Mamasapano clash inquiry at the House of Representatives (UNTV News)
QUEZON CITY, Philippines — The use of an alias by MILF Chief Peace Negotiator Mohagher Iqbal is not anymore an issue for the ad hoc committee on the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law.
The committee is set to finish the hearing in the BBL’s provisions to be enacted into law on time.
The Ad Hoc Committee Chairman Rep. Rufus Rodriguez said they don’t see any need now for the committee to invite Iqbal on April 20-23 hearing. He again stressed that Iqbal’s alias will not affect the peace agreement.
“No, it’s a non-issue. The Iqbal’s identity is non-issue because we are tackling House Bill 4994 not authored by Iqbal — it is authored by Speaker Belmonte and 23 other congressmen.”
On Monday, the committee will continue the hearing on the BBL.
The House will delete at least eight unconstitutional provisions from the proposed BBL.
Included here is the proposal that the Bangsamoro will have their own COA, Comelec, Civil Service Commission, Ombudsman, police forces, armed forces coordination / permission provision and the 10% opt in provision.
Rodriguez added, “10% in the barangay will be removed because some congressmen from Sultan Kudarat, North and South Cotabato are getting angry because they are afraid that they will be continuing instability there in that area.”
Meanwhile, Rodriguez is not afraid of the reports that the MILF is threatening the government that they will not accept the peace agreement if changes will be made to the provisions of the BBL.
The lawmaker insisted that government will enact the BBL into law regardless of the threats made by the MILF.
“Whatever they would like to do after this bill we have tried our best to give it to them. If they will not accept it and they want to go back to square one and they want to gain fight we are ready for that.”
Both houses of Congress will enact the BBL into law before the state of the nation address of the president this June.
For them this is the key and the solution to decades of war in Mindanao. (GRACE CASIN / UNTV News)