‘Draconian, railroaded’: Solons decry approval of new anti-terrorism bill

Lawmakers from the House of Representatives on Wednesday decried the approval of the controversial new anti-terrorism bill, which they have described as "draconian" and "railroaded," saying it would be used to silent those who express dissent against the administration.

The chamber approved on third and final reading House Bill 6875, which seeks to strengthen the government’s fight against terrorism and virtually repeals the Human Security Act of 2007, only a day after it got the second reading approval.

The chamber was able to fast-track its approval after President Rodrigo Duterte certified the measure as urgent.

In voting against the measure, Gabriela Women's Party Representative Arlene Brosas said that the measure will not target hostage-takers or bombers, but ordinary citizens who are already exasperated with the government.

"Klaro sa mga probisyon ng Anti-Terror Bill na kahit ordinaryong mamamayan ay pwedeng maakusahan na terorista, by mere association or indirect relation to the terrorist act," she said.

"Iniisip mo pa lang na manawagan ng pag-aalsa sa EDSA para patalsikin ang Pangulo, makukulong ka na," she added.

Brosas said that the measure was railroaded on the command of the President, even as the more pressing concern now is the job and food security of Filipinos affected by the COVID-19 crisis.

"Gusto ng gobyerno na matakot at manahimik na lang tayo. Tanggapin na lang ang gutom, kalbaryo ng paglalakad at problema sa transportasyon, at kainutilan sa pagbibigay ng ayuda sa hikahos na mamamayan," she said.

"Gustong gusto na nila maningil sa kapalpakan at kapabayaan. At sa tala ng ating kasaysayan: walang batas-militar o diktador ang nakapigil sa pagsirit ng pagkilos ng mamamayan," she added.

For her part, ACT Teachers party-list Representative France Castro said that mass testing, contract tracing, personal protective equipment, sufficient treatment facilities, and enough government support are what the public needs now more than anything.

"Sa pagpasa ngayon ng ganitong kabulok na panukala, matapos ang pekeng deliberasyon mula komite hanggang plenaryo, at sa kabila ng matinding krisis na rumaragasa, isang katotohanan ang mailalantad: Hindi COVID ang kikitil sa buhay, kabuhayan, karapatan, at kalayaan ng mga Pilipino, kundi ang mismong gobyerno nila," she said.

"Higit sa lahat, masasagot ang tanong: Sino ang tunay na terorista?" she added.

The House's immediate approval of the measure only shows that the chamber is a mere rubber stamp of the executive, Bayan Muna party-list Representative Carlos Zarate said.

"Makikita sa pagratsada ng pagpasa nito sa Kongreso kahit na nasa gitna tayo ng krisis na dala ng pandimya ng COVID-19 ang obsesyon ng administrasyong Duterte  na isentralisa nito sa sarili ang dagdag pa na mga draconian na mga kapangyarihan kahit labag sa ating Saligang Batas," he said.

In voting against the measure, Magsasaka party-list Argel Cabatbat recalled his own experience of his party being tagged as a terrorist organization just because of its name.

"Doon ko naunawaan ang stereotype sa mga magsasaka. Ang tingin sa amin ay mga rebelde, bayolente, subersibo, at terorista. Sa maraming tao, walang pinag-iba ang lahat ng ito," he said.

With the bill approved in the House, Cabatbat directed his message to the Armed Forces.

"Para sa ating Sandatahang Lakas, ilang araw na lang ay mabibigyan na kayo ng pambihirang kapangyarihan. You don’t deserve that kind of power. No one does. But I beg you to use that power with justice, prudence, and with the objective of attaining lasting peace for everyone," he said.

"I challenge you to remove the fears of the Filipino people that they will be abused by this law," he added.

Deputy Speaker Mujiv Hataman of Basilan, meanwhile, said that while he is against terrorism, he does not see that the measure is clear and strong enough to counter this.

"Sa pagtalakay ng batas na ito, may isang bagay na luminaw sa akin: Mas pinahalagahan ng panukala ang pagpapalawak ng saklaw ng kung sino ang puwedeng ituring na terorista, kaysa sa pagtukoy at paghuli sa totoong mga terorista," he said.

Hataman also lamented that no representative from the Muslim community—the sector that will be greatly affected by the implications of the measure—was invited in the hearings on the bill.

"Kung hindi man lang tinanong ang mga ekspertong Muslim, paano isasalamin ng panukalang ito ang realidad sa mga komunidad?" he said.

"Sa ngalan ng aking nasasakupan sa distrito ng Basilan, at sa ngalan ng bawat Moro na naparatangan, naaresto, at inetsapuwera dahil lang sa aming pagka-Moro; sa ngalan ng lahat ng tunay na nakaramdam ng terror ng hidwaan at pang-aapi, sinasabi ko: Hindi ito ang paraan. Hindi matutugunan ng batas na ito ang terorismo," he added.

Other lawmakers who expressed their vote against the measure are Minority Leader Benny Abante, Representatives Kit Belmonte, Garbiel Bordado, Eufemia Cullamat, Sarah Elago, Lawrence Fortun, Ferdinand Gaite, Janette Garin, Edcel Lagman, Allan Benedict Reyes, Amihilda Sangcopan, Jesus "Bong" Suntay, and Ria Vergara.

Meanwhile, those who expressed their "yes" vote are Representatives Robert Ace Barbers, Sergio Dagooc, and Raul Del Mar.

Lawmakers who abstained voting include Representatives Mohamad Khalid Dimaporo, Abdullah Dimaporo, Onyx Crisologo, and Mike Defensor. — BM, GMA News