— President Benigno S. Aquino III answers questions during the forum at the Bulong-Pulungan event at Sofitel Philippine Plaza Manila Friday (December 11). The President is the guest of honor at the Annual Bulong-Pulungan Christmas Party. (MNS photo)
MANILA (Mabuhay) — There was no bribe offered to congressmen in exchange for their affirmative votes on the enactment of the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL), President Benigno Aquino III said Friday.
“Ask anybody who was there. I never promised anything except for the appeal that passing it would change the status quo [in Mindanao],” Aquino said.
“That was the central message. Nothing more to it, nothing less,” he said.
Aquino on Tuesday met with more than 100 members of the House of Representatives in Malacañang to appeal for Congress’ approval of the BBL.
Reports have it that Aquino offered more than P1.5 billion worth of projects to lawmakers who attended the meeting.
On Thursday, Communications Sec. Herminio Coloma Jr. and House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte both denied the bribery allegations.
“Walang katotohanan at walang batayan ang paratang na ‘yan,” Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. told Palace reporters at a media briefing.
For his part, Belmonte said in a text message: “There’s no such thing. Katabi ko siya (Aquino) 100 percent of the time.”
Belmonte said the House leadership is planning to end the period of interpellation on the measure before sessions are adjourned on Dec. 19 for the holiday break so that it could be put to a vote for approval on second reading when lawmakers go back to work on January 2016.
The BBL is the legal framework of the peace accord signed between the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF). (MNS)