Para improve pa more: Ping open to amending anti-terror measure

If he sees the need to improve it, Sen. Panfilo Lacson is open to amending the proposed Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020 should it be passed into law.

Lacson said this is part of the legislative process where any lawmaker can file a bill to amend the measure upon its effectivity.

“Definitely. We can introduce amendments or further amend the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020 once it is enacted into law. Nothing can prevent a senator or congressman to file a bill to amend, immediately upon its effectivity,” he said at a webinar of the Management Association of the Philippines on Wednesday.

“If somebody wants to file, we’re open to further improving without admitting there are constitutional infirmities. If the purpose is to further enhance the measure by way of its implementation and the safeguards, then we’re willing, we’re open to that,” he added.

On Thursday, Lacson noted no law is non-repealable, as legislators are not barred from filing bills to amend existing laws.

“No law is non repealable. No legislator can be prohibited from filing a bill amending an existing law. To say I am not open to it smacks of ignorance of legislative process,” he said.

No law is non repealable. No legislator can be prohibited from filing a bill amending an existing law. To say I am not open to it smacks of ignorance of legislative process.

— PING LACSON (@iampinglacson) June 24, 2020

On the other hand, Lacson hit back at some critics of the bill who insist on “refining” the bill more before having it enrolled for President Rodrigo Duterte’s signature.

“Just because some critics have their own interpretations of some provisions does not make a bill bad or constitutionally infirm. At the MAP webinar yesterday, I rebutted point by point, backed by facts and jurisprudence why those critics were wrong in their reading of the ATB,” he said.

Just because some critics have their own interpretations of some provisions does not make a bill bad or constitutionally infirm. At the MAP webinar yesterday, I rebutted point by point, backed by facts and jurisprudence why those critics were wrong in their reading of the ATB.

— PING LACSON (@iampinglacson) June 25, 2020

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