For a bill meant to ensure a lasting peace in Mindanao, it got off to a rather contentious start at the lower House.
Ad Hoc Committee deliberations on the draft Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) began at the lower House on Wednesday amid heated exchanges on some of the bill's contentious points.
The first to be settled is the issue of the security of tenure of the local government employees who will be affected by the reorganization of the bureaucracy in the Bangsamoro areas.
Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Secretary Teresita "Ging" Deles said, "All civil service eligibilities will be respected. We imagine there will be some reorganization. Separation benefits when necessary will follow the law of the land. Civil service laws and entitlements will be respected."
Zamboanga City Rep. Celso Lobregat wanted the earlier drafts of the BBL submitted to the panel, noting the delays in the submission of the BBL to Congress.
Committee chairman Rufus Rodriguez rejected the motion -- forcing a vote which Lobregat won 19-8.
Lobregat, a critic of the BBL, began his interpellation by saying, "I would also like to say we are for peace. Just, long and lasting peace. We are not anti-peace. We want BBL to be fair, just, acceptable, feasible, and consistent with the Constitution and existing law."
"If ever and whenever we raise certain issues or concerns, or question certain provisions, we want to clarify any and all ambiguities as these will affect not only areas under Bangsamoro but entire Mindanao and Philippines as well."
Cavite Rep. Elpidio Barzaga wanted to insert a provision that says the Bangsamoro will not secede from the Philippines.
Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) chief negotiator Mohagher Iqbal left it for Deles to answer. Deles felt it was unnecessary but left it to Congress.
Anak Mindanao party-list Rep. Sitti Hataman felt that it was an offensive proposal. Barzaga then withdrew his proposal.
Deles reassured lawmakers that the wording of the draft law abandons Charter change but maintained nothing prevents anyone in the future from proposing Charter change.
Mary Ann Arnaldo of the Mindanao Civil Society Organization Peace Platform drew the ire of legislators in making a pitch for fiscal autonomy for the Bangsamoro, when she said it will spare them from having to bring "durian" or "pomelo" to legislators for their budget.
Lobregat wanted that stricken off the record, finding it insulting. Arnaldo withdrew her comments and apologized.
Representative Fred Castro wanted her to name the legislators. Rodriguez overruled him.
'DON'T TRAMPLE ON BANGSAMORO DREAM'
Earlier in the hearing, the MILF addressed fears about the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law.
Iqbal told the panel that "the Bangsamoro is the sum of our hopes and dreams. It may mean nothing to you. It's the whole world to us. It's what we got. It is what we only have. We implore you then to step lightly on these dreams when you discuss the draft law. Do not trample them. Celebrate them. Welcome them."
Iqbal warned the lawmakers against people who sow fear with the aim of stopping the establishment of the Bangsamoro.
For her part, Deles expressed gratitude to Congress for the urgency being given to the law.
The committee has been allowed to start the hearings even during the budget deliberations at the plenary. Rules usually suspend all other committee hearings to give priority to the budget.
Government and MILF negotiators are now sitting on the same side as they lobby Congress for the passage of the law meant to institutionalize the comprehensive agreement signed in March to end the decades old secessionist movement in Mindanao.
The Mindanao Peace Weavers (MPW), meanwhile, held a picket outside the Batasan Pambansa to show support for the beginning of deliberations on the law.
http://www.luwaran.com/index.php/welcome/item/1242-heated-exchange-on-bangsamoro-law-debates
The first to be settled is the issue of the security of tenure of the local government employees who will be affected by the reorganization of the bureaucracy in the Bangsamoro areas.
Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Secretary Teresita "Ging" Deles said, "All civil service eligibilities will be respected. We imagine there will be some reorganization. Separation benefits when necessary will follow the law of the land. Civil service laws and entitlements will be respected."
Zamboanga City Rep. Celso Lobregat wanted the earlier drafts of the BBL submitted to the panel, noting the delays in the submission of the BBL to Congress.
Committee chairman Rufus Rodriguez rejected the motion -- forcing a vote which Lobregat won 19-8.
Lobregat, a critic of the BBL, began his interpellation by saying, "I would also like to say we are for peace. Just, long and lasting peace. We are not anti-peace. We want BBL to be fair, just, acceptable, feasible, and consistent with the Constitution and existing law."
"If ever and whenever we raise certain issues or concerns, or question certain provisions, we want to clarify any and all ambiguities as these will affect not only areas under Bangsamoro but entire Mindanao and Philippines as well."
Cavite Rep. Elpidio Barzaga wanted to insert a provision that says the Bangsamoro will not secede from the Philippines.
Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) chief negotiator Mohagher Iqbal left it for Deles to answer. Deles felt it was unnecessary but left it to Congress.
Anak Mindanao party-list Rep. Sitti Hataman felt that it was an offensive proposal. Barzaga then withdrew his proposal.
Deles reassured lawmakers that the wording of the draft law abandons Charter change but maintained nothing prevents anyone in the future from proposing Charter change.
Mary Ann Arnaldo of the Mindanao Civil Society Organization Peace Platform drew the ire of legislators in making a pitch for fiscal autonomy for the Bangsamoro, when she said it will spare them from having to bring "durian" or "pomelo" to legislators for their budget.
Lobregat wanted that stricken off the record, finding it insulting. Arnaldo withdrew her comments and apologized.
Representative Fred Castro wanted her to name the legislators. Rodriguez overruled him.
'DON'T TRAMPLE ON BANGSAMORO DREAM'
Earlier in the hearing, the MILF addressed fears about the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law.
Iqbal told the panel that "the Bangsamoro is the sum of our hopes and dreams. It may mean nothing to you. It's the whole world to us. It's what we got. It is what we only have. We implore you then to step lightly on these dreams when you discuss the draft law. Do not trample them. Celebrate them. Welcome them."
Iqbal warned the lawmakers against people who sow fear with the aim of stopping the establishment of the Bangsamoro.
For her part, Deles expressed gratitude to Congress for the urgency being given to the law.
The committee has been allowed to start the hearings even during the budget deliberations at the plenary. Rules usually suspend all other committee hearings to give priority to the budget.
Government and MILF negotiators are now sitting on the same side as they lobby Congress for the passage of the law meant to institutionalize the comprehensive agreement signed in March to end the decades old secessionist movement in Mindanao.
The Mindanao Peace Weavers (MPW), meanwhile, held a picket outside the Batasan Pambansa to show support for the beginning of deliberations on the law.
http://www.luwaran.com/index.php/welcome/item/1242-heated-exchange-on-bangsamoro-law-debates
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