NEWS




6April
Presidential Photo/Rolando Mailo

“BBL will be ready for signing into law by June”-Sen. Sotto

The proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) will be ready for signing into law when Congress adjourns sine die on June 1, Senate Majority Leader Vicente Sotto III said yesterday, April 4.

According to a report by Philstar, Sotto and Senate President Aquilino Pimentel III were set to meet with President Duterte and members of the Bangsamoro Transition Commission (BTC) last night to discuss the BBL. 

The timetable for the passage of BBL is one of those expected to be taken up, Sen Sotto disclosed.

 If both houses approve the proposed BBL before June 1, the President would have until July 22 to go over the bill so he could report it out during his State of the Nation Address (SONA) on July 23, Philstar quoting Sen. Sotto saying.  

“Hopefully (it will be signed before the SONA). It would be ideal. It will be a good development even for the peace process,” Sotto said.

While the President could certify the BBL as an urgent measure, Sotto said it would not affect the debates at the Senate. He said deliberations on the measure are expected to be lengthy due to various concerns raised by several senators. 

Sotto said certifying a bill as urgent would remove only the three-day rule before it could be approved on third reading after second reading. (Source: Philstar)