Bongbong says BBL 'a foolish attempt' at peace

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines - Sen. Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) is a poor attempt of the Aquino administration in winning the peace.

Marcos, who was in Zamboanga City on Sunday, said the BBL which he described earlier as dead - was done “very badly” as it did not engage all the sectors to support it.

He said the BBL could not bring peace with the government as it pushes for providing the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) rebels of P75 billion a year with their own military and police.

“That’s why the BBL was a foolish attempt,” Marcos said.

He said the BBL issue is already dead. 

“Hindi na papasa sa Senado, hindi na papasa sa Congress,” he said.

Marcos said what they are pushing is the substitute bill.

The senator said they will continue to deliberate on the substitute bill titled the "Basic Law for the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region."

“Ako, gusto ko talagang ipasa, dahil palagay ko maganda iyong substitute bill. Palagay ko it’s a good first step para sa kapayapaan,” Marcos said.

However, he said the practical consideration remains that they only have six session days left to pass the substitute bill.

He said the delay was due to the Palace BBL draft being forwarded to the Senate a year late and the Mamasapano incident.

Marcos also said another problem is in the House of Representative where 99 percent of the congressmen are candidates.

“We are in all efforts to bring peace in Mindanao. We have not stopped despite of the failure of the BBL – the Palace version. We are continuing to look for all possible ways," he said.