AMID growing opposition against the proposed anti-terrorism bill, National Security Adviser (NSA) Hermogenes Ebdane Jr. yesterday defended the measure, saying it was a “matter of necessity” the country needs to battle enduring activities of terror groups in the country.
In support, Interior Secretary Eduardo Año said nearly 800 governors and mayors throughout the country have already expressed their support for the bill, which will effectively repeal the Human Security Act of 2007.
Esperon said: “Think back to the many other occasions in history where we all accused the government for failure of intelligence, failure to act and to call for reforms and swift actions. Yet here and now, in this decisive move to support our campaign against terrorism, why are we uncomfortable? Did the threat suddenly cease? On the contrary, local and foreign terrorists are still at large in Mindanao and probably here in Metro Manila and the threat continues to persist.”
Esperon said the proposed measure “is simply a matter of necessity” as he noted that Philippines’s 9th place ranking in the list of most terrorism-impacted countries worldwide.
Esperon said terrorism has been a problem in the country long before the deadly September 11, 2001 attacks in the United States, noting that the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) has been launching terrorist attacks as early as 1991.
Aside from the ASG, Esperon noted the presence of other terrorist groups which have launched various attacks all over the country, including the 2004 bombing of Super Ferry 14 in Manila Bay that left 116 people dead; the Davao City night market bombing in September 2016 that killed 15 people and injured scores others; and the suicide bombing at the Mt. Carmel Cathedral in Jolo, Sulu in January last year that left 23 people dead, including an Indonesian couple who blew themselves up.
“What is unfortunate is that our isolation from the threat have caused most of us to become desensitized to the point of becoming oblivious to the true state of our troubled regions,” Esperon said.
“How soon did we forget that we will all wept for the SAF-44 and witnessed Marawi crumble brick by brick?” he added, referring to the killing of 44 members of the PNP Special Action Force in January 2015 and the siege of several Marawi City barangays in May 2017.
The SAF members were on their way back to their base after a battle with the forces of Malaysian bomber Zulkifli bin Hir alias Marwan, when they were waylaid by Moro National Liberation Front and Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters.
The five month-conflict in Marawi City resulted in the death of about a thousand terrorists, 168 soldiers and policemen, and 47 civilians. It also brought massive destruction to the city, which remains to be rebuilt until now.
Esperon said people should not be concerned against the bill as long as they are not joining the ranks of the New People’s Army, the Abu Sayyaf, the BIFF, the Maute Group and similar organizations.
“(If you are not a member of these groups), you are not covered by this proposed anti-terrorist act. If you are a peace-loving, law-abiding (citizen), we are going to protect you, this (bill) is dedicated to you,” said Esperon.
LOCAL SUPPORT
Año said he has informed President Duterte that 784 governors and mayors are supportive of the bill during last Monday’s meeting in Malacañang.
“I reported to the President that despite the many critics of our anti-terrorism bill, many have also expressed support. First is the Union of Local Authorities of the Philippines or ULAP. Thirteen regional peace and order councils also expressed their support to sign the anti-terrorism bill,” said Año.
“As of that night, our last count is 43 governors, 68 city mayors and 673 municipal mayors… have expressed support. That’s why the President said ‘do not worry, what I am reviewing now only are the periods and commas’,” he added.
Congress has already transmitted to the Office of the President the copy of the enrolled bill for his signature. Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra has said his office has completed their review and would submit their recommendation to the President on Wednesday.
Año insisted there is a need to come up with a new law to replace the Human Security Act of 2007 because “it has been 13 years when the Human Security Act was enacted and put into law and where are we now? We are No. 9 ranking in the Global Terrorism Index. It means it’s not working.”
Año said the government owes it to the people to come up with a new anti-terrorism law “for the sake of the countless victims of terrorism.”
“The current generation now will not be judge but it is going to be the future generation or history will tell us and judge us whether we did the right thing,” said Año.
“Probably 10 years, 20 years, 50 years from now the people will thank the government for enacting this law and doing the right thing. So let’s give this anti terrorism bill a chance for the sake of everyone,” he also said.
