After Duterte veto, Villanueva refiles Security of Tenure bill

MANILA, Philippines — Senator Joel Villanueva on Monday refiled the Security of Tenure bill, which was recently vetoed by President Rodrigo Duterte.

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

He said the Senate Bill No. 806 is “exactly the same measure that was certified as priority and urgent measure by the President” in September 2018.

“Kaya the same because we wanted to find out from the President’s men or the officials na nag-influence sa Pangulo na i-veto ito para i-pinpoint nila kung anong particular provision ‘yung may problema sila,” Villanueva told reporters in an interview after filing the bill.

The Malacañang confirmed last Friday that the bill, which seeks to end labor contracting scheme, was vetoed by the President. The proposed law was supposed to lapse into law last Saturday, July 27, if not acted upon.

In his veto message, the President assured that his commitment to protect workers remains firm despite turning down the “anti-endo” bill.

He stressed 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.”

Meanwhile, in a statement, Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo defended the veto of the bill, explaining that the country “cannot afford business closures.”

He said the passage of the bill could also “discourage investment and remove the great potential of providing employment to our unemployed.” /je