Sotto, Honasan want bill strengthening Human Security Act to be passed

At least two senators on Wednesday stressed the need for the immediate passage of the bill strengthening the Human Security Act amid the deadly explosion in Cotabato City on New Year’s Eve.

“It is imperative that we pass it,” said Senate President Vicente Sotto III.

“Current martial law is toothless,” he said in a text message to GMA News Online when sought for comment.

He said martial law as it is currently implemented is not enough to prevent terrorism.

“The martial law we have now is a far cry from the old martial law of the 1935 Constitution. Tiger nuong araw, pusa na lang ngayon, may lagnat pa yung pusa,” he added.

In December 2018, Congress extended for the third time the implementation of martial law in Mindanao.

Senator Gregorio Honasan II, a former soldier, said it is time to pass the bill that would enhance the anti-terrorism law.

“Our Human Security Act is one of the weakest in Asia, if not the world, in terms of fighting terrorism,” he said.

Pending in the chamber is Senate Bill 1956 or the proposed "Anti-Terrorism Act of 2018," filed by Senator Panfilo Lacson in August.

Under the bill, the term "terrorist acts" instead of “terrorism" is used to remove the requirement of the acts being perpetrated for the purpose of coercing the government to give in to a specific demand.

"This has the effect of punishing the act of committing crimes that sow widespread extraordinary fear and panic, and not the purpose behind the commission of such acts," said Lacson, a former chief of the national police.

He said the bill also penalizes foreign terrorists, including those who travel to a state other than their state of residence to commit or organize terrorist acts; and those residing abroad who come to the Philippines in transit to commit or take part in terrorist acts to target countries.

Lacson said the bill makes it clear that terrorist acts shall exclude legitimate exercises of the freedom of expression and right to peaceably assemble ,"where a person does not have the intention to use or urge the use of force or violence or cause harm to others."

Enhance capacity, intelligence

Another former soldier, Senator Antonio Trillanes IV, believes what the Armed Forces and Philippine National Police need to do is to enhance their intelligence operations “para mahuli at ma-preempt ang gawain nila.”

“For as long as we have an abusive president, we should not give him additional powers. Because, surely, [President Rodrigo] Duterte will use it against his own people, especially his political opponents. Besides, may Martial Law na nga sa Mindanao kaya wala na dapat silang dahilan,” he said in a text message to GMA News Online.

Senator Joel Villanueva said he is open to the idea, but believes that what the government needs to do is to strengthen the capacity of security forces, as well as intelligence units, to be able to be better in countering terrorism.

“Another important thing that we must do is to continuously dialog with the public/our communities so that the government becomes more sensitive to the needs of our communities and we are able to discourage our citizens especially the youth in joining terrorist groups,” he said.

Two were killed, including a staff member of the Bangsamoro Transition Commission, and 32 were injured when an improvised explosive device went off at the entrance of South Seas mall near stalls selling firecrackers in Cotabato City, Monday afternoon.

Another IED was recovered inside the mall and destroyed by the authorities.

The military is initially eyeing the Daesh-inspired group Daulah Islamiyah and other terrorist groups as perpetrators of the bombing. — BM, GMA News