Metro Manila (CNN Philippines) — It’s not as bad as Senator Marcos described it.
This was Palace spokesperson Secretary Edwin Lacierda’s reaction on Thursday (June 4) when asked about the pronouncements of Sen. Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. regarding the draft Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) being reviewed by the Senate.
Lacierda took exception to Marcos’ conclusion that the BBL “will lead to perdition.”
“We strongly disagree with that,” Lacierda said. “In fact, it is a bill that will rather lead to a genuine and peaceful solution to the situation in Mindanao.”
He added that the BBL was crafted after listening to the concerns of all stakeholders — in stark contrast to Marcos’ assessment that major stakeholders like the Moro National Liberation Front, the Sultanate of Sulu, the lumad, indigenous people, Christians and local government units in Mindanao were “totally ignored” by the Office of the Presidential Peace Process (OPAPP).
Marcos — who chairs the Committee on Local Government which conducted a series of hearings and consultations on the BBL — said in a privilege speech on Wednesday (June 3) that he could not support the proposed measure in its present form as its flaws would only lead to more bloodshed in the south.
“I am for peace. I share our people’s thirst for peace. Pero napakarami pong mga masamang probisyon na napapaloob sa BBL at kung tatanggalin ko pong isa-isa, baka maski kahit anong retoke ang gawin, hindi makayang maibalik sa dating anyo ang BBL,” Marcos said.
[Translation: “I am for peace. I share our people’s thirst for peace. But the BBL has so many harmful provisions and if I were to take them out one by one, it would become practically unrecognizable.”]
Marcos also bucked the June 11 deadline set by Malacañan for the passage of the BBL.
“Hindi po tayo padadala sa emosyon at sa pulitika. Hindi ako makapapayag na ma-railroad ang BBL sa aking Komite. It is complex enough as it is. Why rush it?”
[Translation: “We will not be swayed by politics and emotions. I wont’ allow this to be railroaded in my committee. It is complex enough as it is. Why rush it?”]
To solve the problem, Marcos said, he will file his version of a Bangsamoro bill that will address all the flaws of the present one.
He enumerated several of these flaws or “constitutional infirmities” based on a report by Senator Miriam Santiago’s Committee on Constitutional Amendment and Revision of Codes, and they were as follows:
The BBL provides for a parliamentary form of government within a presidential form of government.
It seeks to impose limitations to the power of Congress; the Bangsamoro Parliament would be equal, not subordinate, to Congress.
Its exclusive powers will diminish the sovereignty of the republic.
It has no power to create a “Bangsamoro territory.”
Meanwhile, Senate President Franklin Drilon said Marcos’s statements was no cause for concern.
Drilon, who is a Liberal Party-mate of President Benigno Aquino III, said that the Senate will still review and make sure the draft law would fall within the boundaries of the Constitution.
“Remember, the Senate is a collegial body. No one can dictate. The senators are all independent, they have their own independent assessment of the situation.”
CNN Philippines’ Anjo Alimario and Anna Estanislao contributed to this report.
