“It’s high time to pass the long-delayed measure:” Sen. Hontiveros

• Jan 24, 2018
• Arland Abubakkar, Luwaran
• HITS: 1307

During the hearing on the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) in Senate on Tuesday, January 23, Sen. Risa Hontiveros called on her fellow lawmakers to shift focus and work together in passing the Bangsamoro Law amid the ongoing tension between the Senate and the House of Representatives.

In a report by Philstar on January 23, Hontiveros said it is high time to pass the “long-delayed” measure.

“Instead of the endless and self-serving talks on extending the term limits of public officials, let us deliberate the passage of laws such as the BBL that will benefit the people,” Philstar quoting the senator saying.

Hontiveros stressed that the BBL is an institutional recognition of the justness and legitimacy of the cause of the Bangsamoro people.

“If we really want a positive transformation of Philippine society and a progressive reinvention of our concept of national community, our Moro brothers and sisters’ full political inclusion through a genuine exercise of autonomy and ample representation in our democratic institutions, a complete acknowledgement of their claims and their ancestral lands and full respect for their cultural and respect for their cultural and religious freedoms must be realized,” Hontiveros said as quoted by Philstar.

Last January 17, Hontiveros filed Senate Bill 1652 or the “Bangsamoro Basic Law,” which was adopted from the version of the Bangsamoro Transition Commission.  

Sen. Juan Miguel Zubiri, Senate sub-committee on BBL chair withdrew his version of Bangsamoro Law and filed the BTC-crafted BBL. He earlier promised that the measure would be ready for plenary debate by March.

It can be recalled that President Rodrigo Duterte had promised to shepherd the bill through Congress, which has shown a willingness to vote according to his policy statements( Source: Philstar)

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