HOUSE SPEAKER Pantaleon D. Alvarez in a statement on Tuesday said he has committed to President Rodrigo R. Duterte the passage of the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) before Congress adjourns on March 21 next year.

Senators, on the other hand, had mixed responses to Mr. Duterte’s call for a special session of Congress to tackle the long-delayed BBL, the outcome of a peace agreement between the Philippine government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).

Mr. Duterte reaffirmed his support for the BBL in his remarks at the first Bangsamoro Assembly in Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao province, on Monday, Nov. 27. He also called for a special session, but did not specify when he wants Congress to convene.

Congress is scheduled to go on its Christmas break from Dec. 16, 2017, to Jan. 14, 2018.

Mr. Alvarez, in his statement, said there was no need to call for a special session given his and his colleagues’ commitment to the BBL.

“The Speaker has given his commitment to the President that we will finish it before we adjourn on March 21,” House Majority Leader Rodolfo C. Fariñas, for his part, had said in a joint press briefing with Mr. Alvarez, as also quoted in the statement.

“So we will request the President na hindi na siguro kailangan yung (that there won’t be a need for a) special session and we will try to finish it before we adjourn on March 21,” Mr. Fariñas also said.

Mr. Fariñas said the BBL had been discussed under the previous Congress and this would help expedite the process. He added: “I’m very confident that under the tutelage and leadership of the Speaker makakausap naman namin yung mga (we can persuade the House) members to come up with this request of the President because the Speaker and the leadership also feel that this is indeed needed.”

But opposition representatives differed with the House majority, with Akbayan party-list Representsative Tomasito S. Villarin saying, “I think the President should not engage in double speed. He wants to have a BBL but he doesn’t want more peace in Mindanao. He wants a BBL that is suited, not for the purpose of the whole nation, but… for his whole agenda, and that agenda is being premised on imposing military rule and perhaps dictatorial rule in the country.”

Magdalo party-list Representative Gary C. Alejano for his part said: “If we will not go through a meaningful discussions on the provisions of the BBL (and we fast-track this), then we’re running against the provision(s) of the Constitution.”

And Albay Representative Edcel C. Lagman said: “There is a need for a…constitutional amendment to raise the replacement of the (existing) ARMM (Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao) (with the proposed Bangsamoro Autonomous Region).”

Senate President Aquilino Martin L. Pimentel III, for his part, said Senate local government committee chair Juan Edgardo M. Angara “needs to hold committee hearing(s) first” before they can hold a special session.

“Tapos meron pang isa pang request ang Malacañang (And Malacañang has another request): the joint resolution to increase the base pay of uniformed personnel,” the Senate leader added.

“All I know is that we will have very busy days ahead. I will coordinate with majority and minority leaders on schedule and workload,” Mr. Pimentel also said.

Echoing Mr. Alvarez, Senate Majority Leader Vicente C. Sotto III for his part said: “BBL, even with a special session, is not possible because hearings alone on 289 sections (of the bill) will take more than a month. Debates pa (as well), so even if we work on Christmas Day and New Year’s Day, it will not be done this year.”

“First quarter next year is more possible,” he added.

Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph G. Recto affirmed Mr. Sotto: “We can pass a BBL next year,” he said.

Senator Panfilo M. Lacson said “Congress can conduct committee hearings on BBL even without the President calling for a special session.”

“Unless the intention is to pass the measure before yearend, which is impossible considering the complex and contentious issues involved in its provisions, a special session may not be necessary,” he also pointed out.

For his part, Senate Minority Leader Franklin M. Drilon said Mr. Angara, as chairman of the committee on local government besides the committee on ways and means, is “full time with the TRAIN, and if the House of Representatives will impeach (Chief Justice Maria Lourdes P.A.) Sereno, Senate will be an Impeachment Court in January.”

Presidential spokesperson Harry L. Roque, Jr., for his part, said: “I don’t want to pressure Congress right now but I think they have received the message that this is one of the top priorities of the administration.” — with Arjay L. Balinbin, Minde Nyl R. dela Cruz and Rosemarie A. Zamora

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