FILE PHOTO: President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., during the inauguration ceremony at the National Museum in Manila, Philippines, June 30, 2022. REUTERS/Eloisa Lopez/File Photo
MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. “has not commented” on the pending bills left by former President Rodrigo Duterte, the Palace said Wednesday.
In a press briefing, Press Secretary Trixie Cruz-Angeles was asked about Marcos’ plans on the pending bills before the Office of the President—including the Vape Bill—which the previous administration left behind.
“The President has not indicated either way. When you say that there are bills pending before the President, as you know, if no action is made, then it lapses into law,” Cruz-Angeles said.
“There is no indication. The President has not commented on these bills right now,” she added.
The Senate and House of Representatives approved the Vape Bill in January this year.
However, citing “reliable information,” Senator Pia Cayetano earlier bared that the enrolled copy of the Vape Bill was submitted to Malacañang for signature only on June 24, a few days before the end of the Duterte administration.
The senator, who voted against the measure, said the move was a “devious attempt to evade scrutiny by the outgoing administration.”
Meanwhile, Cruz-Angeles maintained that President Marcos has the power to veto the proposed creation of the Bulacan Airport City Special Ecozone.
Senator Francis Escudero earlier said he is “unsure” if Marcos can veto a bill passed by the previous Congress.
“The Constitution clearly has no indication as to whether it’s the sitting president or the former president who can sign the bill into law,” Cruz-Angeles said.
“Since there is no distinction made in the Constitution, neither do we make such a distinction. So the President can veto, that is the stand,” she added.