(MANILA BULLETIN FILE PHOTO)
In a committee hearing presided by its chairman, Samar Rep. Edgar Mary Sarmiento, the House panel supported the “noble objectives” of the law that was authored during the 17th Congress by then Sen. Joseph Victor “JV” Ejercito.
However, Sarmiento, together with Deputy Speakers Rufus Rodriguez (CDI, Cagayan de Oro City) and Rodante Marcoleta (Sagip Partylist) and Muntinlupa City Rep. Ruffy Biazon, noted that implementation of the law is ill-timed because of the current coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic prevailing in the country.
Ejercito, who was invited as resource person in the hearing, aired the same view, saying that the public should understand that his legislative proposal was signed into law by President Rodrigo Duterte on February 22, 2019.