Hontiveros opposes Duterte's special powers, 'unchecked extra powers prone to abuse and corruption'

Senator Risa Hontiveros/photo courtesy of Manila Bulletin

Senator Risa Hontiveros has expressed her doubts on giving President Rodrigo Duterte additional powers granted by Congress.

This worries the senator as emergency powers would grant the President “unchecked power

that are open to abuse and corruption”.

In her series of tweets, she said Bayanihan bill gives Duterte “unchecked powers” and does not include any clear strategy on how to defeat the coronavirus outbreak in the country.

Hontiveros is the only senator that voted against the Bayanihan measure on the extra powers requested by the President.

“W/ NEITHER BASELINE NOR STRATEGY, ‘SPECIAL POWERS’ ARE PRONE TO ABUSE & CORRUPTION,” Hontiveros tweeted.

“I voted NO because it grants the Pres unchecked powers that are open to abuse & corruption. It also gives him a virtual blank check w/ no clear plan or strategy to defeat COVID-19,” she said.

“I am very alarmed by the potential for abuse and lack of accountability in giving the President near-absolute control over public funds in national government agencies and even government-owned and controlled corporations.” Hontiveros added.

She expressed fear about the fund disbursement and the accountability of the government under the Bayanihan measure.

“Paano ngayon mamo-monitor ng taumbayan ang paggamit ng napakalaking mga pondo na ito? Ano ang garantiya na hindi mapupunta ang kaban ng bayan sa mga negosyante o Chinese companies na malapit sa administrasyon?” she said.

For Hontiveros, there are readily-available laws and policies, such as the Government Procurement Reform Act (RA 9184), the Price Act (RA 7582) and the Mandatory Reporting of Notifiable Diseases and Health Events of Public Health Concern Act (RA 11332), “has not been fully utilized in the fight versus COVID-19.”

“Hindi special powers ang sagot sa pandemic na ito, kundi political will para isulong ang mass-testing, ibigay ang PPEs at hazard pay sa mga frontliners, at ihatid ang cash assistance sa mga mahihirap na pamilya at nawalan ng kita,” Hontiveros said.

“Bakit special powers na ang hinihingi habang hindi pa tuluyang nagamit ang kasalukuyang mandato at kapangyarihan na mayroon ang Pangulo?"

“Ang hinihingi ng publiko ay klarong programa laban sa krisis na dulot ng COVID-19. Sana ay iwasan natin ang isa pang krisis na maaring dalhin sa taumbayan ng korapsyon at pang-aabuso sa kapangyarihan ng pamahalaan,” Hontiveros added.