Aquino says he can expand Bangsamoro law by executive order

From the Manila Standard Today (Jun 12): Aquino says he can expand Bangsamoro law by executive order

THE President has the power to expand the proposed Bangsamoro entity in Mindanao even without the opt-in close provided for in the draft Bangsamoro Basic Law now pending in Congress, President Benigno Aquino III said in Iloilo City.

He said all it would take was an Executive Order to transfer and reorganize the country’s provinces and regions. He said he was able to unite the provinces of Negros Occidental and Negros Oriental into a single island-region by issuing an Executive Order.

“‘Yung opt-in in particular, meron tayong mga mechanisms in place that, at some point in time, may probinsiya na gustong sumama to a particular region. Currently, all it takes is an executive order, as what we did with Negros and what was done before my time in several instances,” Aquino said.

He made his statement even as Senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr., head of the Senate’s local government committee, said he was confident he could convince the Moro Islamic Liberation Front to see the need for changes he would be making on the draft Bangsamoro Basic Law.

In separate statements, MILF chief negotiator Mohagher Iqbal and Malacañang again pushed Congress to adopt the draft BBL instead of preparing a substitute bill to what Marcos described as a flawed draft bill.

Marcos said they should be patient and wait for the version they would be drafting.

“They can be sure that we are not taking advantage of them and that we still consider them our partners in peace. We know that they are a necessary part of that peace process and we cannot do it without them,” Marcos said.

But various Muslim groups on Thursday slamnmed Marcos for proposing a substitute bill to replace the Bangsamoro Basic Law.

Sheik Bin Laden of the Bangsamoro para sa Bayan said he had been talking with many MILF members who had raised concern over the BBL’s non-passage.

“We are afraid of the emergence of suicide bombers in different areas of Mindanao if the BBL is not passed,” he told reporters.

Under the opt-in clause of the proposed BBL, the provinces to the proposed Bangsamoro territory may decide to be part of the political entity through a plebiscite.  

But lawmakers are wary of that provision, warning of a potential “creeping” expansion by the Bangsamoro.

Aquino’s  made his statement after the leaders of the House of Representatives and the Senate chose to delete from the draft BBL the controversial provision allowing provinces to join the proposed Bangsamoro region after a plebiscite.

The BBL embodies the government’s peace agreement with the MILF. It seeks to create a new Bangsamoro political entity to replace the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.

The draft BBL is still undergoing plenary debates in the House and committee deliberations in the Senate.

Aquino is urging the public to support the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law as it is getting delayed in Congress.

He cited the importance of enacting the measure that aims to establish a Bangsamoro political entity based on the peace deal between the government and the MILF.

Aquino said all he could do was convince Congress leaders to pass the bill.

“All I can do is try and convince the leaders of both chambers and their members of the importance of this particular bill and that it turns into a law. Sa dami namang nakakausap ko cognizant sila na talagang kailangan natin ito at kailangang maipatupad as soon as possible,” Aquino said.

He said both chambers had been working overtime to pass the BBL.

“The details of the draft bill are being scrutinized by both chambers. We held several meetings and there were    marathon sessions until     2:30  am. Was it Saturday or Sunday? Sunday, another meeting to discuss this and what we were supposed to do,” Aquino said.

http://manilastandardtoday.com/2015/06/12/aquino-says-he-can-expand-bangsamoro-law-by-executive-order/