The Duterte administration has no intention to abuse the emergency powers that it is seeking from Congress to effectively fight the 2019 coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea assured House members on Monday.
Speaking during an unprecedented, digitally-aided special session, Medialdea said that the administration “simply desires to be equipped with all the legal authorities necessary for us to serve our people during this crisis in the most expeditious way.”
“The President and his administration has no intention at all to use these powers to its own advantage but only for our people’s advantage,” Medialdea said.
“We therefore approach the distinguished members of Congress, the elected legislators of our people, to ask for a law that would enable the President, the Executive branch, the legal authority to address this crisis, in a manner that is free from the restrictions, which, if beneficial during normal times, might prove disadvantageous during such an unusual time as this,” he said.
The Palace official told the solons that, even with the pending approval of such powers, the national government does not want to overstep the bounds of Constitution “which is firmly in place even in times of emergency.” (Ellson A. Quismorio)
