With only three session days before Congress adjourns, the House of Representatives has formally asked President Duterte to certify the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law an urgent administration measure.
Only a presidential certification of urgency will allow Congress to pass the controversy-laden measure before the sine die adjournment of the second session of the 17th Congress.
Duterte wants to sign the measure into law in time for his third State-of-the-Nation Address since he became President in 2016. The passage of a BBL is one of his presidential campaign pledges.
In a one-page letter to Duterte dated May 23, 2018 and coursed through Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea, the House requested that the BBL or House Bill 6475 under Committee Report 758 “be certified as urgent by your Administration.”
House Speaker Pantaleon D. Alvarez and House Majority Leader Rodolfo Fariñas signed the letter. “We aim to pass the said measure on Third Reading before the sine die adjournment of Congress on June 2, 2018. Thus, we are hoping for your usual support as we work for the proper passage of the law,” the two House leaders stated. (Ben R. Rosario)
