Shot Fired At Office Of Philippines' Basic Law Opponent

Police are trying to determine who fired a shot that hit a glass panel at the Manila office of a prominent Philippine senator who has rejected the passing of a law that aims to seal peace in the country's Muslim south.



Philstar.com "ed a security guard as saying he discovered a bullet hole at 3: 25 p.m. (0825GMT) after he returned to his post in front of Ferdinand "Bongbong" R. Marcos, Jr's office at Sunset View condominium tower.



"I just went inside the building for a glass of water and when I came back I noticed that bullet hole," the guard said.



The bullet hole was discovered following reports that the government-registered SUV vehicle assigned to Marcos' office was also hit by a bullet parked in front of the building where his office is located a few months ago.



Marcos said Monday that the bullet did not penetrate the office due to a metal plate which is in place there for security purposes.



"Upon my request the police are already investigating this incident. Until the result of the investigation is completed, it is best not to speculate," Marcos said in a statement.



Marcos, the chairman of the Committee on Local Government, has said that the failure of Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) to address the concerns of major stakeholders, constitutional infirmities and unclear provisions could only lead to more bloodshed.



He is preparing a substitute bill to address "flaws" in the BBL that have been identified in hearings and consultations conducted by a committee he heads.



BBL legalizes the creation of a new region to replace the existing Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), under the terms of a 2014 peace deal.



The senator said Monday that he hoped the bullet was not related to his work in the Senate "or anything with political color", but added that had had discounted the possibility that it was an attack that related to the BBL.



He is set to submit his report on the BBL this week. - Zamboanga