By Azer Parrocha/PNA
MANILA — The voice of President Rodrigo R. Duterte is a powerful influence on the ratification of the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL), Malacañang said Monday.
Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo made this remark after Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana bared that the President will join a big rally on Jan. 18 in Cotabato City to appeal to people to vote for the measure.
“Well, certainly the voice of President is always a powerful influence on whatever matter he gives his voice into,” Panelo said in a Palace press briefing.
Panelo, however, said he was unsure of whether the President would be attending the scheduled rally.
He stressed anew that it is up to the people to decide on the ratification of the BOL through a plebiscite set on Jan. 21.
“Ultimately, it will be the people’s call, whether they want it or not. What is important and certain is that the President will abide by whatever the will of the sovereign people in that part of this country is,” Panelo said.
Asked if the President will campaign for the passage of the BOL should he attend the rally, Panelo said it will depend on what Duterte feels is best.
“If he feels there is a need then he will campaign for that. If he feels that it will win even without his calling for voters to support it, then he will not,” Panelo said.
“The President is a best judge of what will be the outcome of this plebiscite. He will make a move, if he thinks he should. He would sit and just watch if he feels hindi kailangan (it’s not necessary),” he added.
On July 26 last year, the President signed the BOL, or Republic Act 11054, which seeks to establish a new Bangsamoro political entity to replace the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.
The BOL, previously known as the Bangsamoro Basic Law, is considered as one of the Duterte administration’s biggest legislative achievements.
