BBL WON’T PASS THE 2ND DEADLINE – CHIZ

BBL WON’T PASS THE 2ND

 DEADLINE – CHIZ

Senator Chiz Escudero said the approval of the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) is set to miss its deadline, yet again, as the Senate leadership looks at October to pass the measure.

“Di pa din ba sila nadala?” Escudero said of the deadlines given to the BBL approval, the first of which was in June.

Escudero pointed out that the supposed October deadline, as mentioned by Senate President Franklin Drilon, may still not be enough time to scrutinize and identify the necessary revisions and adjustments needed by the BBL.

“I honestly don’t know if a deadline is doable; we also have to factor in the bicameral approval. Again I am not a believer in deadlines when it comes to a very important piece of legislation.”

The senator said he has questions with the procedures adopted by the House in proposing the amendments in the BBL. “These are questions which have to do with the ones not provided for under the Constitution.”

“Basta ang importante, tama at maayos na BBL na tatalima sa Saligang-Batas ang maipasa. Imbes na BBL na minadali lamang,” Escudero added, saying the legislation should not compromise the accuracy and constitutionality of the law just to rush its enactment. 

“GRACE’S RESIDENCY ISSUE”

“The issues hurled at Senator Grace Poe are deja vu. It has already been seen in 2004, when the same issues were thrown at her father, the late Fernando Poe Jr. or FPJ when he ran for president. Hindi na siguro nakakagulat. Subalit nakakalungkot na ‘yung ginawa sa ama, ginagawa at gagawin din sa anak,” Senator Chiz Escudero said.

The senator, who was the campaign spokesman of FPJ in 2004, came to the defense of Senator Grace Poe who is bombarded with residency and citizenship issues for the 2016 Elections. Poe has yet to confirm her candidacy but is considered one of the stronger contenders for president for the 2016 polls.

Escudero also pointed that it was only last month when the camp of Vice President Jejomar Binay expressed preference for Poe as his running-mate in the 2016 Elections. “Pumirma lang siya sa committee report; tinanggihan lang siya at hindi kinakausap, biglang disqualified naman ngayon,” the senator from Sorsogon said.

“Para sa akin, ano bang pinaghuhugutan ni Congressman Toby Tiangco.  Of all people, dapat alam niya.  Dahil auntie niya mismo, kapatid ng biyenan niya, eksaktong ganito ang nangyari,” Escudero said, pertaining to the case of former first lady and current  representative of the 2nd district of Ilocos Norte, Rep. Imelda Marcos.

Marcos ran for representative of the first district of Leyte in 1995 and wrote in her Certificate of Candidacy (COC) that she has been a resident of Leyte for only seven months when the requirement was one year.

Escudero said that according to the Supreme Court, it is the fact of residence and not the statements made in the COC that will form the basis whether a person or a candidate is a resident of a certain place or not.

“Alam naman siguro nila ‘yan. Alam ko at tiyak ko, kung nag-research talaga sila, malalaman din nila ‘yan,” said Escudero.

He also recalled that since FPJ died December 2004, Poe then decided to stay and reside in the country. If and when Poe decided to run for president, according to Escudero, it will not be difficult to prove her residency in the country.

Escudero added that not only the animus revertendi or the intent to return is applicable to Poe’s case, but also the actual physical residence in the country. The doctrine has been used by the Supreme Court as a basis to decide in several election-related cases.

“So, pagsamahin mo ang dalawang ‘yon, sobra pa at dagdag pa ‘yun sa sitwasyon ng ibang tao.  Marami nga at may ilang kongresista diyan ang tinitirhan nilang bahay ay iba sa tinatakbuhan o kinakatawan nilang lugar. So sana, maghunus-dili, ika nga, at manalamin ang ilan sa mga nagsasalita,” Escudero said. /MP