(Eagle News) – Two committees of the House of Representatives approved on Monday, April 16, House Bill 6475, which was based on the recommendation of the Bangsamoro Transition Council.
The House special committee on peace, unity and reconciliation, and the committee on Muslim affairs voted to pass the bill authored by Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez, but the committee on local government rejected the same.
On May 15, the House panels will meet again to determine whether or not to approve the committee report on HB 6475.
Under HB 6475, the Bangsamoro, which will remain a part of the Philippines, will be composed of:
- The present geographical area of the ARMM
- the municipalities of Baloi, Munai, Nunungan, Pantar, Tagolan and Tangkal in the province of Lanao del Norte and all other barangays in the Municipalities of Kabacan, Carmen, Aleosan, Pigkawayan, Pikit, and Midsayap that voted for inclusion in the ARMM during the 2001 plebiscite;
- the cities of Cotabatao and Isabela; and
- all other contiguous areas where there is resolution of the local government unit or a petition of at least 10 percent of the registered voters in the area asking for their inclusion at least two months prior to the conduct of the ratification of the Basic Law and the process of delimitation of the Bangsamoro.
A Bangsamoro Military Command of the Armed Forces of the Philippines is also proposed by the bill, even if defense of the Bangsamoro will remain with the central government.
HB 6475 is only one of the four BBL proposals in the House.
House Bills 92, 6121 and 6263 authored by Reps. Bai Sandra Sema, Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and Mohamad Khalid Dimaporo, respectively, have also been filed in the Lower Chamber.
