Duterte 'awaiting finalization of anti-terror bill' remark a figure of speech

Senator Panfilo Lacson on Wednesday said President Rodrigo Duterte is just playing with words when the latter mentioned that the anti-terror bill is awaiting finalization of details before being signed.

"It’s just a figure of speech. You know the President. He says things to add color to his language. Enrolled na [ito]," Lacson, principal sponsor of the bill, said in a virtual Kapihan sa Manila Bay.

"He has 30 days under the Constitution to approve or veto or just allow it to lapse into law. We should trust the President also because he has the full 30 days. How many days are remaining, he has at least 15 days," he added.

Earlier, Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque quoted the President as saying that he was "waiting for Senator Lacson to finalize his commas and periods" before he signs the bill.

Roque, nonetheless, assured that the proposed law is being reviewed by the Office of the Executive Secretary and that Duterte himself would be able to determine if there are problematic provisions.

“Let's not forget that the President was also a criminal lawyer and public prosecutor. He will read the bill and he will himself make a determination if any provision that is contrary to the Bill of Rights and the Constitution,” he said.

Congress transmitted the proposed Anti-Terrorism Act to Malacañang on June 9. —LBG, GMA News