Senator Christopher “Bong” Go said that he respects President Duterte’s reasons for vetoing the proposed Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) Card Registration Act, and expressed willingness to revisit the measure to ensure that no provision is unconstitutional and runs counter to the rights of the Filipino people.
“Marahil po ay mayroong dahilan ang ating Executive (Perhaps, the Executive has a reason). Usually naman po, 'pag merong bini-veto ang Executive, (may comments) naman iyan ng different agencies (Usually, if the Executive decides to veto , it is based on the comments from the different agencies),’’ Go said in an interview after he personally assisted fire victims in Barangay Baesa, Quezon City Thursday, April 21.
“Tinitingnan nila yung legality -- kung wala bang magiging constitutional issues tungkol dito, hindi ba babalikan ang gobyerno, bakit ipinasa ito at (dapat) pirmahan ni Pangulong Duterte, wala bang nilabag na batas na karapatang pantao itong batas na ito, at iba pa (They are looking at the legality – if there are no constitutional issues on this, if the government will not be questioned on why this was passed and why President Duterte has to sign it, is it constitutional and does not violate the law on human rights, and more),” he added.
Despite being a co-author of the bill, Go maintained that he respects the decision of the Executive branch and expressed willingness to make a more thorough study of the proposed law, especially the provisions in question.
The bill seeks to mandate the registration of all SIM cards and social media accounts in the country to curb fraud and other crimes aided by prepaid SIM cards and to fight the proliferation of online trolls.
However, the President noted that the inclusion of social media providers in the registration requirement was not part of the original version of the bill.
“Ako naman nirerespeto ko ang ating Executive kung iyon po ang naging desisyon nila (I respect our Executive if that is their decision). Remember, ang Executive po ang nagpapatupad ng batas at kami po ang gumagawa at nagpapasa ng batas. Ang Executive po ang nagpapatupad (Remember, it is the Executive that implements the law and we are the ones who make and pass the law. It is the Executive that implements it),” Go, chairman of the Senate Health and Demography Committee, said.
Acting Presidential Spokesman Martin Andanar said that President Duterte was “constrained to disagree with the inclusion of social media in the measure, without providing proper guidelines and definitions", resulting in the veto.
Duterte expressed concern over a contentious provision that may result in “a situation of dangerous state intrusion and surveillance threatening many constitutionally protected rights", added Andanar.
Meanwhile, Go expressed hopes that when it comes to passing laws, the executive and legislative branches would continue to improve their collaboration and consultation.
“Usually naman kapag may pinapasang batas, kinokonsulta sa Executive iyan para hindi masayang, pinaghirapan natin itong lahat (Usually, prior to the passage of a law, the Executive is consulted to avoid wasting the efforts of everyone),” he said.
“Sabi ko nga sayang. Sayang po yung batas, isa rin po ako sa nag-author nito (It is unfortunate that the measure has to be vetoed, I am one of the authors of it),” he added.