Senate identifies priority bills for last days of 17th Congress

MANILA – Senators have identified several priority measures that they aim to pass on third and final reading before the 17th Congress adjourns in June.

Emerging from a majority caucus on Monday, Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri said among the important bills the Senate aims to approve upon the resumption of the session are the anti-terrorism bill, amendments to the anti-wiretapping law, and a bill lowering the minimum age of criminal responsibility.

Senate Bill 2204, otherwise known as the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2019, seeks to amend Republic Act 9372, or the Human Security Act, by redefining the acts of terrorism that are punishable by law.

Senate Bill 2198, or “An Act Strengthening the Youth Social Welfare Programs and Extending the Scope of Reformation and Rehabilitation of Children in Conflict with the Law”, recommends the lowering of the minimum age of criminal liability from 15 years to 12 years old.

Senate Bill 1210, the Expanded Anti-Wire Tapping Act of 2016, seeks to exempt the following crimes from the anti-wiretapping coverage: coup d’etat, conspiracy to commit coup d’etat, robbery in band, highway robbery, money laundering and violation of the anti-illegal drugs law.

Earlier, Senate President Vicente Sotto III also identified several proposed priority measures, among them the Public Services Act, Budget Reform Act, Rightsizing the National Government Act, the Salary Standardization Law, the Reformation of Children in Conflict with the Law.