Isko OK to emergency powers to solve Metro road gridlock, but…

MANILA, Philippines—Manila Mayor Isko Moreno expressed support on Thursday to the grant of emergency powers to President Rodrigo Duterte to solve Metro Manila’s road gridlock.

Moreno said “unforeseen events” could happen that would need emergency powers for Duterte.

“We should give the temporary power for one man to balance because the government is also balancing the judiciary, the Executive, the legislature,” Moreno said.

“So there are some instances even our law allows it. So why not?” he added.

Moreno said Duterte has “all the mandate” to wield emergency powers since at least 16 million Filipinos voted for him in 2016.

But he added that the decision was still up to Congress. He said there should be safeguards, though, in the grant of emergency powers to safeguard it against abuse.

“It shouldn’t be everything,” he said. “There should be a right amount of doubt, put it in a provision so that if there’s any abuse, that provision should go into effect,” he added.

“As for me, why not give it a chance?” /tsb