DAVAO CITY – The lack of a quorum among House representatives slows down the deliberation of proposed bills Bangsamoro Basic Law, Freedom of Information Bill and the Anti-dynasty proposed bill.
In a Philippine Information Agency dispatch, 1-Bap party-list representative Silvestre Bello III told reporters that many of his colleagues in the House of Representatives tend to be absent in order to do away with the discussion on the controversial bills.
He observed that absence of quorum occurs from Monday to Wednesday whenever they discuss the BBL.
“They believe that some of the provisions in the BBL is unconstitutional while some have constituents who do not want it,” said Bello in a separate interview.
Bello said he supports the BBL as drafted by the ad hoc committee headed by Representative Rufus Rodriguez.
Bello said the ad hoc committee is composed of 75 congressmen and congresswomen and it had approved a BBL draft on its deliberation.
He questioned why the BBL draft was changed after a meeting in Malacanang.
“No one in Malacanang even the president has the authority to change the draft prepared by the ad hoc committee,” he pointed out.
However, Bello said he believes that the BBL Malacanang version “will be approved by the lower house because they have the numbers but I cannot say the same when it reaches the Senate.”
Bello said the discussion of the Anti-dynasty Bill seems to be avoided also, even if the measure reaches the level of the definition of terms like the meaning of dynasty.
Bello also said the Freedom of Information Bill has “no chance to pass” in the lower house.(davaotoday.com)
