I vote no because abolishing the ARMM and installing the “Bangsamoro Autonomous Homeland” by ordinary legislation is a flawed and unconstitutional process.

The pertinent provisions of the 1987 Constitution under Art. X elevate the ARMM to a constitutional entity similar to the COMELEC, COA, Civil Service Commission, Office of the Ombudsman, and the Commission on Human Rights.

Verily, the ARMM cannot be dismantled to give way to BBL without first amending the Constitution by abolishing ARMM and authorizing the Congress to enact the BBL in its place. We cannot place the cart before the horse.

Moreover, it was the 8th Congress, not the 17th Congress, which was mandated by the 1987 Constitution under Section 19 of Article X to enact the Organic Act for an autonomous region in Muslim Mindanao, which it did by enacting R.A. 6734 on August 1, 1989.

This was my firm position and conviction even when the Aquino administration attempted to pass the BBL by mere legislation.

Finally, the “Bangsamoro Autonomous Homeland” under HB No. 6475 is vested with powers ascendant to ARMM’s, some of which are nebulous and unexplained like those on power and energy, natural resources and budgeting, among others.

EDCEL C. LAGMAN