The House Ad Hoc Committee on the proposed Bangsamaoro Basic Law (BBL) decided last night to vote for the amendments introduced by at least 12 congressmen Monday next week and possibly vote for the approval of the bill by Wednesday.
Cagayan de Oro 2nd district Rep. Rufus Rodriguez, ad hoc committee chairman, decided to reset the voting for next week to enable the panel secretariat to collate all the proposed amendments introduced by the congressmen.
“We will not be able to have voting today (Monday) because we will have to collate [the proposed amendments] …we will give you more time to study the proposals. We set the voting for the amendments for Monday next week,” Rodriguez said.
“The committee needs time to consolidate (the amendments), reproduce copies,” said Senior Deputy Majority Leader Rep. Jorge Banal of Quezon City’s 3rd District.
Earlier, Malacañang appealed to the members of the House committee to vote for the proposed BBL.
The measure, a priority bill of President Aquino, seeks to create a Bangsamoro political entity in line with a peace agreement forged between the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF). Deliberations on the bill had been disrupted by the Mamasapano tragedy in which the MILF was blamed for the death of some 44 police commandos.
President Aquino, in a recent interview, said he had been assured by Rodriguez that deliberations on the bill would be completed by May 11 or 12. Voting on the various provisions of the bill was scheduled to start yesterday.
Manila Bulletin
