Pass BBL first, then let Supreme Court study constitutionality - MILF chair

From ABS-CBN (Mar 5): Pass BBL first, then let Supreme Court study constitutionality - MILF chair

[Video report]

 

Moro Islamic Liberation Front Chairman Murad Ebrahim on Monday said Congress should first pass the Bangsamoro Basic Law and then have the Supreme Court scrutinize the law for unconstitutional provisions.

"Many are trying to articulate that there are unconstitutional provision, but they cannot particularly point out what are the unconstitutional provisions...Let the Supreme Court decide, 'yun ang position namin," he told ANC's Early Edition.

He said the Supreme Court previously declined to comment on cases questioning the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro and Framework Agreement on the Bangsamoro because they were not yet laws.
"Ang sabi namin, we pass the BBL and then if it is passed then let the Supreme Court scrutinize if (it is) unconstitutional. As agreed upon, we are willing to park it, whatever is pointed out as unconstitutional and work out an amendment to the Constitution," he said.

Murad said they have received assurance from Senator Miguel Zubiri, chair of the Senate subcommittee on the BBL, that there will be no watering down of the current version pending in their chamber.

"We are hoping that if Senate can pass their version, it will encourage the House to follow," he said.

Anti-dynasty provision difficult for Bangsamoro, says Zubiri

The BBL aims to finalize the peace compact signed by the Philippine government and the MILF in 2014. A version of the bill under the previous administration failed to pass because of provisions viewed to be unconstitutional.

http://news.abs-cbn.com/video/news/03/05/18/pass-bbl-first-then-let-supreme-court-study-constitutionality-milf-chair