House panel to finalize draft Bangsamoro law while on recess
MANILA, Philippines - The House of Representatives ad hoc committee on the draft Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) aims to finish its review of the proposed measure while lawmakers are on recess.
In an interview with ABS-CBN News Channel, chair of the panel and Cagayan De Oro Rep. Rufus Rodriguez said that they will have an executive session regarding the proposed BBL on April 6.
The House will be on recess from March 18 to May 4, Rodriguez noted.
The lawmaker added that the delay of the submission of the Board of Inquiry (BOI) report on the Mamasapano incident affected the panel's BBL timeline.
"The BOI report is important to us not because we want to know really who are responsible, who are to be blamed for the Mamasapano massacre of our policemen, but it would be more in aid of legislation," Rodriguez explained.
Rodriguez noted that the House panel is yet to finalize its provisions on regarding national security and the separate Bangsamoro police.
Under the proposed BBL, the Bangsamoro would have its own police force under the command of its chief minister.
The lawmaker cited the Constitution, stating that all police forces should be under the National Police Commission and the Philippine National Police (PNP) chief.
"Under our constitution we only have one police force which is national in scope and civilian in character, which should be under the administrative control and supervision of the National Police Comission," Rodriguez explained.
In line with this, the House panel intends to invite Interior and Local Government Sceretary Mar Roxas, Philippine National Police officer-in-charge Leonardo Espina, Armed Forces of the Philippines chief Gregorio Catapang and BOI chief Benjamin Magalongon the BBL hearing scheduled on April 6.
According to Rodriguez, Roxas and Espina would be asked to give their insight on the police provision of the BBL while Catapang will be consulted on how the army should operate on the Bangsamoro region.
Magalong is expected to present the BOI's final report on the investigation of the Mamasapano operation, wherein 44 police commandos were killed during an encounter with Moro rebels last January 25.
Rodriguez added that he had initial issues on the provisions of the BBL that creates separate Commission on Audit, Commission on Elections, Civil Service Commission, Ombudsman and Commision on Human Rights on the Bangsamoro region.
The BBL House panel is yet to address the unconstitutional provisions of the proposed measure before passing it for plenary approval.
The lawmaker expressed his confidence that the BBL will be passed once the said provisions have been amended to comply with the Constitution.
According to documents from the House, around P117 billion is said to be allotted for the implementation of the proposed BBL on its first year.
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