MALACAÑANG indicated on Thursday it need not mobilize Aquino administration allies dominating the 24-member Senate to reverse the position of 12 senators that the Palace-endorsed Bangsamoro basic law (BBL) version submitted to Congress contained key provisions found to be “essentially unconstitutional.”
Secretary Herminio B. Coloma Jr., communications chief, assured that the Palace fully recognizes the separation of powers between the Executive and the lawmakers belonging to a co-equal branch of government.
“Their [senators] view was formed on the basis of the original draft BBL,” Coloma pointed out.
He added: “They are free to do what is needed to ensure that the law will pass constitutional scrutiny.”
Coloma’s clarification signaled a shift in the Palace position conveyed by officials earlier to pass the BBL as is, discouraging lawmakers from introducing amendments that would tend to “water down” the proposed legislation creating a new entity for Muslims in Mindanao.
The Palace remains hopeful Congress leaders would fulfill their pledge to Mr. Aquino to pass the final version of the BBL before the Senate and the House adjourns for a monthlong recess in June, according to Coloma.
But the Senate committee hearing the BBL is not yet done with public hearings on the bill, which means deferment of Senate floor deliberations and further delay voting to pass the final version of the BBL before Congress adjourns on June 11, as earlier agreed by lawmakers.
Malacanang, however, has yet to signify readiness to convene Congress to an extended special session just to tackle the BBL, given Mr. Aquino’s approved timetable for installing officials of the new entity that would replace the soon-to-be-abolished Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.