By Jelly F. Santiago
MANILA, June 4 (PNA) — Malacanang is leaving it up to its allies in the Senate to defend the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL), which a Palace official said “will stand constitutional scrutiny.”
Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda, in a briefing Thursday, said the Aquino government believes “that BBL is the solution to Mindanao.”
“Certainly, we have some disagreements with Senator Bongbong Marcos on the BBL (Bangsamoro Basic Law), but we believe that the BBL, as drafted and as reviewed by our office as well as by the commission, would stand scrutiny,” he said.
The proposed measure has passed the Committee level in the House of Representatives and the Palace official hopes for the same in the Senate so that there will be a bicam (bicameral committee) “as soon as possible to iron out the final BBL.”
“We hope that the Senate will be able to come up with a BBL that will be acceptable to all stakeholders,” Lacierda said.
Lacierda stressed that they “are always willing to work with the Senate insofar as coming up with a BBL as soon as possible” especially since the draft BBL was proposed after consultations with various stakeholders.
“I think our BBL draft is the best or is the most practicable solution to finding peace and — finding lasting peace and development in Mindanao,” he said.
The Palace executive maintained that they remain hopeful that the said measure will be passed by the bicam before President Benigno Aquino III’s State of the Nation Address (SONA) in July.
He added that a referendum has to be done before the Bangsamoro Transition Authority can be established and then the election of the Bangsamoro leaders, which is eyed to be synchronized with the 2016 elections. (PNA)