(Eagle News) — President Rodrigo Duterte will meet Congress leaders and members of the Bangsamoro Transition Commission to discuss ways on how to reconcile contentious provisions in the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law.
According to House Majority Leader Rodolfo Fariñas, apart from him, Congress leaders to be present in the meeting later on Monday, May 28, were Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez, Senate President Tito Sotto III and Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri.
“Yung mga contentious portions, we agreed kung sino yung mga affected areas or persons dadalhin namin kay Presidente mamaya, para makausap namin si President because we have to admit na the negotiation process, the peace process kasi on the part of the government of the Republic of the Philippines, when you say GRP, executive ‘yun, hindi naman kasama ang legislative,” Fariñas said.
“So nag-usap-usap ang BTC and the GRP, eto yung kanilang draft. May mga counter-proposals so we would want to hear directly from the President kung ano yung final position,” he added.
He said among other things, the BTC agreed the Bangsamoro police would be under the Philippine National Police.
But the provisions on the fiscal autonomy of the Bangsamoro still have to be reconciled, Fariñas said.
“Once we meet with the President on these contentious issues, if the President certifies it as urgent after our meeting tonight, we will approve it on second and third reading tomorrow,” he said.
Both the Senate and House leadership have asked for their versions of the BBL to be certified as urgent by the President.
Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque gave the assurance the President would make the certification, saying the BBL was a priority measure.