A group belonging to the independent bloc in the House of Representatives yesterday warned against passing a Bangsamoro Bill that is “half-baked” that might give false hopes not only to the Bangsamoro people, but also to the Filipino nation.
Leyte Rep. Ferdinand Martin Romualdez, leader of the independent bloc, aired the warning after the House leadership reiterated its commitment to pass the Bangsamoro Basic Law this month despite certain misgivings from some members of the legislature as well surveys that showed a large majority of the people not in favor of the bill following the Mamasapano massacre.
The 75-man panel, headed by Cagayan de Oro Rep. Rufus Rodriguez, is scheduled to start voting on the BBL today, a process that may last for three days.
Malacañang is pushing Congress to pass the bill which it said will redound to the best interests of the country.
“Nananalig kami na sa kanilang pagpapasya isasaalang-alang ng ating mga mambabatas ang pambansang interes at ang kapakanan ng mga mamamayan sa buong Mindanao [We hope that our lawmakers will consider the national interest and the welfare of the people of Mindanao in making their decision],” Presidential Communications Operations Secretary Herminio Coloma, Jr. said.
“We support peace but should stand against passing a half-baked BBL that might end up being questioned before the Supreme Court (SC). There is a need to thoroughly study the provisions of the BBL. Let us not give false hopes about the peace measure because this is what the Mindanaoans need,” Romualdez, also president of the Philippine Constitution Association (Philconsa), said.
He asked his colleagues to pass a legally-acceptable BBL, which could address the roots of armed conflict in Mindanao to once and for all attain lasting and genuine peace in the region.
“This measure must be approved in consonance with the Constitution and existing laws,” Romualdez said.
Chief government peace negotiator Prof. Miriam Coronel-Ferrer said Congress should heed the voice of the majority of the people in the proposed core territory of the Bangsamoro who favor the replacement of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) government by the Bangsamoro.
Manila Bulletin
