173 have voted yes, 31 have voted no, 29 have chosen to abstain—and some have denied and withdrawn co-authorship status for the controversial House Bill No. 6875.
[READ: With 173 yes votes at the House, Anti-Terror Bill needs only Duterte’s signature to become law]Among these was Antique representative Loren Legarda, who claimed that she never signed a form to list her name as a co-author of the bill. “Just to clarify: I never signed a co-author form re anti-terror bill. In fact, I voted no to the measure,” said Legarda.
Just to clarify: I never signed a co author form re anti terror bill. In fact, I voted no to the measure.
— Loren Legarda (@loren_legarda) June 3, 2020
On behalf of Deputy Speaker Vilma Santos-Recto, her son Luis Manzano shared a message on social media about the congresswoman’s denial of being a principal author of the bill as well.
According to Santos-Recto’s message to Manzano, she is in favor of the bill “with reservations” and noted her concerns on the current national security policy.
She also expressed her hope for law enforcement agencies to enforce the bill “in accordance with the Constitution, full respect to human rights and without any abuse whatsoever.”
Despite this, her name remains listed as one of the authors of the bill on the House of Representatives’ website.
To everyone asking, here’s what my mom said about the anti-terror bill👍🏻👍🏻 pic.twitter.com/o1v7uioIUU
— Luis Manzano (@luckymanzano) June 3, 2020
Meanwhile, Agusan del Norte representative Lawrence Fortun, who voted “no” during the hearing, clarified that he was never a co-author for the bill. Previously, media outlets reported that he voted against the measure during deliberation and withdrew as a co-author thereafter.
“Hindi po ako nagwithdraw dahil hindi naman ako naging co-author ng bill na ito kahit kailan. My name was inadvertently included by the committee staff. They corrected the mistake after I wrote the Rules Committee. It was a correction, not a withdrawal,” said Fortun.
Hindi po ako nagwithdraw dahil hindi naman ako naging co-author ng bill na ito kahit kailan. My name was inadvertently included by the committee staff. They corrected the mistake after I wrote the Rules Committee. It was a correction, not a withdrawal.https://t.co/vrMmneFC90
— Lawrence Fortun (@LawFortun) June 3, 2020
Making the largest buzz, however, was Muntinlupa representative and vice-chairperson of the House committee on national defense and security Ruffy Biazon, who was one of the main authors and sponsors of the bill. He eventually withdrew his position and voted against its passage during the hearing on June 3.
However, he withdrew not because he disagreed with the bill’s concepts, but rather because he did not see it as a true work of the House, and is instead an adopted work of the Senate.
“My name could not be attached to a bill that is not my real work,” he said upon voting “no” and withdrawing his co-authorship. In an interview regarding his decision, Biazon claimed that this was not a “face-saving move” but rather a decision based on personal principle.
[READ: LOOK: Scenes from the protest outside the House of Representatives]
Voicing out their opposition to the bill, citizens have resorted to sending emails to their local representatives as well as the authors of the bill. This is in addition to holding online and offline rallies in Metro Manila as a sign of protest.
Header photo by Grig Montegrande of Philippine Daily Inquirer
Get more stories like this by subscribing to our weekly newsletter here.
Read more:
Terrorism undefined: The Anti-Terrorism Bill is an indication of an authoritarian regime
Despite citizen protests, Duterte deems anti-terror bill “urgent”
House of Representatives OKs second reading of Anti-Terror Bill. Third reading approval up next
Writer: YANN MAGCAMIT
