Photo courtesy of Manila Bulletin |
Chief presidential legal counsel Salvador Panelo said on Friday, the
proposed Anti-Terrorism Act, if passed into law, would be the government’s
“powerful weapon” against terrorists in the country.
Panelo emphasized this upon recommending to President Rodrigo Duterte
that he sign this into law the security measure and explained that it has adequate
safeguards to prevent abuse.
“After a careful and thoughtful review of the Anti-Terrorism Bill,
this representation has recommended the approval and the signing of the
proposed legislative measure to the President,” Panelo
said in a statement.
In an article by Philippine News Agency (PNA), Panelo pointed out that
there is an “urgent need” to strengthen the law against terror acts for the
preservation of national security and the promotion of general welfare.
“The proposed Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020 will serve as a powerful
weapon against participants of these lawless actions, the threat of which is
extremely imminent during our current times,” the chief presidential
legal counsel also said in a press statement.
He said, the issued statement is for critics who continue to
question the constitutionality of the anti-terror bill.
After all the warning against mass gatherings amid the coronavirus
disease 2019 pandemic, activists still performed protests in different parts of
the country to express their resentment against the bill.
Critics are claiming that the anti-terror bill could be used to divert
the people’s objection and its provisions are open for abuse.
The proposed Anti-Terror Act, which is now up for President
Rodrigo Duterte’s signature authorizes the detention of suspected terrorists
for up to 24 days without a warrant of arrest.
60-day surveillance, with an allowable 30-day extension, can
also, be conducted by the police or the military against the suspected terrorists,
according to the proposed measure.
He ensured that Filipinos who peacefully object against the
government's policies would not be targeted. Thus, critics’ concerns are “more
imagined than real,” Panelo said.
The final copy of the bill, which seeks to cancel the Republic Act
9372 or the Human Security Act of 2007, was transmitted by Congress to
Duterte’s office on Tuesday.
Malacañang has since begun the review of the provisions of the
proposed anti-terror law.
Panelo noted that after a “careful and thoughtful” review, it has
been recommended that the bill be approved and signed by Duterte.
“Our office has studied each and every provision, which should not
be read in isolation but in connection with each other so as to render the
document in its entirety, as well as its directives, effective in combatting
terrorism, and found the same passing the constitutional test,” he
said.
Panelo guaranteed that the measure has “sufficient safeguards” to ensure that the political and civil rights of law-abiding Filipinos are protected.
“The bill contains sufficient safeguards which ensure that its provisions would be implemented and enforced against those who intend to sow and create a condition of widespread and extraordinary fear and panic among the populace through lawless actions,” Panelo said.
Panelo assured the public that remedies under the 1987 Constitution
and other relevant laws and rules are in place against abuses on the part of
government agents.
“By strengthening policies against terrorism and its actors, our
country will effectively be complying with our obligations to the community of
nations by countering and eliminating terroristic acts through proper
legislation,” he said.
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