Manila, Philippines – Duda sina Senator Franklin Drilon, Tito Sotto III at Ping Lacson na maipapasa ngayong taon ang panukalang Bangsamoro Basic Law o BBL kahit pa magkaroon ng special session.
Ayon kay Drilon, hindi pa nila maaring pagdebatehan sa plenaryo ang BBL dahil wala pang committee report ukol dito.
Ipinunto pa ni Drilon na ang committee on local government na pinamumunuan ni Senator Sonny Angara ay labis na abala naman ngayon sa mga panukalang tax reform at 2018 national budget.
Bukod pa niya ito sa inaasahang pagiging abala ng senado sakaling matuloy an impeachment trial kay Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno.
Katwiran naman ni Senator Sotto, mayroong 289 sections ang BBL kaya sa public hearing pa lang ay mahabang oras na ang kanilang ibubuhos.
Paliwanag naman ni Senator Lacson, maraming kwestyonable at kumplikadong usapin sa mga probisyon ng BBL na mangangailangan pa ng mahabang pagsusuri at debate.
“I discussed BBL special session with Sen. Sotto last night. He agreed that we have no more time before Dec.13 break, as we are rushing train and budget. No committee report yet so no BBL debate can happen even in special session plus, local govt. committee which will hear BBL is chaired by Sen. Angara, who is “full time” with train! and, if HOR will impeach Sereno, Senate will be an Impeachment Court in January, and can only have special session after we finish trial. Also recall how long ex. Sen. Marcos took to conduct hearings on BBL in past 16th Congress! Thus, I do not know when we can debate on BBL” pahayag ni Sen. Franklin Drilon.
Ayon naman kay Sen. Tito Sotto “BBL even with a special session is not possible because hearings alone on 289 sections will take more than a month. Debates pa. So even if we work on Christmas day and new years day, it will not be done this year. First quarter next year is more possible” ito naman ang kanyang naging pahayag.
“Congress can conduct committee hearings on BBL even without the president calling for a special session. Unless the intention is to pass the measure before year end, which is impossible considering the complex and contentious issues involved in its provisions, a special session may not be necessary” ito naman ang pahayag ni Sen. Ping Lacson.
