New anti-terrorism bill not martial law –DND's Lorenzana

Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said on Monday that there was a lot of misinformation about the controversial anti-terror bill that Congress recently passed.

Speaking to reporters in Camp Aguinaldo, Lorenzana emphasized that the proposed measure was not similar to martial law.

"Ang sabi ko nga, ang ini-emphasize ko noon pa ay there is enough safeguard, there are so many safeguards, to safeguard the civil liberties and human rights ng mga tao kasi hindi naman basta-basta dadamputin ng law enforcement agent 'yung tao," the Defense Secretary explained.

Lorenzana reiterated that the bill would not target those expressing dissent or opposition to the government and its policies. He also allayed fears regarding warrantless arrest which may happen once the bill is already implemented.

"Hindi puwedeng dampot na lang ng dampot ang mga pulis at kasundaluhan, no it does not follow that way... kasi nga 'yung terrorism ay class of its own, parang ibang klaseng crime ito, ito ay matagal ng plano, may organization ito bago nila gawin 'yung kanilang terror act," Lorenzana said.

He said it is the Anti-Terrorism Council who will approve or disapprove a warrantless arrest for terrorism crimes.

"Remember that what we are talking about here is the crime of terrorism only. The Anti-Terrorism Council is deeply involved in the daily monitoring of terrorism and it would know if an application is warranted or not," he said.

"While the courts, who do not monitor terrorism on a day to day basis, may not be able to determine if warrantless arrest is warranted or not. Speed is needed to prevent terrorism that's why the ATC was created," he added.

Communist groups

Lorenzana also said the Communist Party of the Philippines and its armed wing, the New People's Army, was not officially deemed yet as a terrorist group because "courts have not proscribed them to be."

"Kung ma-proscribe sila ng korte, 'yung Communist Party of the Philippines, ay they will be tagged as terrorist... ngayon wala namang proscription eh," Lorenzana said.

"Pero, pagka sila ay nakikipagengkuwentro sa mga pulis at saka mga military sa mga probinsiya ay fair game 'yan. Sila ay eengkuwentrohin din ng ating law enforcement agents," he added.

Meanwhile, Lorenzana said it is up to Congress if it will still study the proposed measure amid apprehensions from the public.

The controversial bill is now up for President Rodrigo Duterte's signature after the House of Representatives approved it on third and final reading on Wednesday.

The House Committees on Public Order and Safety and on National Defense and Security adopted the Senate's version of the measure, which the upper house approved on third and final reading last February. — DVM, GMA News