By Jelly F. Musico
MANILA, March 3 (PNA) – Senate President Franklin Drilon on Tuesday said the authority of the constitutional bodies should be retained under the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL).
”To my view, the constitutional bodies should retain their authority over the activities that would pertain to these constitutional bodies,” Drilon said in an ANC interview.
According to the veteran lawmaker, some of the constitutional offices that should retain their authorities are the Commission on Audit (COA), Civil Service Commission (CSC) and the Philippine National Police (PNP).
”The auditing of public funds must be done by COA,” Drilon emphasized.
If the BBL is passed, Senator Francis ‘Chiz’ Escudero said the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MIF) will be given at least Php75 billion aside from the annual Internal Revenue Allotment (IRA) and the Bottom-up budget (BuB).
Drion also said the Bangsamoro regional force must conform to the provision of the Constitution “that it must be a part of the PNP and must follow the command structure.”
”The regional police official structure now is that each region will have a regional director of the PNP. That same structure will be followed in the BBL,” Drilon said.
Drilon said even the Sharia courts should also be under the purview of the Supreme Court (SC).
”The Sharia courts under the present system are under the supervision of the Supreme Court and therefore this concept must be followed. We must maintain the sanctity of the Supreme Court,” Drilon said.
Drilon emphasized that the BBL must strictly adhere and be consistent with the Constitution.
”Otherwise, we don’t see how it will pass with unconstitutional provisions,” he said.
He said the Senate and the House of Representatives will do their best to finish the BBL before the second regular session of the 16th Congress adjourn sine die in June this year. (PNA)