Palace: Duterte may again certify as urgent the refiled anti-endo bill

Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo. INQUIRER file photo / JOAN BONDOC

MANILA, Philippines—President Rodrigo Duterte may certify the measure banning labor contracting as urgent for the second time around after he recently vetoed the Security of Tenure Bill, Malacañang said Tuesday.

This is after Senator Joel Villanueva refiled the exact copy of the bill that Duterte had rejected. But this time, Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo said the proposal made by the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) should be incorporated in the new anti-endo bill.

READ: It’s official: Duterte vetoes Security of Tenure bill

READ: After Duterte veto, Villanueva refiles Security of Tenure bill

“The suggestion by the Department of Labor could be the subject of any amendment to the bill,” Panelo said in a Palace briefing.

When asked if Duterte will certify the measure as urgent, Panelo said, “I think so, yes.”

Duterte first certified the bill as urgent in September 2018 in a bid to fulfill his campaign promise to prohibit illegal contractualization or “endo” of workers.

READ: Duterte certifies anti-contractualization bill as urgent

But on Friday, the President vetoed the proposed law, saying that “while labor-only contracting must be prohibited, legitimate job-contracting should be allowed” provided that the contractor is “well capitalized, has sufficient investments, and affords its employees all the benefits.”

Duterte also said “businesses should be allowed to determine whether they should outsource certain activities or not.” /jpv