THE House of Representatives ad hoc Bangsamoro committee is set to finally vote on the amendments of the proposed Bangsamoro basic law (BBL)聽on Tuesday, with one lawmaker saying their constituents deserve to know the votes.
During the panel hearing聽Monday, chairman Cagayan de Oro Representative Rufus Rodriguez turned down some lawmakers鈥� request for more time to discuss the amendments on the bill that seeks to create a more politically autonomous Bangsamoro region.
鈥淲e will vote聽tomorrow. We already bent the rules. The people are waiting for our votes. We owe it to our people already that we should vote,鈥� Rodriguez said.
鈥淲e don鈥檛 want to shut out anybody (from proposing amendments). We have allowed all members of the committee to present amendments,鈥� he added.
Rodriguez reacted to Zamboanga City Rep. Celso Lobregat鈥檚 motion for additional time to discuss the proposed amendments to the BBL.
鈥�(So) that we can discuss before we vote and that we know where it鈥檚 coming from,鈥� Lobregat, a vocal critic on the constitutionality of the BBL, said.
Initially, the Bangsamoro committee wanted to conduct executive sessions for the voting of the BBL聽from聽Monday聽to Wednesday聽this week. Rodriguez said members of the committee requested to keep their votes confidential for a bill supposedly riddled with constitutional issues.
But the panel eventually opened its doors later in the day. Rodriguez said the subsequent hearings would now be made聽public.
Rodriguez said Bayan Muna Rep. Neri Colmenares moved to make the hearing public. All members eventually voted for the motion, he said.
鈥淭he principle of transparency will prevail over concerns of secrecy and grandstanding. We鈥檙e going to make sure this will be transparent,鈥� Rodriguez said.
The House panel is expected to vote on a per line basis on the bill聽through a roll call of members.
Lawmakers will be able to explain their vote during the plenary debate for nominal voting under second reading.
The proposed BBL will create a more politically autonomous Bangsamoro region to replace the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao and implement the government peace deal with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front.
Lawmakers were critical of various provisions seen as contradictory to the Constitution.
Among the contested provisions are the creation of a Bangsamoro police, a commission on audit and an election body.
However, the Citizen鈥檚 Peace Council led by former Chief Justice Hilario Davide said the bill remains compliant with the Constitution.
The following are a few of the BBL amendments lawmakers will vote on聽tomorrow (Tuesday):
鈥� The national government (through the Bangsamoro police), and not the Bangsamoro government, to have primary responsibility over public order and safety in the region
鈥� Bangsamoro Commission on Audit (COA) to become Bangsamoro auditing body to assist COA central
鈥� Bangsamoro electoral office to become Commission on Elections (Comelec) regional office in Bangsamoro region
鈥� Bangsamoro government鈥檚 disciplinary authority over its own officials to have no prejudice against Ombudsman Central鈥檚 powers to discipline public officials
鈥� Bangsamoro Civil Service to become Bangsamoro civil office
鈥� To delete the provision for coordination between national and Bangsamoro government about the Armed Forces鈥� movement in the Bangsamoro region