Hope they don’t become victims of terror attack, Lacson says of anti-terror bill critics

There is a lot of "disinformation" about the proposed Anti-Terrorism Act, author and sponsor Senator Panfilo Lacson said Thursday.

"Maraming disinformation. And I just hope na hindi darating ang araw sila o pamilya nila o mga mahal nila sa buhay, magiging biktima o sa receiving end ng terrorist attack. Kasi pag nangyari 'yan, medyo late na sila i-regret itong ginagawa nilang to convince ang mga tao to junk the anti-terrorism bill," Lacson said in a virtual interview.

"Basahin muna nila bago sila mag-criticize. Madaling mag-disinform kasi [ang mga] kababayan natin madaling takutin," he added.

He first addressed the issue on timing, after some critics said that the bill's passage in Congress is untimely and has been railroaded amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

"Ang terrorism wala namang kinikilalang timing o boundaries. Dahil pwedeng ngayong araw mismo mamayang kaunti may terrorist act na mangyari, pwedeng bukas, sa isang linggo, isang buwan. So huwag nating gawing issue ang wrong timing kasi ang mga terorista walang kinikilalang timing," Lacson said.

He also said that the bill has gone through a long scrutiny in the Senate since last year before it was passed on third reading last February.

On surveillance, warrantless arrest, detention

Individuals expressing opposition to the administration should not fear the bill, Lacson said.

"Ang mga protests, expression of dissent, malinaw doon shall not be included. Terrorism as defined sa Section 4 shall not include advocacy, protest, dissent, stoppage of work, industrial or mass action or other similar exercises of civil and political rights," he added.

Lacson said that only the proposed law would determine who is a terrorist.

“Batas ang magde-decide.Hindi ito discretionary sa tao na nagsasagawa ng pag-aresto," he said, noting that the existing prerequisites of conducting a warrantless arrest was not amended by the bill.

He said the 60-day surveillance on suspected terrorists, extendable by 30 days, may only be conducted by the police or military if they secured judicial authorization from the Court of Appeals (CA).

"'Yung sa existing RA 4200, Anti-Wiretapping Act, RTC judge lang pwede na mag-issue ng judicial authorization. Ang ginawa natin dito in-elevate natin sa CA," he said.

"Pag nagkaroon ng authorization mag-wiretap, hindi pwedeng gamitin basta ng law enforcement. Lahat na proceeds ide-deposit sa korte. At kung walang authority ang CA na ilabas o gamitin ang proceeds ng wiretapped conversations or anuman, communication, di pwedeng ilabas," he added.

The senator also pointed out that the 14-day reglementary period which can be extended by 10 days, under the proposed measure, is relatively lax compared to those being imposed in other countries.

“Halimbawa Indonesia, mahaba, 21 days tapos pwede mag-extend. Ang Singapore 720 days pwede indefinite. Ang Malaysia 59 days pwede i-extend. Ang in-adopt namin pinakamababang period na sa Australia and Sri Lanka. So tayo ang pinakamabait kung sa period of detention ang paguusapan," he said.

He also said that "safeguards" have been put in place to prevent abuse and torture.

"Ngayon kung may inaresto ang law enforcement halimbawa, ang safeguards na nilagay pa natin dito, unang una kailangan inform ng arresting officer ang pinakamalapit na RTC judge. Kailangan inform ang CHR [Commission on Human Rights], kailangan inform ang lawyer, ang visitation," Lacson said.

The penalty for any law enforcer or military personnel found to have violated the rights of the accused was increased to 10 years of imprisonment, he added.

Several groups and personalities, including the CHR and UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet expressed misgivings about the bill which is now up for President Rodrigo Duterte's signature after the House adopted and approved the Senate's version.

Lacson said dissenters of the measure should have attended the hearings in the Senate hearings where they could have lodged their concerns.

“Inimbita namin lahat na dapat imbitahan, pati CHR, mga academe, Philippine Judges Association, Department of Justice. Inimbitahan namin ilang beses ang progressive bloc pero hindi sila nagpunta. Di kami pwede maghintay sa kanila forever," he said.

"Ang academe, UP professors, study group nila, inimbitahan namin dito at nagpahayag sila. Wala silang sinabing mahigpit na pagtutol. Even CHR nag-input lang sila," he added.

Retired senior associate justice Antonio Carpio said the anti-terrorism bill may immediately be challenged before the Supreme Court once it is signed into law.

"Karapatan nila 'yan, maski sinong pwede namang mag-question, basta may basehan sila, i-dulog sa SC. Kami mismong mga senador, pag meron kaming inaakalang abuse of authority or discretion, kami mismo pumupunta sa SC," Lacson said.

"Huwag sana mag-resort sa massive disinformation campaign kasi foul 'yan," he added. — BM, GMA News