Davao City Representative Karlo Alexei Nograles has expressed concern over a  provision in the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) that would provide the new autonomous region in Muslim Mindanao with a P27 billion annual block grant free from the scrutiny of the budget department and state auditors.

Nograles, the vice president for internal affairs of the National Unity Party (NUP),  said this provision could run counter to the equal treatment and equal protection clause of the Constitution.

He pointed out that the block grant would not only be exempted from the guidelines set by the Department of Budget and Management on the disbursement of the Internal Revenue Allotment for local government units, but would also be free from the prying eyes of the Commission on Audit.

Instead, the block grant would be audited by the Bangsamoro Commission on Audit, as provided under the BBL.

“It will give the Bangsamoro region a lot more funds than other regions. It could run counter to the equal treatment, equal protection clause of the Constitution,” said Nograles.

 “And they are even proposing that it is their own audit body, not the Commission on Audit, that will audit the fund,” he added.

A fellow lawmaker from Mindanao, Zamboanga Rep. Celso Lobregat, also pointed out that the block grant would be an automatic appropriation in the national budget that cannot be removed nor reduced by Congress.