Duterte to review anti-terror bill, keeping in mind “public interest” – Palace

June 10, 2020

President Rodrigo Duterte will review thoroughly the enrolled anti-terror bill, keeping in mind the "public interest" over it, Malacañang said on Wednesday.

This as the Makabayan bloc in the House of Representatives would question before the Supreme Court the constitutionality of the controversial bill once Duterte signed it into law.

"Well, let me manage expectations, the President did certify it as urgent, so he agrees with the principal author of the bill, Senator (Panfilo) Ping Lacson, that there is a need for the law. But let’s just say that the public interest on the bill will make the President review the provisions of bill even more closer (sic)," Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said in a television interview.

Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra is one among those reviewing the enrolled anti-terror bill, which Congress forwarded to Malacañang for Duterte's action.

The President could sign, veto or allow the bill to lapse into law after 30 days from the Palace's receipt.

Roque said the Department of Justice's recommendations after reviewing the bill could influence the President on what action to take.

"I think it’s very, very influential because the DOJ is still the legal adviser of the President even if he has his own legal office within Malacañang itself. So, let me stress this, there has not been a budget bill signed into law without a specific veto coming from the President. So as a matter of course, the President will not automatically sign a law, it is scrutinized. Although the difference is, you can’t have a line item veto in terms of a normal legislation whereas you can do it in a budget bill. But that’s how the process works in Malacañang," Roque explained.

Some lawmakers and other groups, including some lawyers, have been opposing some provisions in the anti-terror bill, saying that this could be used by the authorities, as well as the administration, to violate human rights.

Some of the critical provisions are the power of the supposed Anti-Terrorism Council to order holding of suspected terrorists for 14 days up to 24 days without filing the appropriate charges and for law enforcement agencies to hold in custody persons for mere suspicion of being terrorists.

In a forum via Zoom, House Deputy Minority Leader and Bayan Muna Rep. Carlos Isagani Zarate said the Makabayan bloc is prepared to question the constitutionality of the anti-terror bill once it becomes a law.

"We will question the law before the Supreme Court," he said when asked of the Makabayan bloc's next step regarding the bill.

Another option, he said is to file a bill to amend the looming anti-terror law once Congress opens session in July.

Congress has adjourned last week after it passed the anti-terror bill, which Duterte certified as urgent.

Security analyst Rommel Banaloi, in the same forum, however, underscored the importance of passing the anti-terror bill in addressing terrorism in the country.

Banlaoi, who helped in drafting the bill, said that despite the pandemic, the terrorists have not stopped in its recruitment of Filipinos and even continued to carry out their attacks.

But he admitted that the President and the law enforcement agencies should consider the concerns raised by some quarters on the implementation of the bill once it becomes a law, particularly on the issue of possible abuse of authorities.

Lawyer Rodel Taton, Dean of the Graduate School of Law-San Sebastian College-Recoletos-Manila, said, "safeguard of Constitution should always be paramount" amid the impending approval of the anti-terror bill. Celerina Monte/DMS