Atienza blames limited virtual session as reason over withdrawal of ‘yes’ vote for anti-terror bill

By JOHN CARLO M. CAHINHINAN

MANILA – Buhay Party-list Rep. Lito Atienza has decided to withdraw his affirmative vote over the controversial Anti-Terror Bill, blaming the limited plenary discussions over the said highly-contested legislation.

“We would like to withdraw our affirmative vote on House Bill No. 6875 and have decided to abstain instead,” said Atienza in a statement.

Atienza stressed that due to the limitations of the virtual sessions held via Zoom, the HB 6875 “was not thoroughly discussed during plenary sessions.”

“It is important that this bill, which affects the whole nation, should have been lengthily discussed on the floor to ensure that all voices are heard,” he said.

Prior to its second reading passage last week, congressmen were not allowed by the House leadership to proposed amendments over certain questionable provisions of HB 6875 but instead adopted the Senate-approved counterpart measure under Senate Bill No. 1083 as its amendment.

Following the incident, many of those supportive of the measure have doubts over the final version of the proposed Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020 and instead rendered either an abstention or a negative on the bill during its nominal voting for its third-reading approval last June 3.

Atienza insisted that it’s better judgment for the House leadership “to listen to the people objecting to its passage, and recommending that we reconsider and satisfy all issues and questions raised.”

The synchronized version of HB 6875 and SB 1083 was formally transmitted by Congress to Malacañang on Tuesday, and only awaits the signature of President Rodrigo Duterte who certified the said measure as urgent last June 1.

Meanwhile, Atienza said that another reason for his withdrawal of support for the said measure was the “violent objections” of his group, Buhay Party-list—considered the de facto representation of the Catholic Church in Congress—on the said legislation.

Source: Latest Politics News Today (Politics.com.ph)