Thursday, January 15, 2015

MILF: Solons urge Senator Miriam, other critics to respect BBL

Posted to the MILF Website (Jan 14): Solons urge Senator Miriam, other critics to respect BBL 




On January 11, two lawmakers, one from the island of Basilan, and the other one from a partylist appealed Senator Miriam Defensor- Santiago and other critics of proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) to “respect the process” and be part in crafting a “legally sound” and mutually acceptable peace measure, instead of immediately shooting it down and reverting the peace process to scratch.
  
In a report by Manila Bulletin on January 12, Basilan Rep. Jim Hataman-Salliman, Vice Chairman of the 75-man Ad Hoc panel on the BBL; and AKO Bicol party-list Rep. Rodel Batocabe made the appeal after Senator Santiago vowed to block the passage of the BBL in the 24-man Senate, claiming it is unconstitutional.

Hataman-Salliman said Santiago and other critics of BBL should not stop the ongoing discussions and consultations on the measure that seeks the creation of a Bangamosoro region for lasting peace and progress in Mindanao.

“Let’s respect her opinion. But, we should also respect the process. Of course, consultations and debates in different avenues is part of the process. And eventually, this measure will be voted upon by the members of both Lower and Upper chambers. Upon approval, it will be signed by the President. The Supreme Court could also step in and look into this. And if everything is okay, there will be a plebscite. If and when these process can be complied, I don’t think any among the members of Congress can stop it,” he said in an interview.

Senator Santiago, Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Constitutional Amendments and Revision of Codes maintained that the basis of the comprehensive agreement on the BBL is unconstitutional since it supposedly violates the principle of constitutional supremacy, the Manila Bulletin also said.

She announced that she would hold a hearing to thresh out the unconstitutional provisions of the BBL on January 26 and February 2.

Batocabe, for his part, urged Santiago to take part in crafting a legally sound and acceptable BBL.

“It is within the rights of Senator Santiago to oppose the BBL as member of Congress. But then, being a constitutionalist, her inputs on how to harmonize the BBL with the Constitution are highly valuable if only to help in the peace process,” he said in a separate interview.

“To my mind, it would be better to do our share in crafting a legally sound and acceptable BBL rather than killing it, and reverting back the peace process to square 1,” he stressed.

MAGDALO party-list Rep. Francisco Ashley Acedillo, for his part thinks that Santiago’s panel has no jurisdiction over the issue.

http://www.luwaran.com/index.php/welcome/item/1451-solons-urge-senator-miriam-other-critics-to-respect-bbl

No comments:

Post a Comment

Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.