Rody slammed for certifying anti-terror bill as urgent

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BY WENDELL VIGILIA and RAYMOND AFRICA

ALBAY Rep. Edcel Lagman yesterday slammed President Duterte for certifying as urgent a bill that will effectively repeal the Human Security Act, saying the Chief Executive is “errantly” prioritizing suppression of alleged acts of terrorism instead of focusing on response measures for the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic.

Opposition Sen. Risa Hontiveros also lashed out at the administration for allegedly giving priority to the passage of the new anti-terror bill instead of focusing on fight against COVID-19.

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Senate President Vicente Sotto III was quick to defend the measure. “I suggest they read the bill first before reacting. Terrorists or their supporters are the only ones who will be afraid of the bill.”

Sotto also said the proposed bill could be passed before Congress goes on break on June 5.

“It’s good as passed. It will just need my signature if it comes back to us after ratification then I will transmit to the President,” Sotto said.

The certification allows the House to vote on the measure on second and on third reading on the same day, setting aside the three-day rule which is required by the House rules.

President Duterte certified the bill as urgent on June 1. Two House committees passed their anti-terror bills on Friday last week, adopting the Senate version which was approved last February.

Sen. Panfilo Lacson, who sponsored the bill at the Senate, reiterated that safeguards are in place to prevent abuse of the law.

“The concerns being raised by the progressive and leftist groups as well as human rights advocate have been adequately addressed during the (Senate) committee on national defense and security public hearings, as well as the debates and interpellations in the plenary,” Lacson said.

“Enough safeguards are in place. The critics — some of whom had been extended the opportunity to help craft the bill — should read first the bill itself to see for themselves what I am saying,” he added.

Presidential spokesman Harry Roque defended the certification, noting the measure has been pending in Congress for years now, and saying the Philippines has had terrorist attacks.

The military is confronting several terrorist organizations in Mindanao, including the Abu Sayyaf, the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters and the Maute Group which have links to the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria.

The Armed Forces also defended the measure, saying it will protect their rights and not trample on these.

Roque also said the amendments are needed considering the HSA of 2007 is the weakest among countries with anti-terror laws, based on studies.

TIGHTENING THE NOOSE

Lagman, opposition leader at the House said the President, in certifying House Bill No. 6875 (Senate Bill No. 1083) repealing the Human Security Act of 2007, is “further tightening the noose on suspected terrorists at the expense of the protection of human rights and civil liberties like critical dissent and expression of grievances.”

Lagman said the oft-repeated promise of the administration to protect fundamental rights, which is also provided in the measure. is nothing but “lip service.”

He said the President failed to certify the immediate enactment of House Bill No. 6815 or Accelerated Recovery and Investments Stimulus for the Economy of the Philippines or the ARISE Philippines Act which seeks to appropriate P1.3 trillion to continue emergency assistance to displaced workers as well as to grant interest-free and concessional loans to adversely affected businesses, particularly the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) as well as transportation and tourism enterprises.

Lagman slammed the “draconian” features of the proposed repeal of the HAS.

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The measure expanded the definition of terrorism which Lagman said covers virtually all perceived or suspected acts of terrorism which may include political dissent, and redefining the crime of terrorism by removing the inculpatory purpose of terrorism “to coerce the government to give in to an unlawful demand” which makes prosecution and conviction easier.

The bill authorizes wiretapping of suspected terrorists for a maximum period of ninety (90) days as an amendment to the Anti-Wiretapping Law (R.A. No. 4200) and detention without judicial warrant of arrest for a maximum period twenty-four (24) days of suspected terrorists instead of the present three-day maximum;

It empowers the Anti-Money Laundering Council to pry into the bank accounts of suspected terrorist groups and persons without a specific court order by freezing such accounts for 20 days, subject to six months’ extension by the Court of Appeals, as an exception to the “Law of Secrecy of Bank Deposits” (R.A. No. 1405).

A preliminary order of proscription of alleged terrorist organizations also has no terminal duration pending proceedings before the Court of Appeals.

Lagman said “red-tagging” of groups and persons is “encouraged, facilitated and legalized” under the bill and safeguards for the protection of human rights and civil liberties that are enshrined in the Human Security Act “have been deleted or diluted.”

WINNING THE WAR

The Armed Forces said the passage of the new anti-terror bill would help in the military’s counter-terrorism campaign.

“It may not immediately wipe away the menace, but it shall provide big strides toward winning the war against it, beginning from the definition as to who are terrorists to penalizing other act or acts that are contributory or leading to the eventual commission of the felony,” said AFP spokesman Brig. Gen. Edgard Arevalo

Arevalo also said the proposed law “gives more teeth to the existing law and eliminates some provisions that tend to curtail rather than aid security forces to defeat terrorism.” — With Jocelyn Montemayor and Victor Reyes

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