The Philippine Congress has sent controversial anti-terrorism legislation to President Rodrigo Duterte, paving the way for him to sign it into law, while also setting the stage for opponents to mount an immediate legal challenge on the constitutionality of some of its provisions before the Supreme Court.
Senate President Tito Sotto announced that he and House Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano signed the bill on Monday night and that the document had been received by the office of the president on Tuesday. Last week, Duterte certified the passage of the legislation as urgent, and he is expected to sign it into law amid growing opposition and decision by several House members to withdraw their support.
The House of Representatives passed the bill on June 4 after it was approved by the Senate in February. Sotto, an ally of Duterte, defended the bill saying only "terrorists" should worry about the legislation.
Duterte's spokesman said the approved bill would still be subject to review before the president signs it.On Tuesday morning, opposition Senator Risa Hontiveros, one of the two senators who voted against the bill, hinted at the possibility of joining the effort to take the legislation directly to the country's highest court, according to a transcript of a media statement that was also provided to Al Jazeera.
"At a time of the pandemic and quarantine, the priority of the government should be food security, transportation, jobs, and safety from infection," Hontiveros said, adding that a group of lawyers and other civic groups are already preparing for the legal battle.
Serious constitutional questions
Former Supreme Court Justice Antonio Carpio had said earlier that as soon as Duterte signs the legislation into law, it can be questioned directly before the high court. Al Jazeera's sources also said lawyers are waiting for Duterte's signature before filing their legal challenge.
During an online forum on Monday night covered by Al Jazeera, Senator Francis Pangilinan, the other opponent of the bill, said "there are serious constitutional questions" that it raises, "particularly on the respect for fundamental rights" of Filipino citizens.
The most contentious provisions include those for warrantless arrest and the 14-day detention of suspected "terrorists", extendible for another 10 days.
