Palace hopes bill granting Duterte emergency powers to be passed

July 11, 2019

Malacañang expressed hope on Thursday that Congress will pass the bill granting President Rodrigo Duterte emergency powers to address traffic in Metro Manila and other highly urbanized cities in the country.

In a press briefing, Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said the Palace has no hand on the move of administration Senator Francis Tolentino to file Senate Bill 213 or the Special Emergency Powers Act, granting Duterte two years of emergency powers.

"No, I've been hearing that long time ago, when he (Tolentino) was still a member of the Cabinet. He said there is really a need for that," he said.

Before becoming a senator, Tolentino was Duterte's political adviser.

Panelo said he was not sure if Duterte would certify the bill's passage as urgent.

"But we know for a fact that granting him emergency powers will solve many problems affecting the building of infrastructure for instance, the traffic problem in Edsa," he said.

"Well, we hope that it would pass, but then again, that is left to the wisdom of the members of Congress," he added.

When Duterte assumed office, he sought for emergency powers to address the worsening traffic congestion on Edsa.

But the previous Congress declined the call for fear the administration would abuse the emergency powers. Celerina Monte/DMS