MANILA, Philippines — President Rodrigo Duterte is set to receive this week the inputs of his legal advisers on the controversial anti-terror bill, which was feared by many as a potential state weapon against dissent, Malacañang said Monday.
According to Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque, the Department of Justice (DOJ) and Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Salvador Panelo have already given Duterte their opinions on the contested bill, which the President certified as urgent.
The Office of the Executive Secretary is also expected to submit its comment.
“Hindi ko po alam kung talagang nabasa na niya ng buong-buo kasi inaantay po natin ‘yung mga inputs,” Roque said in a televised Palace press briefing.
(I don’t know if he has read the whole bill because we are still waiting for the inputs [of his advisers].)
“Sa tingin ko po by now, by this week eh maipriprisinta na ang Bill itself at ang mga rekomendasyon ng iba’t-ibang ahensiya kay Presidente,” he added.
(I think by now, by this week the bill itself and the various agencies’ recommendations will be presented to the President.)
The proposed law—which was transmitted to Malacañang on June 9— allows the detention of suspects for up to 24 days without charge and empowers an anti-terrorism council to designate suspects or groups as suspected terrorists who could be subjected to arrests and surveillance.
Duterte’s military and top security officials have cited the continuing threat of terror groups in the country such as the Abu Sayyaf group as the main reason for the need for the law.
Roque earlier revealed that Duterte is “inclined” to sign the bill into law.