Sotto: Anti-terror bill transmitted to Malacañang

Senate President Vicente Sotto III confirmed that the anti-terror bill has been sent to Malacanang to be signed by President Duterte.

"Alan (House Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano) signed last night. Sending it to President Rodrigo Roa Duterte this morning," a message from Sotto read.

He added that he could not give in to the request of some congressmen to defer the transmittal of the bill to the Palace.

"A bill passed by both Houses of Congress (is) already enrolled and yet some congressmen would like to hold it? It has never been done. They would not want me to do that to any of their bills, do they?" Sotto said.

Sotto considered the bill "as good as passed" following Duterte’s certification as an urgent measure last week.

The Lower House adopted the Senate's version of the measure and approved the same on third and final reading on June 3.

Various groups however are opposing the measure, saying that it could be used as a tool to silence political dissent and activism in the country.

Those against the bill include Senators Risa Hontiveros and Francis Pangilinan, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet and some human rights groups.

Among the provisions protested was the extension of the detention period for suspects arrested without warrant from the current 36 hours to 14 days, with the option of 10 more days extension.

Meanwhile, bill author Senator Panfilo Lacson said the Department of Justice may influence its passage.

“The DOJ can interfere by advising the President to veto the bill altogether because, remember, this is not a revenue measure nor it is a budget measure, so there is no line item veto here… it's either the President vetoes the bill in whole, not in part, or he approves it," Lacson said.

Former Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio meanwhile said the Anti-Terrorism Act may immediately be challenged before the Supreme Court once it is passed into law.