Sen. Bongbong: A televised meeting with PNoy on BBL is not a bad idea

A televised meeting between Senator Ferdinand "Bongbong" R. Marcos Jr. and President Aquino III to discuss the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) would reassure the public that nothing improper is going on.

This developed as Marcos, chair of the Senate Local Government Committee that is scrutinizing the Malacañang-proposed BBL, is open to the idea of having the meeting between the President and the senators aired live on television.

"Sang-ayon ako sa ganun (televised meeting) nang sa gayun ay walang masabi ang kahit na sino na may nangyayari sa meeting na 'yun na hindi karapat-dapat," he said in a radio interview.

Marcos has welcomed the announcement of the President of his willingness to meet with the senators to discuss the BBL in order to iron out the kinks in the proposed measure.

"As I said before, it we are going to discuss with the President the various issues directly related to BBL and if he has suggestions for us we would certainly listen because his inputs are important," Marcos said.

But Marcos gave a caveat that the agenda should not be political in nature aimed at pressuring the senators into passing the Palace version of BBL.

"I have proper respect for the Office of the President. I am willing to meet with him for the improvement of the BBL. But if the engagement is for political maneuvering, I don't want to be a party in that meeting," he said.

He said that in the spirit of transparency, he is open to have the meeting conducted in full view of the public.

"Para makatiyak tayo (at makita at marinig ng taumbayan) na ang pag-uusapan ay hindi pulitika kung hindi 'yung mga kailangang ayusin sa BBL," Marcos said.