PRESIDENT Benigno Aquino III admitted in Paris that the controversial Bangsamoro Basic Law may not be enacted into law within his term, but he remains confident that the measure will inevitably be approved in the future.
Aquino reiterated his assurance the Philippines, particularly the Southern Mindanao, will finally achieve a long-lasting peace, but conceded this may only happen after he steps down from office.
“I am still confident that there is still a very strong push that can be made. Of course, we’d want it to happen sooner rather than later, but at the end of the day, I think the movement towards having the BBL in its present form or with a little modification is really just a question of time.
“It will happen,” he added. I hope during my time, but if not, I think it is inevitable that we will be having that kind of law.”
The passage of the proposed BBL has been hampered due to the apparent refusal of lawmakers to pass the measure because of controversial provisions that, surveys showed, have earned the disapproval of voters.
The controversial bill is also facing stiff opposition from groups questioning the legality of some of its provision, including the taxing powers to the Bangsamoro government and the inclusion of areas that do not want to join the new entity.
Some group and its critics then vowed that they will challenge the bill before the Supreme Court if Aquino signs it into law.
But Aquino maintained that the BBL should be enacted sooner than later stressing that it is timely to pass the bill since election period is still months away.
He also does not believe that there is a deliberate delaying tactics to prevent the bill from being passed within his term.
“Is it a deliberate move? I don’t think it’s a deliberate move although some quarters are probably encouraging it,” Aquino said, claiming that the BBL would even prevent the increase of extremism in the country.