MANILA – The Anti-Terrorism Bill is now up for President Rodrigo Duterte’s scrutiny after the Senate and the House of Representatives transmitted the controversial measure.
“The President has 30 days. Kapag hindi nilagdaan ng Presidente, it will become a law,” said Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque, who confirmed the Palace’s receipt of the bill from Congress on Tuesday.
The bill, according to Roque, would be scrutinized before President Duterte decides on whether it should be signed into law.
“‘Yan po ay dadaan sa proseso, pag aaralan ng mabuti ang bawat probisyon,” Roque said.
Congress transmitted the bill for the President’s approval Tuesday morning.
Senate President Vicente Sotto III said he and House Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano signed the measure on Monday night.
Despite several House lawmakers seeking to withdraw their authorship and votes even after it was approved on final reading, Sotto said he and House Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano have signed the final copy of the proposed bill. It now awaits President Rodrigo Duterte’s signature.
“A bill passed by both Houses of Congress already enrolled and yet some congressmen would like to hold it? It has never been done,” Sotto said in a message to reporters.
Department of Justice secretary Menardo Guevarra, for his part, said his office will be waiting for a request from the Chief Executive to review the measure’s constitutionality.
“With the President already receiving the enrolled anti-terror bill, we expect to immediately receive a letter requesting the DOJ to submit its comment on the bill,” Guevarra said in a statement.
The proposed measure wants to extend the number of days suspected terrorists can be detained without a warrant of arrest – from three days under the current law to up to 14 days.
The bill also removed the provision under the Human Security Act that orders the payment of half a million pesos in damages for each day that a person wrongfully accused of terrorism is detained.
Any person who shall threaten to commit any act of terrorism, propose any terroristic acts or incite others to commit terrorism shall suffer the penalty of 12 years in prison under the bill.
The Senate has approved in February the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020, which seeks to repeal the Human Security Act of 2007 with stronger measures to allow the government to curtail supposed acts of terror.
A counterpart measure was approved by the House of Representatives on third and final reading on Wednesday night clearing the way for President Duterte’s signature./PN
