By Macon Ramos-Araneta, The Standard

SENATOR Ferdinand “Bongbong R. Marcos Jr. said it may take six weeks before the Senate can wrap up its deliberations on the Basic Law for the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region (BLBAR), or Senate Bill 2894, his substitute bill to the Malacañang-proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL).

However, Marcos clarified the time frame is not a deadline he is imposing on the chamber, but only an estimate based on the pace of the ongoing interpellation and the expected length of the amendment period, which is the next step in the process.

He still unsure if they finish it before the Third regular session of the 16th Congress adjourns on October 10, same day set for the filing of certificates of candidacies of those running in the 2016 elections.

As chairman of the senate local government committee, Marcos said he will thoroughly answer all questions on his substitute bill, regardless of the length of time it will take to answer them.

“This is a very important, very complicated bill, so we don’t want to rush it. We don’t need to hurry. We need to clarify everything,” stressed Marcos.

Senator Pia Cayetano was the first to interpellate Marcos last Monday followed by Senator Paolo Benigno “Bam” Aquino IV on Tuesday.

Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto raised a few questions about the substitute measure, but he noted that’s they’re not part of his interpellation.

“At the rate of two senators a week for the 14 senators who made a reservation to interpellate, that will require only seven session days or two and a half weeks. That is making the assumption that they will have the same length if questioning. So we’ll see,” he said.

Marcos said Senator Juan Ponce Enrile, who indicated he would interpellate, and other senators including those in the minority who may also ask questions are not counted among the 14 senators.

“I believe that the minority has been preparing for the period of interpellation. So let’s say we will wrap up the interpellation in three weeks,” he said.

Enrile, who returned to his work at the Senate last Monday, told reporters he will request Marcos that he be the last to interpellate because he will study the law.

Before his incarceration, Enrile said he initially read the BBL crafted from the Framework Agreement between the government’s negotiating panel and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front.

The 91-year old lawmaker said be saw many unconstitutional provisions, but he still cannot talk about it due to very fundamental questions.

After the interpellation, the next stage will be the period of amendments, which Marcos said may take another three weeks.

In the process, changes, revisions, or deletions in the bill will be proposed as committee amendments by the Committee on Local Government, through Marcos being its chairman, and any senator as individual amendments.

“Three weeks interpellation, three weeks amendments. We might be able to finish it in six weeks. We’ll see,” he said.