Malacañang has stated that President Rodrigo Duterte is still waiting for the anti-terror bill to be vetted by several local officials before he himself reviews and decides on whether or not to sign the bill into law.
Local officials mentioned include Senator Panfilo Lacson, the principal author of the measure, as well as vetting from the Office of the Secretary and the Department of Justice.
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Presidential Spokesperson Secretary Harry Roque stated that the Office of the Chief Presidential Legal Counsel has already submitted their inputs.
“When he (Duterte) spoke about the anti-terror bill, he was saying, ‘I’m waiting for Senator Lacson to finalize his commas and periods before I sign the bill,’” said Secretary Roque during an interview with ABS-CBN News Channel.
Secretary Roque affirmed the public that President Duterte would also review the entire bill on the president’s merits as a lawyer himself.
“Let’s not forget, that the President was also a criminal lawyer, a public prosecutor. He will read the bill himself and he will himself make a determination if there’s any provision that is contrary to the bill of rights and the Constitution,” said Secretary Roque.
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The anti-terrorism bill seeks to amend and improve the provisions of the Human Security Act of 2007 by giving it more teeth.
Under the measure, the detention of suspected terrorists for up to 24 days sans a warrant of arrest will be permitted. It also allows a 60-day surveillance with an allowable 30-day extension that can be conducted by the police or the military against the suspected terrorists.
A person who voluntarily or knowingly joins a terrorist organization will also face 12 years of imprisonment.
