Senate panel to hold hearings on proposed BBL in Mindanao

MANILA, Philippines - Senate committee on local government chairman  Ferdinand Marcos Jr. will hold hearings in Mindanao to involve the various stakeholders in deliberations on the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law.

“We will give everybody a chance to study the proposed law so that we would know their respective positions,” he said.

The proposed law  would ultimately affect residents of Mindanao, he added.

Marcos said that he will also listen to the opinions of people opposed to the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law, not just those of the proponents.

“All of the opinions and positions will be reflected in our report,” he said. “It is not the job of Congress to adjudicate the grounds they will be raising and to dismiss these.” 

Marcos assured all stakeholders that the Senate will hear all their opinions and concerns when the committee starts tackling the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law later this year.

“It will be a thorough process and it will take a little time because it’s complicated and there are annexes that we have to study in relation to the basic law,” he said.

Marcos said the committee on local government will start off by asking for a briefing from the people who drew up the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law since the lawmakers have very little information about it.

His committee and the committee on peace, unification and reconciliation chaired by Teofisto Guingona III will work on the proposed law as soon as it is referred to them, he added.

Marcos said after they have heard the details, the two committees would be able to segregate the different issues for discussion and then schedule the hearings.

“This is not a simple issue because we are establishing a government here,” he said. – With Jose Rodel Clapano, Roel Pareño, Pia Lee-Brago