to them the amendments we intend to make in the BBL draft,” Cagayan de Oro City Rep. Rufus Rodriguez, who chairs the ad hoc committee on the proposed law that would create a new Bangsamoro region, said yesterday.
He said he has told the MILF representatives that the draft would not be approved if it is put to a vote in its present form, and that several constitutionally questionable provisions would have to be removed.
He said the lawyers understand that the draft, like any other proposed piece of legislation, would have to be subjected to amendments.
“The changes we intend to make are not meant to dilute the proposed BBL, but to enhance it, improve it,” he stressed.
Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. had said the BBL would be approved without changes.
The BBL draft is the product of peace negotiations between the government and the MILF.
President Aquino has appealed to congressmen not to dilute the draft BBL “too much” as the MILF might not accept a watered-down version.
Isabela Rep. Rodolfo Albano III said he believes that the MILF would accept Congress’ version of the BBL.
“They have smart leaders. They know the dynamics of the legislature, how it works. They will have to accept our version. A BBL written by the House and the Senate is better than no BBL,” he said.
He said by ridding the draft of constitutionally questionable provisions, Congress is preventing the BBL from suffering the fate of the Memorandum of Agreement on Ancestral Domain signed between the MILF and the Arroyo administration. The Supreme Court would later declare MOA-AD unconstitutional.
In Zamboanga City, Rep. Celso Lobregat said the BBL has striking similarities with the MOA-AD hence the need for lawmakers to give the proposed measure a second look.