Zamboanga City first district Rep. Celso Lobregat (center) answers questions of reporters in a recent press conference. On his left is first district Councilor Joselito Marcohon and right is lawyer Melchor Sadain, former first district city councilor. (File photo: Teofilo P. Garcia Jr)
ZAMBOANGA CITY--First district Rep. Celso Lobregat on Thursday shrugged off public criticisms following his “abstention” in the voting that saw the passage of the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) at the Lower House.
The House of Representatives on Wednesday approved the passage of House Bill 6475 (substitute BBL) with 227-11 votes with two abstentions. Lobregat and Lanao del Norte second district Rep. Abdullah Dimaporo abstained from voting.
“The people who are bashing me (on social media) on my ‘abstention vote’ in the HB 6475 (substitute BBL) are ignorant of the provisions of the BBL that was passed,” Lobregat said.
Lobregat explained the amended version of HB 6475, which was approved by Congress, already addressed most of the issues and concerns of this city and the rest of Mindanao.
These included the following, he said: "First, no more ‘creeping expansion,’ noting that in the original HB 6475, there will be six plebiscites -- the first is upon ratification and every five years for a period of 25 years.”
In the Substitute HB 6475, the lawmaker said there will be only one plebiscite to be held upon ratification.
The second issue, Lobregat said, pertains to "all properties of ARMM to be automatically transferred to Bangsamoro upon ratification based on the original HB 6475."
In the substitute HB 6475, he said all properties of ARMM will be transferred to Bangsamoro "except those that are located outside the area of ARMM (e.g. Cabatangan property in this city)."
Third, he pointed out that any barangay that petitions to join Bangsamoro through the 10 percent provision and obtains a majority vote in the barangay will be part of Bangsamoro, based on the original version of HB 6475.
Lobregat said a barangay cannot join without the expressed approval of the entire city as stipulated in the substitute HB 6475.
Lobregat said that many other issues have already been addressed but issues like the Southern Philippines Development Authority (SPDA) properties and Areas of Joint-Cooperation will still have to be settled in the Bi-Cameral Conference Committee.
“Had I not abstained, I would not be a member of the Bi-Cam. I am now appointed as a member of the Bi-Cam and I can guard and protect the provisions already amended and I can continue to push and propose amendments on provisions such as SPDA properties and Areas of Joint-Cooperation,” Lobregat said.
“So please, do not embarrass yourselves by pretending to know what you do not know. Do not pretend to be knowledgeable,” Lobregat added.
The lawmaker said that he will address the entire city of Zamboanga soon to explain the provisions of the BBL that was passed by the House of Representatives. (PNA)
