BTC commissioner optimistic MILF will accept bicam’s BBL version

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines — A commissioner of the Bangsamoro Transition Committee (BTC) yesterday expressed optimism that the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) will accept the final draft of the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL).

The measure is up for approval by the bicameral committee (bicam) of Congress next month.

BTC commissioner Jose Lorena said he is positive the bicam will pass a BBL version which will address not only the gaps in the existing Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao law but also be consistent with the peace agreements forged with the government during years of negotiation.

There were apprehensions that the MILF might not accept the final version, citing that what was approved recently by the House of Representatives and the Senate was a “diluted” version of the BBL draft submitted by the BTC.

“I think the MILF is pragmatic enough to understand that legislation requires that. It means I am optimistic because the President is so committed that the legislation will not only answer the gap but will answer the historical injustices,” Lorena said.

He said he would not want to prejudge the actions of the bicam but believed the committee will pass a BBL law that is better than what the ARMM had and a law that will be good for the Bangsamoro region.

The bicam is scheduled to meet and pass the BBL measure by July 8 to 15 or even extend the discussion before it will be submitted to President Duterte in time for his State of the Nation Address (SONA) on July 23.

Undersecretary Nabil Tan, deputy Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP), said it is within the authority of the BTC to propose a partly constitutional provision and wait for the constitutional revision.

“But in the meantime BBL can already proceed,” he said.

At least 11 MILF nominees in the BTC, of whom seven are senior leaders, were aware when President Duterte launched the BTC that they have powers and functions to draft the BBL. They were also tasked to look at provisions that could be perceived as unconstitutional.

Since majority of the MILF leadership are members of the BTC, they will work on those provisions to make it constitutional by submitting it during the constitutional amendment part of the process.