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Ni Ernie Reyes
IPINABABALIK ni Senate Minority Leader Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III sa plenaryo ang kontrobersiyal na Maharlika Investment Fund (MIF) bill upang matugunan ng Kongreso ang ilang “glaring errors and discrepancies.”
“Recalling the approval of the MIF and returning it to the floor is the sole remedy left for Congress if it is to correct and clarify the discrepancies and ambiguous provisions in the MIF. There is no shortcut,” ayon kay Pimentel sa statement.
Sinabi pa ni Pimentel na maililigtas pa ang Palasyo sa paglagda ng “erroneous bills,” bilang batas.
“The consequences of the President signing a bill containing glaring errors can be significant,” babala ni Pimentel.
Partikular na tinukoy ni Pimentel ang ilang “glaring errors” na sinasabi nitong “hastily-approved” measure, kabilang ang double sections sa prescriptive period.
“One section of the MIF bill provides a 10-year prescription period for crimes punishable under the measure, while another section in the same bill provides for a 20-year prescription period,” ani Pimentel.
Sinabi ni Pimentel na malinaw na magkaiba ang termino at prescriptive period na matatagpuan sa Sections 50 at 51 ng MIF na tanging plenaryo lamang ang maaaring maglinaw.
Sakaling maibalik sa Kongreso, sinabi ni Pimentel na magkakaroon ng mas maraming opurtunidad na linisin ang panukala at linawin ang malalabong pananaw na nakapaligid sa MIF bill.
Aniya, maaaring magkaroon ng falsification ng legislative documents sakaling itinama ito nang hindi inaaprubahan ng Kongreso.
“Congress’s imprimatur is needed to rectify the MIF. The discrepancies and ambiguities found in the approved bill cannot be corrected without the risk of falsification of legislative documents,” aniya.
Tinukoy ni Pimentel ang: “Article 170 of the Revised Penal Code which states that the penalty of prision correccional in its maximum period or fine not exceeding P1,200,000 shall be imposed upon any person who, without proper authority therefor alters any bill, resolution, or ordinance enacted or approved or pending approval of either House of Congress or any provincial board or municipal council.”
Nitong Martes, inihayag ni Senate Majority Leader Joel Villanueva na natugunan na ni Senador Mark Villar ang isyu sa double sections sa prescriptive periodspara sa krimeina na nakatakda sa MIF bill na 10-taon lamang ng prescription period.
