MANILA, Philippines – Before certifying the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) draft as urgent, President Rodrigo Duterte wants to first come up with a “game plan” for smoothing out some of the contentious provisions to ensure it is passed in Congress.

This is how Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Jesus Dureza explained the apparent foot-dragging of Malacañang when it comes to the BBL which Duterte previously said he considered a priority of his administration.

“It’s really how to make sure na talagang papasa ‘yan kasi ‘pag pakawalan mo ‘yan, certify mo lang ‘yan, pagdating doon may mga question pa ‘yung ibang mga members of Congress dahil may constitutional issues pa ‘yan,” said Dureza on Thursday, September 14.

(It’s really how to make sure that it will really pass because if you let it go, if you certify it just like that, when it gets to Congress there might be questions from members of Congress because there are still many constitutional issues.)

He was speaking to media after the anniversary of his office held in Malacañang.

Dureza was asked why Duterte has not yet certified the BBL as urgent even if he promised to do so last July when the Bangsamoro Transition Commission (BTC) submitted their BBL draft to him.

The Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) had also expressed disappointment that the BBL was not among the 28 priority measures of the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council (Ledac).

BBL ‘game plan’

To address the MILF’s concerns, Duterte gathered their leaders, BTC members, Senate President Aquilino Pimentel III and House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez in a meeting in Malacañang on Thursday.

Dureza, who was also present at the meeting, said the President promised the MILF and lawmakers that he would present a “game plan” to ensure the passage and effective implementation of the BBL.

“It was a warm meeting where the President expressed a game plan that is still being worked out by the Office of the President in coordination with members of the leadership of Congress on how to see to it that the BBL that has been proposed will see its implementation by a law,” said Dureza.

Asked if a possible sponsor for the proposed BBL in Congress was discussed during the meeting, Dureza responded obliquely.

“As I said, we would craft a way forward on how to husband it, so to speak,” he said in a mix of English and Filipino.

The fact that no lawmaker has volunteered to sponsor the BBL has troubled the MILF.

Dureza said the issue of certifying the BBL as urgent was also not discussed.

Pressed on why Duterte has still not made the certification, a miffed Dureza said, “Do you think it is as simple as that? I don’t have to explain to you, just wait.”

Another meeting will be called to continue discussions on the BBL.

Dureza said he would “reconvene” the BTC again to come up with the roadmap that will hopefully shepherd the BBL through Congress. – Rappler.com