黑料社

Senate President Franklin Drilon thumbed down on Monday the controversial 鈥渙pt-in鈥� provision in the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) that would allow the Bangsamoro territory to expand after its boundaries have been established in a plebiscite.

鈥淚鈥檓 not in favor of that,鈥� Drilon said in an interview over ABC-CBN 黑料社 Channel.

He said the provision only 鈥渇ans the mistrust between our brother Muslims and Christians. Today鈥檚 environment is simply not conducive to having provisions like the opt-in provision,鈥� he said.

鈥淚n any case, if there鈥檚 really a clamor in the future, the Bangsamoro is just a law. You can always amend it (to put in the provision),鈥� he added. 鈥淭o place the opt-in at this point will just add fire when it鈥檚 not necessary.鈥�

The opt-in provision was reportedly included in the BBL version approved by a committee in the House of Representatives. The House has yet to vote on the BBL in the plenary.

Article 3, Section 3 of the proposed BBL (HB No. 4996) provides that 鈥渁ny local government unit (LGU) or geographical area outside the territorial jurisdiction of the Bangsamoro, but which are contiguous to any of the component units of the Bangsamoro and within the area of autonomy identified in the 1976 Tripoli Agreement, may opt to be part of the Bangsamoro by filing a petition of at least 10 percent of the registered voters of the interested LGU or geographical area.鈥�

The same section states that petitions may be filed in the fifth or 10th year after the enactment of the Bangsamoro law.

READ: House passes proposed BBL, 50-17

The proposed BBL is still being deliberated by the Senate committee on local government which will conduct another hearing on Tuesday, or a day before the Congress adjourns.

But Drilon said the committee chair, Senator Ferdinand 鈥淏ongbong鈥� Marcos Jr., had 鈥渃ommitted鈥� to submit a committee report when Congress resumes on July 27.