Discussing The Anti-Terrorist Bill's Amendments In A Parliamentary Set-Up

The recent anti-terrorist bill feels like it's been rushed and "made urgently". I'm for an anti-terrorism bill but I'm for junking any version that could be easily weaponized. We already have our majority and opposition sides talking about it. Leni Loud Robredo is actually right that the bill could be misused and abused. Now, it's time to consider the provisions and I think any provision that will violate the right to privacy and due process SHOULD BE REMOVED because it could be misused and abused. But what if we were having the anti-terrorism bill amended in the parliamentary system?

Now, let's give our two parties namely PDP-Laban and the Liberal Party their side to talk. The topic is how to carry out the anti-terrorism bill. The Liberal Party believes that certain amendments might be easily misused and abused. On the other hand, PDP-Laban would defend certain amendments that they believe would be needed. Now, it's time for the weekly question hour as Prime Minister Rodrigo R. Duterte (Government) and Opposition Leader Noynoy Aquino (Opposition) together with their respective members. It would be time for the ministers of each side to be answerable to one another.

Now, it's time for the weekly question hour. The lights are on and both Duterte and Noynoy shake hands and prepare for the debate. Let's assume that PDP-Laban wants to speed things up while Noynoy wants to insert safety measures to make sure that the Anti-Terrorist Bill doesn't get abused. Both sides must be well-prepared to defend their stances. Everyone in PDP Laban is for their amendments. Meanwhile, everyone on the Liberal Party is unified for their proposed amendments.

What happens is that Duterte must answer Noynoy and vice-versa. Duterte makes the opening 7.5 speech and Noynoy also gets his 7.5 minutes. The cycle between the Government and the Opposition gives them equal ground. Both sides must be answerable to each other. What happens is that certain provisions done right on both sides may end up entering the new anti-terror bill. PDP-Laban would concede to the Liberal Party's criticism and vice-versa. For instance, the Liberal Party may accept that PDP-Laban's warrantless arrest on people caught red-handed is right. Another instance is that PDP-Laban will concede to the Liberal Party's policy that arresting based on suspicion should not be allowed.

Unfortunately, the presidential system doesn't really define everything. How it is really check and balance when the president and vice president are from two different parties? It's supposed to work in tandem. However, the parliamentary system will put Duterte and Cayetano under the scrutiny of Noynoy and Leni Loud (and vice-versa). The parliamentary opposition gets its voice in a real public discussion with the government. Sadly, that's very hardly done in today's presidential system.