Congress leaders see 3rd reading passage of BBL
By Charmaine A. Tadalan
THE proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) could be passed on third reading on Tuesday, House Majority Leader Rodolfo C. Fariñas said Monday.
“Once we meet with the President on these contentious issues, then tomorrow, if the President certifies this as urgent, after our meeting tonight, we will approve it on second and third reading tomorrow,” Mr. Fariñas told reporters on Monday.
The Majority Leader, who was headed to Malacañang for a meeting with President Rodrigo R. Duterte, said he will discuss the contentious portions and counterproposals on the draft bill.
“We would want to hear directly from the President kung ano ‘yung (what the) final position (will be) and the President will be meeting with us — the Speaker, myself and the Senate President and our counterparts,” Mr. Fariñas said.
He also said the Bangsamoro Transition Commission (BTC) has agreed to name the entity as the Autonomous Region of Bangsamoro (ARB), slightly different from the Senate version, Bangsamoro Autonomous Region (BAR).
The BTC has also agreed to exercise shared powers with the National Government on defense, coast guard and police forces.
“They (BTC) agreed that all the defense, police, coast guard will be retained… by the national government. Magkakaroon ng police region in Bangsamoro pero (but this is still) under the PNP (Philippine National Police),” Mr. Fariñas said, noting that members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) can be deployed as regional police but will remain within the authority of the PNP.
House leaders conducted earlier its second meeting with the BTC and the government to discuss amendments on House Bill 6475. The Senate version of the bill, meanwhile, is currently pending on second reading.
For his part, Senate President Vicente C. Sotto III remained confident that should the President certify the bill as urgent, the BBL can be passed by Wednesday, despite some 150 proposed amendments by Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph G. Recto.
