Monday, September 28, 2015

MILF: December 16 is new deadline for BBL passage

Posted to the MILF Website (Sep 28): December 16 is new deadline for BBL passage

The Philippine Star reported on September 24 that the House of Representatives led by Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr., set December 16 as the new calendar for approval of the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) after meeting with President Benigno Aquino in Malacañan who pleaded to have the BBL passed before he steps down from office.

The proposed Bangsamoro law is facing opposition due to its allegedly perceived unconstitutional provisions.

Cagayan de Oro Rep. Rufus Rodriguez, Chairman of the 75-member ad hoc committee on the BBL issued  the statement on September 23 after the House closed plenary debates on the measure to give way to deliberations on the proposed P3.002-trillion national budget for 2016.

“On Nov. 3, we’ll hit the ground running because the budget will be on its way to the Senate, and we can resume deliberations on the BBL and finish it, including the period of amendments until Nov. 30,” he said.

Once plenary deliberations on the proposed budget start, no other measure will be entertained on the floor until it is passed in the chamber, he added.

Rodriguez said the House still has 13 interpellators listed while the Senate has four.
“It may even happen that the Senate will pass it ahead of us,” he said.

Rodriguez said that with the new timetable, BBL might be passed and ratified by Congress on or about Dec. 16 and signed into law by Aquino before the end of the year.

He added that the administration is eyeing the holding of the plebiscite by March after Aquino would have appointed the first members of the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA).

The BTA members will hold office until 2019 when the election of members of the Bangsamoro parliament will be held.

Meanwhile, on September 26, Malacañan said it would continue to push for the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law to ensure long-term peace and development in Mindanao, Philstar said in its September 27 issue.

Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte said that President Aquino was committed to have the bill passed as it would give the people of Mindanao the chance to truly live in peace.

Malacañan earlier said the executive branch was working on the BBL amendments to address the concerns both of Congress and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), the Philstar report also said.

Valte also welcomed the pronouncement of MILF chief negotiator Mohagher Iqbal that there would be no bloody war should the BBL fail to pass. Iqbal gave assurance the MILF is committed to peace-building efforts.(Source: Philstar)

http://www.luwaran.com/index.php/new/item/592-december-16-is-new-deadline-for-bbl-passage

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