Congress approves Duterte's special pandemic powers

Congress approved a bill on Wednesday, March 25, giving President Rodrigo Duterte 30 'special powers' to address the pandemic.

The initial draft of Malacañang’s emergency powers bill included provisions that would have allowed Duterte to take over private businesses and transfer appropriations, but these were removed during deliberations.

Lawyers now argue that many of the items in the measure are already within the President's existing powers and permitted by current laws.