More lawyers urge public to reject anti-terrorism bill

More human rights lawyers have urged the public to reject the proposed measure seeking to strengthen the country's anti-terrorism law, warning that it contains unconstitutional provisions and "weakens" protections against abuse.

The Concerned Lawyers for Civil Liberties (CLCL) said Tuesday that "hurried" proceedings in Congress to pass a new anti-terrorism bill in place of the Human Security Act of 2007 "seems to be part of the Duterte administration's urgent strategy to eliminate dissent and opposition, at whatever cost and manner."

President Rodrigo Duterte has certified House Bill 6875 as urgent, which means lawmakers can pass the measure on third reading immediately after it is passed on second reading. This House bill reportedly adopted the Senate version that was passed on final reading in February.

In a statement, CLCL warned that the bill "broadens" the definition of terrorism and may allow the executive branch of government to "extensively target personalities and groups with color and force of law" using "even wild theories and vagaries."

Criticisms on the bill have invariably included concerns that it may be used to go after dissenters and activists. The National Union of Peoples' Lawyers earlier warned that the bill will "erode" human rights and worsen the climate of impunity in the Philippines.

CLCL said that the proposed measure identifies terrorist acts "in simpler but more comprehensive terms" and punishes acts like causing "extensive interference with critical infrastructure," which it said are "in no way terrorism."

The lawyers' group also said that the bill "swivels the definition of terrorism from its effects upon the people towards its effect upon government."

"The danger therein lies with how the government can construe legitimate acts of dissent or opposition within these definitions – it gives the government almost free reign in determining who are 'suspected terrorists,'" CLCL said. 

"Even ordinary citizens airing their grievances against government on social media may fall within its ambit," it added.

The lawyers' group further said the bill allows the anti-terror council, made up of executive officials, to perform functions that are reserved for the courts. The proposed measure also lacks safeguards against abuse, it said.

"In the midst of the pandemic, Congress has prioritized the anti-terror bill over health and economic measures. There is no starker example of the politicization and 'weaponization' of the law than the biased implementation of laws during the quarantine period and steady attack of constitutional rights on all fronts – political and civil, social and economic," CLCL said.

After the bill was certified as urgent, Senate President Vicente Sotto III said it is "as good as passed."

"It's as 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.

Senator Panfilo Lacson, author and sponsor of the bill, said concerns on the proposed measure were considered when it was being crafted. He said there are "enough safeguards."

Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana also said criticisms against the bill had no basis. --KBK, GMA News