(Eagle News) – The speech for President Rodrigo Duterte’s third State of the Nation Address (SONA) had to undergo last minute adjustments because of the House of Representatives’ failure to ratify the Bangsamoro Organic Law, even as Malacanang called this as a “temporary setback.”
Originally, the President wanted to sign the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL) just before, or during his third SONA, which won’t happen because of the lower House’s failure to ratify this on Monday, amid reports of moves to oust Pantaleon Alvarez as House Speaker.
The Senate already ratified the proposed Bangsamoro Organic Law hours before the President’s third SONA on Monday, July 23, scheduled at 4 p.m.
Unlike the Senate, however, the House of Representatives failed to do this because of its early adjournment Monday morning amid ouster moves by other lawmakers pushing for the replacement of House Speaker Alvarez by Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.
Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III said they were disappointed that the lower House failed to ratify the Bangsamoro Organic Law on Monday as was agreed upon.
But he said that the House can still ratify it tomorrow, Tuesday.
“Yun lang ang problema but they can ratify it tomorrow. As far as the Senate is concerned, we’ve already ratified it,” Sotto said in an interview with reporters after arriving in Congress for the SONA.
Senate Majority Floor leader Juan Miguel Zubiri expressed sadness that the House of Representatives failed to ratify the Bangsamoro Organic Law.
“Malungkot na malungkot ako na ‘di natuloy ang pag-aprub ng bicam report sa HOR ng BOL,” Zubiri said.
Because of the failure of the House of Representatives to ratify the Bangsamoro Organic Law, the speech of President Duterte had to be “edited” and adjusted, sources said.
The House suddenly adjourned its session on Monday, July 23, without ratifying the BOL, even as Alvarez touted the passage of the Bangsamoro Organic Law as one of the victories of the House under his leadership when he opened Congress’ third regular session.
Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said that this was only a “temporary setback.”
“We consider this as a temporary setback in the administration’s goal of laying the foundation for a more genuine and lasting peace Tin Mindanao,” Roque said.
He said that President Duterte will sign the bill as soon as both houses of Congress have ratified it.