3rd BBL Congressional hearing held in Tawi-tawi

By Jong D. Cadion

ZAMBOANGA CITY (March 02, 2018) - For the third time, the Congress held a sub-committee hearing on the Bangsamoro Basic Law in Tawi-Tawi, Thursday (March 1), official said.

Western Mindanao Command (WestMinCom) Cpt Jo-Ann D. Petinglay disclosed that the third congressional hearing saw more than a thousand of attendees, including students and local officials of Tawi-tawi, join the discussion on the proposed BBL that seeks to replace the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao. Present were Deputy Speaker Bai Sandra Sema and Congressmen Celso Lobregat, Pedro Acharon, Mauyag Papandayan, Jr., Ruby Sahali, Amihilda Sangcopan, Raymond Democrito Mendoza, Jorge Almonte, Leopoldo Bataoil, and Wilter Wee Palma II. Nineteen members of the Bangsamoro Transition Commission led by the Chairman Gadzali Jaafar were also present during the sub-committee hearing held at the Sandbar Resort in Bongao, Tawi-Tawi at 10AM Thursday (March 1).

Cpt Petinglay said that different sectors of society brought out issues for clarifications addressed mostly to the members of the BTC. Inquiries on the status of ARMM government employees, and status of elected municipal officials once a Bangsamoro government is established were also asked. The activity ended at 3PM with the Congressional delegates giving their statement of assurance in support of the Bangsamoro Basic Law passage with considerations on the recommendations and issues that were raised.

Party moved from Bongao, Tawi-tawi to Zamboanga City via C130 and fokker plane for another hearing the following day in Zamboanga Polytechnic Trade, Zamboanga City. Last February 15 and 16, the first sub-committee hearings were held in Cotabato and Davao City, the legislative hearings were continued in Luuk, Sulu; Isabela City, Basilan; and Zamboanga City on February 21 and 23.

The Congress has set the 4th sub-committee hearings in Maguindanao on March 8 and in Koronadal, South Cotabato on March 9. The fifth legislative hearing on the BBL is set on March 15 in Tubod, Lanao del norte and on March 16 in Marawi City. On February 28, the Senate Committee on Local Government, Ways and Means, and Finance, and the Subcommittee on the BBL submitted Senate Bill No. 1717 (or the BBL).