Zubiri wants BBL vote ASAP

‘No vacuum,’ says Senator Miguel Zubiri. FILE PHOTO

Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri yesterday expressed hopes that a plebiscite for the approval or disapproval of the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) may be scheduled this November.

“Looking at the plebiscite hopefully by November this year, if it’s ratified,” Zubiri told reporters in the sidelines of the bicameral committee meeting at EDSA Shangri-La.

If approved in the plebiscite, Zubiri said President Duterte can appoint members of the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) by December or January 2019 that will oversee the transition from the current Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).

Asked what if the BBL fails to get the people’s nod, Zubiri said “ARMM government remains. Nothing changes.”

Zubiri said that the bicameral committee discussed the co-management of bodies of water and energy production between the national government and the new Bangsamoro political entity and the transitory provision.

The senator said there was no resistance on the proposed co-management of the zones of cooperation like the Sulu Sea and parts of the Moro Gulf.

“I think it’s an acceptable solution to both sides. I think both sides will agree to that,” said Zubiri, who is leading the Senate contingent to the committee.

On the other hand, Zubiri said there will definitely be problem if the zones are left only to the national government to manage.

Zubiri said that under the transitory provision, a BTA will be created to oversee the smooth transition from ARMM to the new Bangsamoro political entity.

“That the transition team will take over. We want to make sure that there will be no gap when the President signs this. Because once the President signs this, technically there will be vacuum,” said Zubiri.

The bicameral committee has yet to come up with the final and approved copy of the reconciled BBL version yesterday and is set to meet again today at the Senate.