MANILA – Two minority senators are studying the possibility of challenging the constitutionality of the Anti-Terror Bill before the Supreme Court (SC) should President Rodrigo Duterte sign it into law.
Sen. Risa Hontiveros said in a statement that she is weighing the proper course of action to prevent the controversial bill from prospering as she also appealed to President Duterte to veto the measure.
“Ako po ay nagkokonsulta pa rin at nag-aaral kasama ng mga legal expert kung mangunguna ba or sasali sa paghain ng isang kaso sa Korte Supreme pero kung ano pa man, kahit pa hindi, kung iba ang aking magiging gawain parallel doon ay patuloy akong susuporta sa ganiyang mga gawain… para depensahan ang ating mga kalayaan at ating mga karapatan,” she said.
Hontiveros added that, instead of prioritizing the Anti-Terrorism Bill, the administration must turn its focus on the response to coronavirus disease 2019.
Sen. Francis Pangilinan, for his part, said contesting the controversial measure’s constitutionality before the High Court will be “prudent recourse.”
“The prudent recourse is to raise the constitutional issues before the SC,” Pangilinan said. “We are considering this (contesting the Anti-Terrorism Bill before SC), yes.”
The final version of the bill, approved by both houses of Congress, was officially transmitted to Malacañang for President Rodrigo Duterte’s signature on Tuesday afternoon.
Among the controversial provisions of the measure were the extension of detention period for those arrested without warrant from the current 36 hours to 14 days, which is extendable by 10 more days; the court’s issuance of preliminary proscription order within 72 hours; and the allegedly “ambiguous” definition of what constitutes terrorism. (With GMA News/PN)
