Sen Escudero says Bangsamoro Basic Law needs some amendments

By Carlito Dar

BAGUIO CITY–Sen. Francisco “Chiz” Escudero said he is of the position that if the Basic Bangsamoro Law or BBL is  transmitted to Senate as it is,  it will not be approved  as there are certain provisions  that need to be amended in reference  to the  Philippine Constitution.

Escudero, in a press conference with the local media here said under the BBL, the  Shari’ah court’s decision will be final and executory, which means it  cannot be reviewed by the Supreme Court.

Moreover,the only body that can discipline the judges in their court is their own Judicial Bar Council.

“These are unconstitutional as the Supreme Court is the highest court in the country and there must only be one JBC under the Constitution,” Escudero said.

The senator also questioned the provisions that will give the Bangsamoro territories their own or independent Commission on Audit, Civil Service and Commission on Election.

“Why do they need a separate COA and CSC, do they have their own system of accounting and auditing, as well as their own rules on the security of tenure of civil servants,” he asked.

The 10 percent minimum voters’ requirement for a barangay or municipality to be placed under the Bangsamoro region is also an issue with  Escudero.

“Why should the 10 percent of total registered voters be a majority ruling and dictate outcome for the other 90 percent voters in their area;  why not  bring it to at least half or even 25 percent for the vote to have a referendum,” he said.

The 10%  majority threshold was adopted  in  the creation of the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao. 

This  should not be the  case for the BBL because the other 90 percent also have the right to decide for their own future, he said.

Escudero also called  for an “opt-out clause” to be added in the BBL as under its present set-up, any area, municipality or province can be asked regularly or yearly if they want to join the BBL region but they cannot choose to get out, once they are already included.