(Eagle News)–The Palace on Thursday, May 31, lauded the passage of the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law in both the Senate and the House of Representatives.
“We are pleased that both houses passed their respective versions of the BBL. The certification was a signal that the President considers the BBL as absolutely indispensable in the search for peace in Mindanao,” Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said.
He said Malacanang was also “pleased that both houses of Congress agreed to come up with a final version of the bill during the break.”
“We are very pleased that they are aiming that (so that the) President can sign the final BBL on the day of the Sona itself,” Roque said.
The Senate passed its version of the BBL on the last day of session, with a unanimous vote from the senators, who all voted except for Senator Manny Pacquiao, who was in General Santos at that time, and Leila de Lima, who is detained in Camp Crame over drug-related cases.
In the Senate version, the original “Bangsamoro territory” that was supposed to replace the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao was changed to a “Bangsamoro jurisdiction.”
Palawan was also removed as part of the region, and the would-be Bangsamoro government was made a mere autonomous region that had no “reserved powers.”
Hours before, the House of Representatives approved on third and final reading its proposed BBL.
The substitute to House Bill 6475 was approved on third reading since it was certified as urgent by President Rodrigo Duterte.
This was after the House passed the measure on second reading, with a vote of 226-11.
Two lawmakers abstained.