Duterte to decide on Anti-Terrorism bill shortly
Published Jun 23, 2020 12:00 am
By Genalyn Kabiling
President Duterte will only need a day or two to determine if he will sign the proposed anti-terrorism law once his legal team completes its review, Malacañang said Tuesday.
Presidential spokesman Harry Roque said the President, a lawyer, will personally review the anti-terrorism bill and check if the measure has any "constitutional infirmity."
President Rodrigo Roa Duterte (ALBERT ALCAIN/PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO / MANILA BULLETIN)
At present, the controversial anti-terrorism bill, passed by the two houses of Congress, is under still undergoing review by the President's legal team.
"Ang sabi ng Presidente na isa o hanggang dalawang araw lamang ang kanyang kinakailangan at magdedesisyon siya kung pipirmahan bilang batas 'yung anti-terror bill (The President said he needs one or two days to decide if he will sign into law the anti-terror bill)," he said
"Ang ini-stress po ng Presidente, titingnan niya po kung mayroong constitutional infirmity ang panukalang batas. Abogado naman po ang Presidente at kaya niyang magkaroon ng kaniyang sariling konklusyon kung mayroon pong paglabag sa Saligang Batas ang panukalang ito (The President stressed that he will look if the bill has any constitutional infirmity. The President is a lawyer and he can make his own conclusion if bill has violated the Constitution)," he said.
He noted that the all proposed legislations transmitted to the President's office undergo "vetting" by the Office of the Deputy Executive Secretary for Legal Affairs. He said the President's legal team will then prepare a memorandum together with transmittal of the bill for the President with their recommendation.
"That is what he is waiting for and he has said that it will take one or two days then he will make his own decision...he will personally review the bill for constitutional infirmities. He is just looking for constitutional infirmities," he said over CNN Philippines Tuesday morning.
The bill, which President certified as urgent, aims to strengthen the government's policies in fighting terrorism. The proposed legislation allows the detention of terror suspects for 24 days without charge, longer surveillance period for suspects from 30 days to 60 days.
Many rights advocates and other concerned groups have opposed the anti-terrorism bill amid concerns it might be used to curb civil liberties and target government critics.
President Rodrigo Roa Duterte (ALBERT ALCAIN/PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO / MANILA BULLETIN)
At present, the controversial anti-terrorism bill, passed by the two houses of Congress, is under still undergoing review by the President's legal team.
"Ang sabi ng Presidente na isa o hanggang dalawang araw lamang ang kanyang kinakailangan at magdedesisyon siya kung pipirmahan bilang batas 'yung anti-terror bill (The President said he needs one or two days to decide if he will sign into law the anti-terror bill)," he said
"Ang ini-stress po ng Presidente, titingnan niya po kung mayroong constitutional infirmity ang panukalang batas. Abogado naman po ang Presidente at kaya niyang magkaroon ng kaniyang sariling konklusyon kung mayroon pong paglabag sa Saligang Batas ang panukalang ito (The President stressed that he will look if the bill has any constitutional infirmity. The President is a lawyer and he can make his own conclusion if bill has violated the Constitution)," he said.
He noted that the all proposed legislations transmitted to the President's office undergo "vetting" by the Office of the Deputy Executive Secretary for Legal Affairs. He said the President's legal team will then prepare a memorandum together with transmittal of the bill for the President with their recommendation.
"That is what he is waiting for and he has said that it will take one or two days then he will make his own decision...he will personally review the bill for constitutional infirmities. He is just looking for constitutional infirmities," he said over CNN Philippines Tuesday morning.
The bill, which President certified as urgent, aims to strengthen the government's policies in fighting terrorism. The proposed legislation allows the detention of terror suspects for 24 days without charge, longer surveillance period for suspects from 30 days to 60 days.
Many rights advocates and other concerned groups have opposed the anti-terrorism bill amid concerns it might be used to curb civil liberties and target government critics.