Hearing of Ad Hoc Committee on Proposed BBL led by Chairman Rufus Rodriguez (UNTV News)
QUEZON CITY, Philippines — In the continuation of Ad Hoc Committee’s hearing on the proposed BBL, lawmakers and resource persons agreed to delete article 11, section 17 of the BBL of the coordination protocol provision.
In this, armed forces are obliged to make coordination with the LGU of the area where they will conduct an operation.
DND Spokesperson Usec. Pio Lorenzo Batino, “We would want to assure the honorable committee that the AFP and its practice does not coordinate or need not coordinate with LGUs with respect to the specific operations.”
Chairman Rufus Rodriguez of Ad Hoc Committee on the Proposed BBL said, “Don’t you think it will be better that under article 5 we state to follow the constitution itself defense and security not to limit it to external security which I’d now found in article 5; and to delete article 17 because it directly violates the constitution?”
Usec Batino replied, “Yes, your honor, there is a need to harmonize these provisions.”
One of the issues that needs further study by the committee is on who will have the control over the police forces in Bangsamoro.
Rodriguez stated, “There is already deputization of city and municipal mayors under the PNP law 6985 and so now we are deputizing deputy minister to have also an operational control. Now which will govern and prevail, is it the deputization of police by the city or municipal mayor on the ground of to the higher body like the Bangsamoro government? So this is something we should really study very well because there will be a conflict.”
Aside from this, Ad Hoc Committee chairman however earlier said that among the unconstitutional provisions that the committee will delete from the BBL is the proposal that the Bangsamoro will have its own COA, Comelec, Civil Service Commission, Ombudsman, police forces and the 10% opt in provision.
Representative from Mindanao appeal to the committee to do all their best to pass the BBL.
1st District Rep. Belma Cabilao of Zamboanga Sibugay said, “These kidnappings and killings happening in our towns, even the AFP cannot solve it; even the national police cannot solve it. We only hope that one of these days, we will finally have this Bangsamoro Basic Law approved. There will be peace in our area.”
Meanwhile Congressman Rodriguez clears that he cannot assure the passage of the BBL in congress because many of his colleagues changed their position on the BBL after the Mamasapano incident on January 25. (GRACE CASIN / UNTV News)