MARAWI CITY – The District Office of Deputy Minority Floor Leader Atty. Rasol Y. Mitmug, Jr. conducted a focus group discussion (fgd) on the draft Bangsamoro Local Governance Code (Bill No. 58) at VIP Room, Sarabi Cuisine & Café, MSU Marawi City last June 23, 2022 with legal experts.
The FGD centered on the legal issues on the provisions of the proposed bill as they discussed the possibilities of resolving and/or raising some conceivable constitutional, statutory, jurisprudence and ordinance challenges in the bill.
MP Mitmug, in his welcome address, said the LGUs have a huge role in the crafting of the LGC considering the responsibilities that would affect the local government.” The legal experts reviewed the bill based on existing laws in the Philippines and exchanged thoughts during the session.
“In the proposed bill, it imposed professional tax of P 1, 300.00 and under the law, the professional tax is just P 300.00. Once you pay a professional tax in any city or provinces, it is applicable, or you can exercise it anywhere in the Philippines. Is it not a disadvantage on the part of the Bangsamoro? Instead of paying 300.00, they would pay professional tax of P 1, 300.00?” said by Atty. Norsary S. Mamad. He also wished that the experts behind the proposed BTA bill were present, so that they can possibly rebut the issues being raised and cite their stance thereupon.
The legal representatives in said FGD include Atty. Norsary S. Mamad (Special Assistant for Legal Matters-MSU System and Overall Assistant Dean at MSU College of Law), Atty. Farhanisah D. Comacasar, Sh.L., REB, CSE, LPT (Professor- MSU College of Law and MSU College of Business Administration and Accountancy), Atty. Hapsha Khabab-Sansarona (Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Agrarian Reform, Lanao del Sur), Atty. Johari U. Diacat, CE (Private practitioner), Atty. Khalid D. Moner (Attorney III, MSU Legal Services Division), Nassif Nagamora, JD (Assistant Executive Director, MSU Legal Aid and Human Rights Center), Mohammad Mojib Datumanong Marangit, Sh. L. (Professor, Al-Khwarizmi International School, Marawi City).