DESPITE a presidential appeal for Congress to pass the Bangsamoro Basic Law bill, Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. admitted on Thursday that the House may not be able to pass the controversial measure before Congress adjourns on Dec. 19.
Belmonte noted that there are 19 congressmen who have expressed an intent to interpellate the measure which, according to preference surveys, has gained public disapproval because of several questionable provisions.
“For the BBL, at the very least, we will finish the period of interpellation [by next week],” Belmonte said, noting that Congress is scheduled to adjourn on Dec. 19 and resume session on Jan. 18 when re-electionist lawmakers are expected to start their campaign activities.
While some of the interpellators have agreed to withdraw their request to question provisions of the bill after President Benigno Aquino III asked them to pass the measure before he steps down from office in July, other congressmen are insisting on questioning unpopular provisions.
Zamboanga City Rep. Celso Lobregat led what appeared to be a filibuster when he took all of eight hours to finish his interpellation. Other lawmakers are expected to take the same amount of time.
Even if the Liberal Party chooses to railroad the measure in the House, the controversial bill faces rougher sailing in the Senate with several senators questioning the propriety and even legality of some provisions in the proposed BBL.
“We have to plan very carefully the remaning few days in January and February. We should use it advantageously,” Belmonte said.
“The fact of the matter is that many people are talking as if the matter on the floor is the original draft. In fact, the committee report contains almost as many 50 amendments from original draft but many people do not know that,” Belmonte said.
Moreover, Belmonte said the House has yet to ratify the 2016 national budget, which is eagerly awaited by lawmakers from the ruling party. The chamber is expected to ratify the budget by next week.
Meanwhile, Malacanang denied on Thursday that Aquino has offered lawmakers some P1.5 billion for their projects in exchange for their approval of the Palace-proposed BBL.
“There is no truth to the allegation,” said Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr., referring to reports that congressmen from the ruling party were each demanding P50 million in exchange for the passage of the BBL.
During Aquino’s meeting with members of Congress in Malacañang, the President said passing the BBL has now become more imperative because of supposed threats posed by global terrorism and radicalization.
Earlier, Senate President Franklin Drilon said the passage of the BBL is still a “top priority” and said there is “enough time and political will” to pass it before the Christmas break and congressional leaders will focus on the 2016 national budget.