House failure to ratify Bangsamoro Law ‘unfortnate’
THE failure of the House of Representatives to ratify the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL) was “unfortunate,” Malacanang said on Monday.
All signs pointed to President Rodrigo Duterte signing the measure into law before his third State of the Nation Address (SONA,) but the plan fell through after the leadership of the House of Representatives adjourned the opening of the third session of the 17th Congress, amid reports that its members were moving to oust Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez.
“We find it unfortunate that the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL) was not ratified before the adjournment of today’s session of the House of Representatives,” Palace spokesman Harry Roque, Jr. said in a statement.
“We consider this as a temporary setback in the administration’s goal of laying the foundation for a more genuine and lasting peace in Mindanao,” Roque said.
Malacanang, however, voiced optimism that the law would materialize, as soon as the House ratified the BOL.
The Senate on Monday ratified the BOL which, if signed into law, would abolish theAdministrative Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) and be replaced with a more cohesive Bangsamoro region.
On Sunday evening, Roque said the signing of the BOL would have been “part of Duterte’s surprise” on the day of his SONA.
Roque said in a statement on Sunday that the landmark measure was a great step towards peace and security efforts in the Mindanao.
“We acknowledge the hard work of Congress and the Bangsamoro Transition Commission that brought us this historic law which would not only forge lasting peace in Mindanao but would also provide the much-needed economic development in the island,” Roque said.
Duterte’s predecessor, Benigno Aquino 3rd, lobbied for the signing of the bill during his term but it fell apart after 44 members of the Special Action Force (SAF) were killed in a firefight with Moro rebels in Mamasapano in Maguindanao.
Duterte has repeatedly stressed the crucial role of the BBL in maintaining peace in Mindanao amid threats posed by radical Islamic groups.
In March, Presidential Peace Adviser Jesus Dureza hinted that Duterte promised to issue an executive order to ensure the passage of the BBL. RALPH VILLANUEVA
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