Metro Manila (CNN Philippines) – A busload of representatives from different organizations presented their agenda to lawmakers loud and clear: pass the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL).
Supporters of the BBL urged lawmakers to pass the measure through a peace caravan from the House of Representatives to the Senate on Tuesday (January 19).
The group said the trip from the House to the Senate symbolizes the long-winded process of passing the BBL, with the traffic along the way representing the setback of the peace process.
A gasoline pump was set up in front of the Lower House gates to symbolize how much gas is needed to pass the BBL.
Also read: GPH, MILF peace panels urge Congress to ‘not lose time’ in passing BBL
Deletions to BBL not a problem, lawmakers’ chronic absenteeism is
House ad hoc committee on the Bangsamoro Basic Law Chairman Rufus Rodriguez earlier said 40 provisions were removed from the BBL.
Also read: Changes in proposed Bangsamoro law
Anak Mindanao (AMIN) Partylist Rep. Djalia Hataman appeared unfazed by the deletions, saying these are geared towards bringing the bill back to what was agreed upon in 2014.
She said, however, that while the committee’s version is less than what was expected, she along with other advocates will not settle for a law that is less than what established the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).
She urged her colleagues in Congress to muster a quorum during plenary sessions so that the BBL can be taken up.
The bill is now in the stage of amendments at the plenary floor.
Government peace panel chair Miriam Coronel-Ferrer echoed Hataman in saying that the 40 provisions removed from the law did not remove the essence of the BBL.
She said the lower chamber’s version of the bill is more cab-compliant than the upper chamber’s version.
Although she admitted chronic absenteeism in the lower house also poses a problem in the passage of the bill.
Also read: Senate defers BBL deliberations
She said she hopes lawmakers get to a vote – whether they are for the bill or against it – so that the government can plan how to move forward.
Also read: Pulse Asia: 44% of Pinoys against Bangsamoro law
