The bicameral conference committee on the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law is almost done with the final version of the measure.
House Majority Leader and Ilocos Norte Rep. Rodolfo Fariñas said the bicameral committee will meet Tuesday to approve the final draft and submit it to President Rodrigo Duterte for his comment.
“If he finds it to his approval, we will have it ratified in plenary by the House of Representatives and the Senate when we convene our third regular session on Monday, July 23, 2018, at 10 am, for it to be signed into law by the President on or before the Sona [State of the Nation Address] at 4 pm,” Fariñas said.
He said the bicameral conference committee is close to finishing discussions on several issues in the proposed Bangsamoro Region.
“We will still resolve matters pertaining to telecommunications and franchises, among others,” Fariñas said.
The BBL proposes to establish the Bangsamoro juridical entity, which will replace the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.
Senate Majority Leader Miguel Zubiri, meanwhile, said the bicameral conference committee agreed to have the Bangsamoro and the Department of Energy jointly explore, develop, and utilize fossil fuels and uranium in the new region.
“What we agreed upon was the Senate version wherein the Bangsamoro government and the DoE jointly explore and utilize these resources,” Zubiri said.
Zubiri also said the bicameral committee has already approved the provisions covering the Bangsamoro justice system, which includes the creation of the Shari’ah High Court.
Zubiri said under the approved version, cases involving Muslims and Christians would be under the jurisdiction of the ordinary trial courts.
The Shari’ah or Islamic Law, which forms part of the Islamic tradition derived from religious precepts of Islam, particularly of the Qur’an and Hadith, will only apply to cases involving Muslims, the approved provision stated.
However, it may apply to non-Muslims who voluntarily submit to the jurisdiction of the Shari’ah courts.
Meanwhile, traditional or tribal laws will be applicable to disputes of indigenous peoples within the envisioned Bangsamoro region.
“The provisions of this article shall not prejudice the rights of non-Muslims and non-indigenous peoples,” the draft reads.
Meanwhile, reports said the bicameral committee appeared deadlocked over who will exercise control over the Sulu Sea and the Moro Gulf, rich fishing grounds that benefit several provinces in Mindanao.
A group of retired generals declared its support for the BBL.
“The Association of Generals and Flag Officers fully supports the program of President Rodrigo R. Duterte’s program, especially in the issue of the Bangsamoro Basic Law. We are confident that the President has developed a meaningful program to bring about peace in Mindanao,” Raul Urgello, AGFO president, said.
The Armed Forces of the Philippines also expressed its commitment to the peaceful resolution of conflict and attainment of a lasting peace and development in the Bangsamoro region.
“The cooperation and solidarity among us is necessary now more than ever, as we are only a few steps closer to achieving the objectives of the transition process. I trust that we shall see better days ahead for our brothers and sisters in Mindanao,” said AFP chief Gen. Carlito Galvez Jr., after meeting with members of the Bangsamoro Transition Committee headed by its chairman, Commissioner Ghazali Jaafar, at Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City Thursday afternoon.
During the meeting, AFP Peace and Development Office head, Col. Cesar de Mesa, presented updates on the military’s efforts in support of the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro.
Efforts are currently focused on ensuring the successful implementation of the various peace mechanisms, particularly, the AFP’s creation of Joint Peace and Security Teams with the Philippine National Police and Moro Islamic Liberation Front.
