Emergency powers? Not so fast – solonsThere is no way the House of Representatives will grant emergency powers to the Duterte administration unless officials of the Department of Transportation (DOTr) can give specifics on the traffic and transportation crisis that the emergency authority intends to address. Sarmiento’s statements drew strong bipartisan backing as lawmakers noted that the grant of emergency powers may be open to abuse. Oppositionist Kabayan Rep. Harry Roque said there remains no legal justification for the grant of emergency powers, adding that strong political will to implement traffic laws and fight corruption in traffic enfocement agencies is enough. In the same deliberation, Bayan Muna Rep. Carlos Isagani Zarate supported Sarmiento’s decision to call for a careful scrutiny of the plans and programs included in the emergency powers to erase fears over possible abuse of the powers.

Source: Manila Bulletin September 16, 2016 14:10 UTC