The adoption of the supposed anti-dynasty provision in the Senate version of the Bangsamoro Basic Law, described by the Senate minority leader as toothless to address the ill effects of political dynasties, was struck down during the bicameral conference committee’s deliberations on the proposed BBL of both Houses of Congress on Tuesday.
Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon said he did not oppose the move of the bicameral committee, which is composed of senators and congressmen who were tasked to harmonize contentious issues on their respective BBL proposals.
He said the anti-political dynasty provision in the Senate version was strongly opposed by some members of the panel.
“As a form of protest, I did not argue and push for its adoption anymore because the provision, as crafted, is useless,” Drilon said.
House members also rejected the anti-dynasty provision in the proposed BBL as it violates the “equal protection” clause of the Constitution, House Majority Leader and Ilocos Norte Rep. Rodolfo Fariñas said.
He said the members of the bicameral conference committee agreed to delete the provision during the second day of their meeting, which is intended to reconcile the conflicting provisions in the measure.
“It was dropped by the Senate after we cited the flaws of the provision that violates the equal protection clause of the Constitution as it applies only to a party representative but not to a district representative and only applies to elective officials of the proposed region to the exclusion of all other elective officials of the country,” Fariñas said.
Meanwhile, a rebel leader said the provisions of a draft law that will grant wider autonomy to the Muslim minority in the south was “above” the political entity that it would replace.
“I can say now without fear of contradiction that the BBL will come out as not watered-down because as of now, right now, at this moment, the BBL is above ARMM,” said MILF vice chairman for political affairs Ghazali Jaafar.
Drilon said the anti-dynasty provision was a much weaker provision than that provided in the Sangguniang Kabataan law.
Such provision, he said, would not really curb the dynastic behavior.
“We might as well do away with it,” said Drilon, adding what was needed is a strong regulation of dynasties applicable to all public officers.
“I already signed a committee report regulating it,” Drilon said.
Senator Francis Escudero said the provision was deleted because it “applies only to party-list representatives and not to the other members of parliament or other officials of the Bangsamoro.”
“It is, therefore, selective, discriminatory and ineffective per the Bicam,” he said.
Senate President Vicente Sotto III said he was happy that the anti-political dynasty provision was removed.
“Otherwise, we will be disenfranchising the legitimate family members while mistresses and their relatives will be allowed instead because they do not classify under the second degree of consanguinity,” he said.
The House’s version of the BBL, House Bill 6475, does not have an anti-political dynasty provision.
Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri, chairman of the subcommittee on the BBL, earlier defended the anti-dynasty provision as essential to the Bangsamoro.
