PNP assures public: Proposed anti-terrorism bill won't be abused

The Philippine National Police on Sunday assured the public that the anti-terror bill will not be abused once it becomes a law.

Interviewed on Dobol B sa News TV, PNP spokesperson Police Brigadier General Bernard Banac said the organization will undergo training with its Human Rights Affairs Office.

“Ang PNP po ay maghahanda, katuwang po natin ang Human Rights Affairs Office para tiyakin sa ating publiko na hindi po ito maabuso,” Banac said.

“Nariyan po kami patuloy na magiging professional, disiplanado, susunod sa mga umiiral na batas para po tiyakin na wala pong maging paglabag,” he added.

The anti-terrorism bill, which has been already passed in Congress, will amend the Human Security Act 2007, which Banac said has been problematic for PNP to prosecute terrorists for the last 10 years.

With the creation of the new law, Banac said the government only wants to make a balance between rights and order.

“Ang nais lamang talaga ng ating pamahalaan, lawmakers, at maging ang ating law enforcement ang PNP ang mabalanse naman 'yung ating mga karapatan at ‘yung pagkakaroon ng kaayusan,” Banac said, adding.

“Kailangan natin balansehin 'yung rights at 'yung order,” he added.

Several groups opposed the anti-terrorism bill saying that it endangers human rights and can be used to target individuals who express dissent against the government.

Under the proposed law, 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.

Banac said the police are obliged to file a case against the suspected terrorist on “Day 1” of the arrest. He said the extension of detention is for the foresight of still incomplete case buildup.

He noted that police personnel are not allowed to put the suspected person in solitary confinement and should make the arrest known to the family and public.

The bill also allows the police or the military to conduct a 60-day surveillance on suspected terrorists, with a 30-day extension if a judicial authorization has been secured from the Court of Appeals.

“Hindi naman natin na basta basta isasailalim sa surveillance ang ordinaryong mamamayan…Dadaan po 'yan sa masusing pag-aaral,” Banac said.

Banac reminded that, under the 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.

“May karapatan ang mamayan na maghain ng karampatang reklamo kung sa tingin nila ay nalabag ang kanilang karapatang-pantao,” he said.

One of its authors Muntinlupa City Representative Ruffy Biazon on Wednesday withdrew his authorship of the bill law and voted against its passage in the House.

He said that while anti-terrorism had been his advocacy since he became a lawmaker, "the individual rights of Filipinos," as well as their "civil rights and political rights" should be prioritized. —LBG, GMA News