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‘MISPLACED PRIORITIES’

Hontiveros, Pangilinan reject anti-terror bill approved by Congress


Two minority senators on Wednesday condemned the passage of the proposed Anti-Terrorism Act in Congress as the country's fight against the COVID-19 pandemic continues.

Senator Risa Hontiveros said it shows "misplaced priorities" and may be considered a tragedy for democracy.

"Sa panahong ang mga Pilipino'y nagkakasakit, nawawalan ng trabaho, walang masakyan, at nagugutom dahil sa COVID-19, ang inihaing solusyon ng gobyerno ay isang Anti-Terrorism Bill na pwedeng ipakulong ang mga nagrereklamo," Hontiveros said on Twitter.

Senator Francis Pangilinan also called for the junking of the anti-terror bill, which is now up for President Rodrigo Duterte's signature.

"Hindi natin kailangan ng magbibigay ng mas maraming kapangyarihan sa gobyerno para supilin ang karapatan ng mamamayan, lalo na’t palpak o kurakot ang sukli ng kanilang tiwala," he said in a statement.

Pangilinan underscored that social security, health services, and efficient transportation are what the country needs amid the pandemic.

"Pakinggan natin ang hinaing at hiling ng taumbayan," he added.

The two senators were the only members of the Senate who voted against the passage of Senate Bill No. 1083 or the Anti-Terrorism Act in February. The said measure seeks to virtually repeal the existing Human Security Act.

The same version was adopted by the House of Representatives last week. It was passed on third and final reading on Wednesday.

There will be no more need for a bicameral conference committee since there are no disagreeing provisions in the versions approved by both houses.

The controversial bill raised human rights concerns among some groups. They pointed out that it could be used to stifle dissent among critics of the administration.

Senate President Vicente Sotto III, on the other hand, said enough safeguards are in place and only terrorists should fear the measure.

Under the said bill, the number of days a suspected person can be detained without a warrant of arrest, is set to 14 days and can be extended by 10 days.

It also allows the police or the military to conduct a 60-day surveillance on suspected terrorists, and can be lengthened to another non-extendable period of 30 days if a judicial authorization has been secured from the Court of Appeals.

The provision on payment of P500,000 damages per day of detention of any person acquitted of terrorism charges has been removed in this bill.

Any law enforcement or military personnel found to have violated the rights of the accused persons will face a jail sentence of 10 years. — BM, GMA News

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