MANILA (UPDATED) - President Rodrigo Duterte is expected to resolve the remaining contentious issues standing in the way of the passage of the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law, a House leader said Monday.

After a caucus of all congressmen Monday afternoon, the Bangsamoro Transition Commission agreed to most of their proposed amendments, with the remaining unresolved issues to be left to the President, said House Majority Leader Rodolfo Fariñas.

Fariñas, House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez, Senate President Vicente Sotto IIIm and other congressional leaders were scheduled to meet with Duterte later Monday to resolve the issues.

“'Yung mga contentious provisions we agreed kung sino yung mga affected areas or persons, dadalhin namin kay Presidente mamaya para makausap namin si Presidente. We have to admit may negotiation process this peace process kasi on the part of the 'Government of the Republic of the Philippines,' but when you say GRP executive iyun, di kasama ang legislative," he told reporters.

(For the contentious provisions, we agreed to bring the affected areas or persons before the President later so they can talk to him. We have to admit that there is negotiation in the peace process. There's a part there on the 'Government of the Republic of the Philippines,' but when you talk about the GRP, it only covers the executive, not the legislative.)

"Nag-usap-usap ang BTC and GRP heto yung kanilang draft, may mga counter-proposals. We would like to hear from the President ano final position niya," he said.

(The BTC and GRP discussedthe issue and there are counter-proposals to their draft. We would like to hear from the President what his final position is.)

Fariñas said the new regional government will be called the Autonomous Region of Bangsamoro and the BTC has agreed to share some of the regional government’s exclusive powers with the national government. Uniformed services will remain under national control, he added.

“We agreed na all the defense, police, coast guard will be retained as retained by the national government. Police region ang Bangsamoro under the PNP. Makukuha sila as members under the PNP," he said.

(We agreed that defense personnel, police, coast guard will be retained by the national government. Bangsamoro would be a police region under the PNP. They can get their members from the PNP.)

With only 2 session days left before the 17th Congress adjourns its 2nd regular session sine die, Fariñas said the BBL is still on track to be approved by the chamber before adjournment.

The President is expected to certify the bill as urgent, paving the way for Congress to approve it on 2nd and 3rd reading on the same day.

APPEAL FROM COLLEAGUE

As this developed, a Muslim lawmaker appeals to her colleagues to approve a Bangsamoro Basic Law and let the Supreme Court to decide on its constitutionality.

“Di po ba natin pwede pagbigyan ang Bangsamoro people na hayaan natin ang Korte Suprema ang magdesisyon kung constitutional o hindi constitutional ang ipapasa natin?" said Anak Mindanao Rep. Amihilda Sangcopan.

(Can we not allow the Bangsamoro people to have the Supreme Court decide if what we pass would be constitutional or not?)

Sangcopan made the plea after some of her colleagues said they will only vote for the BBL if it passes the test of constitutionality.

Negros Oriental Rep. Arnolfo Teves said that the law must also not give to the Bangsamoro preferential treatment over other areas of the country.

“The intent is okay. It has to be constitutional. Next, very important it has to be consistent. When other regions would like to implement the same provisions, kailangan pwede natin ibigay (we should be able to give it also)," he said.

"Pinaka-importante, feasible. For example you give X percent of your income to autonomous region. If all other regions ask for the same percentage, dapat kaya ibigay dahil siyempre ngayon magbibigay ng ganito, hihingi ka, yung isa the same. Hindi mo kaya ibigay o kaya ibigay sa kalahati ng bansa--magkakagulo later.”

(Most importantly, it has to be feasible. For example, you give X percent of your income to the autonomous regions. If all other regions ask for the same percentage, you should be able to do so. If you can't or you can only give to half of the country, it will cause chaos.)

CIBAC Rep. Sherwin Tugna said among the issues that always arises in discussions on the BBL was its "possible infirmity, that it is unconstitutional, and might result to a dismemberment of our Republic."

"As my colleagues here, I share their sentiment. I want peace and if there can be a law that can satisfy the demands for self-determination without violating our constitution, I will vote in favor of that," he said.

Surigao del Norte Rep. Ace Barbers said, as a Mindanaoan, he supports the measure, but there could be "constitutional questions."

"We presented to the BTC the proposal addressing issues of constitutionality. If this is all gone, definitely bilang isang Mindanaoan, we will support it," he said.

Sancgopan said in response, “We’re not saying that the BBL is the solution to the peace situation in Mindanao. None of us Muslim legislators have said that, none of us in Anak-Mindanao have said that.”

Sangcopan said the bill is long overdue. “Di po natin minadali ito. dumaan po tayo sa around 23 committee meetings, 11 public hearings.”

(This was not rushed. We went through 23 committee meetings, 11 public hearings.)