Palace rejects Senator Marcos’ proposal for next administration enact Bangsamoro Law ~ PEACE TALK PHILIPPINES

Sunday, August 9, 2015

Palace rejects Senator Marcos’ proposal for next administration enact Bangsamoro Law

Sunday, August 09, 2015 Herbert Curia No comments

From the Website of MILF
links: http://www.luwaran.com/index.php/new/item/510-palace-rejects-senator-marcos-proposal-for-next-administration-enact-bangsamoro-law

Palace rejects Senator Marcos’ proposal for next administration enact Bangsamoro Law

Malacañang rejected yesterday, August 2 the proposal of Sen. Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to let the next administration enact the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) and insisted that it should be passed within President Aquino’s term. President Aquino’s term will end by June 30, 2016.

Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Herminio Coloma said people from Mindanao have long waited for a solution to the problems caused by conflict.

“The passage of the BBL should not be disrupted anymore,” Coloma said in an interview.
“The President is one with the leadership of Congress in giving priority to the measure,” he added.
Sen. Marcos said earlier that the Aquino administration should just let his successor push for the passage of BBL, believing there is no longer enough time to pass the measure.

Sen. Marcos, Chairman of the Senate Local Government Committee, also said he cannot rush the drafting of his substitute bill.

Coloma said those who are opposed to the measure should come up with a better alternative.
“If critics of the measure disagree on some provisions, they can discuss them in the plenary of the House and the Senate. They can discuss ways to improve the draft law and achieve the aims of the peace process,” Coloma said.

“What is important is we push for its passage because our countrymen have been waiting for concrete response to the decades-old problems of poverty caused by violence in Mindanao.”

Once passed by congress, the BBL will entrench the proposed Bangsamoro new political entity that will replace the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).

Some lawmakers who are critical of the proposed billsay that it could undermine the government’s authority over the Bangsamoro Region.