Marcos Clarifies Substitute Bill Will Not Abandon Draft BBL

(PNA) – Senator Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos on Thursday clarified that his proposal to come out with a substitute bill would not mean abandoning the draft Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL).

”What I’m doing right now is preparing the list of possible amendments. I would like to clarify that substitute bill contains proposals that are not contain in the original version of the BBL,” Marcos explained to the media during the weekly Kapihan sa Senado.

In fact, Marcos said only close to 50 percent of the draft BBL that Malacanang submitted to the Senate will be changed in the committee report he is preparing and will be submitted for plenary debates after the State of the Nation Address (SONA) of President Benigno Aquino III next month.

”At least 49 percent will be changed. A substitute bill is a list of possible amendments,” Marcos, chairman of the Senate committee on local government, said.

Marcos also clarified his proposed amendments will be submitted for approval of the 19 members of his committee before it will be forwarded to the plenary.

”I’m going to make proposals to the committee. It is the committee that will approve. If approved by the committee, it will be put as substitute bill,” Marcos explained.

He said some of the provisions that are expected to be removed or amended include the opt-in provision which allow an area to be included in the Bangsamoro government territory upon the petition of 10 percent of the population.

”Debates are also expected to focus on the power sharing, constitutional bodies, fiscal and monetary, police, and taxation,” Marcos said.

Marcos downplayed insinuation that he is blocking the passage of the BBL.

”I don’t feel alluded to,” Marcos said, reacting to the statement of President Benigno Aquino III that some lawmakers are opposing the passage of the BBL.

”I have not stopped the process of deliberating the BBL. I have no desire to get in the way to pass BBL,” he added.

Marcos has conducted 15 public hearings, including five in some Mindanao areas including Jolo, Sulu. (PNA) CTB/JFM