Philconsa challenges Bangsamoro Organic Law's constitutionality before SC

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Constitution Association asked the Supreme Court to strike down the Bangsamoro Organic Law as unconstitutional.

Philconsa, the association founded in 1961 to “defend, preserve and protect the Constitution,” filed a petition and asked the high tribunal to issue a halt order against the BOL or Republic Act 11054.

Phil. Constitution Association files petition in SC challenging constitutionality of Bangsamoro Organic Law | @edupunay

— The Philippine Star (@PhilippineStar) December 18, 2018

Retired Court of Appeals Presiding Justice Manuel Lazaro and lawyer Rodolfo Reyes filed the petition.

Named as respondents are the Senate of the Philippines represented by Senate President Vicente Sotto III, the House of Representatives represented by House Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and the Office of the President represented by Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea.

A full copy of the petition has yet to be released in public as of this story’s posting.

Sulu Gov. Abdusakur Tan II, through lawyer Sixto Brillantes, earlier filed a petition seeking the declaration of the BOL as unconstitutional.

The Sulu governor said that the Congress committed grave abuse of discretion when it allowed the passage of the BOL.

Duterte signed the bill into law in July this year.

The STAR, quoting an anonymous source, earlier reported that the SC ordered the government to answer Tan’s petition.

Former Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Jesus Dureza expressed confidence that the BOL would surpass the “constitutionality test” before the SC.

READ: Dureza resigns as Duterte peace adviser

He stressed that the Bangsamoro Transition Commission that worked on the BOL complied with Duterte's directives and with “previously signed agreements in step with constitutional and legal reforms.”

He noted that both chambers of the Congress and as well as the “legal minds of the executive department” also worked on the measure before the law was signed last July.

“I am confident this petition will not stop on its tracks a new beginning for the Bangsamoro. If at all, the most this latest challenge on the new law will do is affirm its constitutionality with finality for the benefit of all Bangsamoro and all citizens as well,” Dureza added. — Kristine Joy Patag