The Philippines: Expedite BBL approval: Duterte to Congress

• President Duterte warned lawmakers that there could be trouble if Congress fails to expedite approval of the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) that has been pending in the House for the past months.
• Duterte pointed out that he had committed to both the Moro Islamic Liberation Front and the Moro National Liberation Front the passage of the BBL.
• The draft BBL that the Bangsamoro Transition Commission (BTC) submitted to Duterte in Jul 17 reached Congress in Aug 17 but its transmittal did not indicate it was urgent.
• The President said the talks should continue with Congress for the passage of the BBL. “We must continue to talk and I will urge Congress to fast-track it because (the rebels) are getting impatient,” Duterte said.
• He likewise said government should comply with what it has promised regarding the passage of the BBL.
• Benito Ranque, deputy secretary general for Mindanao of the ruling Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan on 30 Oct 17 called for the creation of tribal substates in the proposed federal government.
• Ranque said the tribal substates would strengthen the spirit of the Indigenous People’s Right Act or Republic Act 8371, which gives full recognition to the ancestral rights of tribal Filipinos.
• He said the substates could be created under a federal state of Mindanao where Muslims would also enjoy autonomy from the central government.

External Link : http://www.philstar.com/headlines/2017/10/31/1754230/rody-congress-expedite-bbl-approval