Various organizations lead by Nationalist Advocates for Filipino Ideology and Jesus Is Lord Fellowship hold a prayer rally at Luneta on Sunday against the passage of the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL). The group said the BBL subverts the country’s sovereignty and will create a wedge among Moros, Lumads and Christians in Mindanao. (MNS Photo)
MANILA (Mabuhay) — The members of the House of Representatives that met with President Benigno Aquino III on Tuesday didn’t necessarily support the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law, a top House leader said on Wednesday.
House Majority Leader and Mandaluyong Representative Neptali Gonzales II made the remark after the House continued to experience quorum woes that again derailed the deliberations on the BBL.
The BBL is the embodiment of the peace agreement between the Philippine government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front.
However, it experiencing opposition in both houses of Congress despite both chambers being dominated by the allies of President Benigno Aquino III.
“Di nangangahulugan porke pumunta sa Malacanang e in agreement of the BBL. Kahapon ang exercise is to hear the president. Di mo masasabi kasing lahat kasi nakakita rin naman ako ng mga tao na anti BBL. Di nangangahulugan na yung mga tao dun e committed sa BBL,” Gonzales said.
Between 160 to 170 attended the meeting with the President in Malacañang on Tuesday.
Gonzales admitted that the lawmakers who are against the BBL could be deliberately skipping the session.
“Iyong iba na against sa BBL kahit pakiusapan mo talagang against the BBL. Ang hindi nila pag-attend diyan (sa session) maybe their way of showing na para mabawasan ang quorum,” Gonzales said.
During the closed-door meeting that lasted for three hours, Aquino cited the “increased threats posed by global terrorism and radicalization” in urging the lawmakers to pass the BBL.
Gonzales said Aquino wanted to appeal to the lawmakers for the passage of the BBL because of its status in Congress and the urgency of its approval given the time constraints.
“[Alam] kasi ni presidente ang status ng BBL, na 21 pa ang nais mag-interpellate dito at alam niya na next week mag a-adjourn na kami. In fact, he is also aware na even mag resume ng session next year by January 5 mag a-adjourn na kami to give way sa campaign. Kaya nais niyang manawagan,” Gonzales said.
Gonzales said there was still a chance that the BBL could pass since, he believed, there are more House members in favor of the measure.
“Pwede naman kami mag catch up dito until Friday or Friday next week,” Gonzales said.
“Ako naniniwala mas marami sumusuporta sa BBL,” he added.
Asked whether or not the House leadership promised Aquino that the BBL would be passed, Gonzales said, “Kahapon wala naman. Si presidente sinabi lang niya kahalagahan ng pagpasa nito.”
“Wala naman naging kasunduan na nagkaroon ng botohan dun. As I’ve said ang imbitasyon open sa lahat. Yung mga tao na against it e nandon din,” Gonzales said.
The House again failed to muster a quorum on Tuesday afternoon.
The session was adjourned at 5:45 p.m., with only 134 lawmakers present on the floor.
At least 145 of 287 House members would have to be present for a quorum to be declared.
Gonzales said the lack of quorum in the House of Representatives on Tuesday was just a result of miscommunication.
“Kahapon nagkaroon ng miscommunication sa secretariat dahil hindi nabilang mga taong nagpakita sa umpisa. Because of that, medyo kinapos kami ng bilang kahapon automatically we have to adjourn,” Gonzales said.
The majority leader said their rules allow those who went to the session hall but leave to go to their offices will still be counted as present.
“Kapag ikaw ay nasa opisina mo at ikaw ay nagpakita na (sa session hall) e considered ka na. Pero kung di ka talaga nagpakita kahit nandun ka sa opisina mo (hindi ka pa rin present),” he said. (MNS)