“If they insist that we adopt a parliamentary form of government in the Bangsamoro entity, I think it will run into some constitutional difficulties.”
So said Former Senate president Aquilino “Nene” Pimentel Jr. on Tuesday at the sidelines of the second Senate hearing of the Upper Chamber on the BBL, as he believed that the ‘unconstitutional’ creation of parliamentary government will not work in Bangsamoro Region.
The proposed BBL creates a parliament which will be elected by the people. The people will need to vote on who will be the Chief Minister of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region, and also the members of its Cabinet — nullifying the 1987 Constitution stating that the Philippines has a presidential form of government wherein officials are elected by people into office.
“Just eliminate that, have the officials in the Bangsamoro elected by the people. Because that is what we are doing under a presidential form of government,” Pimentel said.
Pimentel, on the other hand, said that the BBL, despite discussions on the government’s possible shift to federalism, will not be effective if it opposes the provisions of the current constitution.
The former Senate chief, however, said that the proposed BBL is still deserving for the support of the people because of its ‘good intention’ on bringing peace and development in Mindanao.
Moreover, Pimentel said that BBL should also concern not only in the provinces in Muslim Mindanao, but also in the territory of whole country.
“Our people should not forget that when we talk of BBL, that applies to the Republic of the Philippines. We are not talking only of Luzon, Visayas or Mindanao,” Pimentel said. (Tretch Melarpes – PTV)
