The Bangsamoro Transition Commission (BTC) assured the Senate Tuesday morning that the proposed BTC draft of Bangsamoro Basic Law is aligned with the 1987 Constitution after former Senate President Aquilino Pimentel Jr. raised some provisions of the bill that need some refinements.

BTC Commissioner Jose Lorena addressed the issue of constitutionality of the bill by referring to their mandate during their reinstitution by President Rodrigo Roa Duterte on November 2016.

“The current expanded BTC was directed to craft the BBL along these parameters: implementation of all agreements in steps with constitution…we are minded by the Constitutional provisions and we are in custody of the resolution of the constitutionalists so that the draft BBL can pass the constitutional tests,” Lorena said.

Lorena mentioned that a legal panel was created to ensure that the provisions are in step with the constitution. He said that he will submit the transcription of the deliberations of the panel.

Deputy Presidential Peace Adviser Nabil Tan seconded BTC’s guarantee, calling the new BBL “a more improved version of the 2014 bill.”

‘A vaccine against violent extremism’

Despite his questions on the BBL draft, Former Senator Pimentel believes that BBL is important in bringing long lasting peace in Mindanao.

“The intent of the BBL is to bring peace, progress and development in Mindanao deserves the support of our people – there’s no question about that,” he said.

On the other hand, National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon called the law an antidote against the rise of violent extremism.

“The successful conclusion of peace process is still the most successful vaccination against the rise of violent extremism in the country.

“One of the most pronounced threats is the Muslim communities turning away from the peace process. Therefore, President Duterte’s warning about the war in Mindanao is not far-off.”

Senator Miguel Zubiri, the chairman of the sub-committee on Bangsamoro Basic Law reaffirmed Senate’s commitment of the passage of the law.

“We need a long-lasting political solution to achieve peace in Mindanao. If we just continue with the status quo, I’m afraid that we will continuously harbor extremism in these areas of Mindanao.”

The proposed BBL seeks to address the historical injustices committed against the Moro people through a genuine autonomy that will replace the current Autonomous Region on the Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).

During the first Senate public hearing on BBL last December 20, Senators Zubiri and Loren Legarda have thrown their full support on the passage of the bill.

“It’s about time that we give true, authentic, genuine autonomy to our brothers and sisters in the South,” Senator Legarda said. She also called for a hearing dedicated on how to finance the Bangsamoro political entity.

Senator Zubiri on the other hand has withdrawn his own version of BBL and replaced it with the BTC version of the bill that was submitted to President Rodrigo Duterte last July 17, 2017.