Palace approves target date for BBL passage

Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. answers questions from the media in a press briefing on Malacanang Friday when he advised people to remain vigilant until the exit of Typhoon Yolanda from the Philippine area of responsibility. He also commended the people along the typhoon path for heeding the call of the government to evacuate and take the necessary precautions as the typhoon approached. (Photo by Robert Viñas/Rodolfo Manabat/Malacanang Photo Bureau)

MANILA — Malacañang approves to pass the controversial Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) by June, a new time frame set by the Congress.

In an interview for the state-run radio dzRB on Tuesday, Communications Secretary Herminio Colomo Jr. said that the new time frame set during the remaining sessions from May to June is quite “realistic.”

Ideally, the Congress planned to pass the BBL in a much earlier date in order for the Bangsamoro Transition Authority to have sufficient time to show that it is better than the Autonomous Region in Muslim  Mindanao.

“Kaya lang, mas realistiko tayo. Kinailangan ng mas mahabang konsultasyon doon sa Bangsamoro Basic Law bago pa man naganap yung insidente sa Mamasapano,” Coloma said.

(But we were realistic. There was a need for a lengthy consultation in the BBL even before the incident in Mamasapano.)

After the recess from March 20 to May 3, Congress will resume its session on May 4 and will adjourn again June 11.

Despite the breaks, Coloma has earlier expressed his confidence that the Congress will still have enough time to deliberate on the BBL.