Drilon on BOL: I’m not optimistic it will result in good governance

“I am not optimistic that the BBL will result in good governance. The failure of governance in the ARMM, not only the decades-long conflict, is also to be blame for the high incidence of poverty in the region,” the senator said on Thursday, July 19. (Photo: Senate of the Philippines/Facebook)

Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon expressed doubt that the proposed Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL) can promote good governance in Mindanao even if it succeeds in bringing peace and stability in the region.

Drilon was concerned at the bill’s lack of effective measure to address decades-long governance issues plaguing the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) as the anti-dynasty provision he proposed to be included was removed by the Congress.

“I am not optimistic that the BBL will result in good governance. The failure of governance in the ARMM, not only the decades-long conflict, is also to be blame for the high incidence of poverty in the region,” the senator said on Thursday, July 19.

Although he lauded the BOL’s approval, Drilon lamented that his provision should have been included in the proposed law.

“The BBL is pro-peace peace and stability but it lacks teeth to reform the prevailing politics and governance in ARMM that resulted in its provinces being one of the poorest in the country,” he noted.

Without the anti-dynasty provision, Drilon believed that other measures the Congress included in the proposed law for good leadership would fail.

Among these, he said, are the provisions that promote accountability through maintaining Commission of Audit (COA) as the exclusive auditor and tightening the qualification of Sharia’h court justices.

“Unfortunately, the future of the Bangsamoro region will be in the hands of a very few families again, because of our failure to prevent political dynasty,” Drilon noted, adding that unless the political dynasty is addressed, threats of failure of governance in ARMM will continue.

After six days of marathon hearings, the final version of the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL), which was renamed as the Organic Law for the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), was approved by the 28-member bicameral conference committee on Wednesday night, July 18.

This measure seeks to create a new Bangsamoro political entity in Mindanao to replace the current ARMM.

Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque, Jr. earlier said in a press briefing that the proposed BOL could be possibly signed by President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday before his third State of the Nation Address (SONA).