Abusing the emergency powers intended for the resolution of the country’s transportation problems is the farthest thing on the mind of President Duterte, according to a Palace official.
Presidential spokesman Ernesto Abella assured the public that the President will “not go beyond” the specific purpose of the proposed emergency powers.
“The emergency powers that are being requested are not absolute and limited only to traffic,” Abella said in a Palace news conference.
“We can trust the President will not go beyond as he himself encouraged the FOI (Freedom of Information),” he added.
Sen. Grace Poe, chairperson of the Senate Committee on Public Services, earlier agreed with the proposal to grant special powers to the President to address the traffic situation.
Poe, however, pushed for “clear-cut parameters,” including the extent of the emergency powers, to prevent any abuse. (Genalyn D. Kabiling)