SC junks petition vs. BBL

The Supreme Court of the Philippines building in Manila, Philippines. Photo by Mike Gonzalez / Wikimedia Commons.

MANILA — The Supreme Court (SC) on Tuesday dismissed the petition against the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL).

The petition questioning the constitutionality of the proposed BBL was filed by Rolando Rojo Mijares.

Likewise, the SC ordered the consolidation of the petitions filed by the Philippine Constitution Association (PHILCONSA) and former Negros Oriental Rep. Jacinto Paras against the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB) and the Framework Agreement on the Bangsamoro (FAB).

At the same time, the SC also ordered the respondents, namely the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP) Peace Panel Chief Miriam Coronel Ferrer, the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) and the Commission on Audit (COA) to submit their respective comments on the petitions of the PHILCONSA and Paras within a period of 10 days from notice.

Moreover, the SC also required the respondents to comment on the prayer of the petitioners for the issuance of a temporary restraining order (TRO) against the FAB and the CAB, which paved the way for the creation of the political entity to be called Bangsamoro.

In a press conference, SC Public Information Office (PIO) Chief and Spokesman Atty. Theodore O. Te said that “In the matter of UDK 15297 (Petition to Declare the Bangsamoro Basic Law Unconstitutional, Rolando Rojo Mijares, petitioner), the Court DISMISSED the petition for being premature.”

Te added that “In the matter of G.R. No. 218406 (Philippine Constitution Association, et al. v. Philippine Government, the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, the Secretary of Budget and Management and Commission on Audit), which challenges the constitutionality of the Framework Agreement on the Bangsamoro and the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro, the Court required the respondents to submit their comment to the petition and the application for TRO within ten (10) days from receipt of the Resolution.”

Likewise, Te said that “In the matter of G.R. No. 218407 (Jacinto V. Paras v. Miriam Coronel Ferrer, et al.), which also challenges the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro, including the Framework Agreement on the Bangsamoro, the Court ordered this case consolidated with G.R. No. 218406 subject to the same order given in the preceding case.”

Associate Justice Marvic M.V.F. Leonen, who was the Chair of the Government Negotiating Panel that negotiated the FAB before being appointed to the SC, has voluntarily inhibited himself from participation in the pending cases and any future cases involving the FAB, the CAB and the BBL.