Comelec chief open to BBL plebiscite in 2016
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By Melissa Luz T. Lopez, BusinessWorld
A PLEBISCITE for the proposed Bangsamoro region may be included in the 2016 presidential ballot, the country’s poll chief yesterday said, but he noted this will depend on Congress passing the bill on time.
Commission on Elections (Comelec) Chairman Andres D. Bautista told reporters the poll body is considering the inclusion, in the May 9, 2016 ballot, of a yes-or-no portion on the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) still pending in Congress.
“We can have it [plebiscite] also at the same time as the elections. That will be simpler,” Mr. Bautista said.
“What can happen is instead of an election for the ARMM [Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao], a plebiscite can be held coinciding with the May 9 elections, [and] special elections may be held after.”
Mr. Bautista said this will all depend on the outcome of the congressional deliberations on the proposed law.
If approved, a new Bangsamoro region, according to the outcome of a plebiscite on the BBL, will replace the current ARMM. But until the bill is passed into law, the Comelec will still accept candidacies for existing ARMM posts during the Oct. 12-16 filing, Mr. Bautista said.
House Speaker Feliciano R. Belmonte, Jr., however, hinted at more delays in approving the proposed law, citing more legislators lining up to question the bill at the plenary.
The two houses of Congress are currently focused on deliberations on the P3.002-trillion national budget for 2016.
“We can have it [plebiscite] also at the same time as the elections. That will be simpler,” Mr. Bautista said.
“What can happen is instead of an election for the ARMM [Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao], a plebiscite can be held coinciding with the May 9 elections, [and] special elections may be held after.”
Mr. Bautista said this will all depend on the outcome of the congressional deliberations on the proposed law.
If approved, a new Bangsamoro region, according to the outcome of a plebiscite on the BBL, will replace the current ARMM. But until the bill is passed into law, the Comelec will still accept candidacies for existing ARMM posts during the Oct. 12-16 filing, Mr. Bautista said.
House Speaker Feliciano R. Belmonte, Jr., however, hinted at more delays in approving the proposed law, citing more legislators lining up to question the bill at the plenary.
The two houses of Congress are currently focused on deliberations on the P3.002-trillion national budget for 2016.