By John Unson in Philippine Star

 

COTABATO CITY, Philippines - The 75-member ad-hoc committee the House of Representatives organized on Wednesday to study the draft Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) will start deliberating on the bill on September 24.

 

Cagayan de Oro Rep. Rufus Rodriguez, chair of the newly organized committee, said they will initially convene on September 24 to set organizational policies on the handling the draft BBL.

 

“We also have to define the rules of the committee and set the calendar of its activities,” Rodriguez said in a phone interview with Catholic station dxMS here Thursday morning.

 

Rodriguez said the ad-hoc committee, organized Wednesday afternoon, pools together all six House committees that handle peace and security, justice, reconciliation, local government, budget and defense issues.

 

“This is to fast-track the enactment into law of the draft BBL,” Rodriguez told dxMS.

 

President Benigno S. Aquino III endorsed the draft BBL to House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. and Senate President Franklin Drilon in a symbolic turnover rite Wednesday morning in Malacañang.

 

The event was witnessed by officials of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, led by ARMM Gov. Mujiv Hataman, and his five constituent-provincial governors, Jum Akbar of Basilan, Esmael Mangudadatu of Maguindanao, Mamintal Adiong Jr. of Lanao del Sur, Hadji Sakur Tan Jr. of Sulu and Nurbert Sahali of Tawi-Tawi.

 

Rodriguez said members of the ad-hoc committee will tour provinces in the proposed Bangsamoro core territory to consult stakeholders on the draft BBL.

 

The BBL, once enacted into law and ratified via a plebiscite in selected southern areas, will pave the way for the replacement of the ARMM with a more politically and administratively empowered Bangsamoro self-governing entity.

 

The creation of the BBL is based on the March 27, 2014 Comprehensive Agreement on Bangsamoro, which is the final peace compact between the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front.

 

Rodriguez said he is confident his colleagues in the House will support the enactment of the draft BBL.

 

“There are almost 70 of us from Mindanao, including those in the partylist. I’m sure we will all together support all efforts to have the BBL soon,” Rodriguez said.

 

Rodriguez said the ad-hoc committee has to expedite the passage of the draft BBL.

 

“There was considerable delay in its submission to Congress because the President did not want the draft BBL to go against the Constitution. That was understandable,” he added.

 

Rodriguez said the enactment of the BBL is a “win-win solution” to the decades-old Mindanao Moro issue.

 

“This is a win-win solution for all so let’s work on this for the sake of peace in the Bangsamoro,” he said.