The Market Monitor Minding the Nation's Business
Although legislative support for the Bangsamoro Basic Law appears to have crumbled following the Mamasapano clash, Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. has said the House of Representatives would try to meet the June 11, 2015, deadline the passage of the measure.
Belmonte acknowledged that, “this is not a good time to bring it out there,” but promised to “extend the life of the ad-hoc panel so that it can continue hearing the BBL.”
The committee headed by Cagayan de Oro Rep. Rufus Rodriguez is composed mostly of congressmen from Mindanao who, Belmonte said, are not very enthusiastic about the BBL.
The Speaker gave assurances that consultations on the BBL being conducted by the House special committee would continue. “The members can continue to consult among themselves. I’m hopeful we will be able to do it eventually. I’m not hopeful it can be done,” Belmonte said.
House Deputy Speaker and Isabela Rep. Giorgidi Aggabao and 1-BAP Party-list Rep. Silvestre Bello III said it would be difficult to get the BBL approved as drafted and presented to Congress by the government peace panel because of its legal infirmities.
Aggabao pointed out the “many deficiencies” in the BBL provisions, which he found to be “unconstitutional.”
But Bello, a member of the House minority bloc and former peace negotiator, said, “the BBL with revisions to meet the test of constitutionality and acceptability will get the approval of Congress.”
Chief government peace negotiator Miriam Coronel-Ferrer said she still “sees positive signs” for Congress to pass the bill, though not according to the original timetable, which is next month. She expressed hopes the legislative body would act on the BBL before it adjourns.
At a press briefing, she said the government would continue to pursue a peaceful and lasting solution to the decades-old armed conflict in southern Philippines.
Ferrer and Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Teresita Deles also said they expect the MILF to sanction their men involved in the ambush according to their rules.