Duterte has ‘no problem’ with 14-day warrantless detention, says Palace

Last updated on May 6th, 2021 at 09:12 am

MANILA – President Rodrigo Duterte has no problem with the provision that would require a 14-day pre-trial detention of suspected terrorists, Malacañang said on Wednesday.

Presidential spokesman Harry Roque Jr. said that eventhough the President has yet to read to provision itself, He does not see the detention of terror suspects as a violation of the Constitution.

Roque cited that in the Revised Penal Code, it is allowed to detained suspects up to 36 hours without warrant to prevent the destruction of violence.

Under the proposed law, Authorities could order the arrest of a suspected terrorist and his detention for 14 days, extendable by another 10 days, without a charge filed against him.

Roque also noted that the bill also contained provision where law personnel who made warrantless arrest should be notifying the court.

In the proposed bill, after the suspects detention, The court would still issue the warrant of arrest for purposes of arresting or obtaining jurisdiction over the suspect

Several groups strongly oppose the bill because of warrantless arrest included on the provision.

President Duterte was inclined to sign the anti-terrorism bill after certifying it urgent. He also reiterated that he will not allow any constitutional infirmities present in the proposed bill. The bill is expected to either approved or vetoed once he received the recommendations from Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea.