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No additional power will be given to PNP under new anti-terror bill -Gamboa
By ANNA FELICIA BAJO, GMA News No additional power will be given to the Philippine National Police (PNP) under the controversial anti-terrorism bill, its chief said on Tuesday.
"Walang dagdag ito na powers sa Philippine National Police... sa tingin ko mayroon itong mga safety nets and nandiyan naman ang publiko to watch," Police General Archie Francisco Gamboa said at a Laging Handa press briefing.
Gamboa assured the public that they can still go to courts to air their grievances once the bill is enacted into law and implemented, as he noted that the measure -- now already with Malacañang -- is not similar to martial law.
"There are appropriate remedies na puwedeng puntahan ng aggrieved parties. Hindi naman ito martial law eh so all the courts, all the legislators are still active," he said amid fears that the law will be used to silence political dissent and activism in the country.
Last week, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) also said there will be no new power which will be given to the military once the law is enforced.
The anti-terrorism bill seeks to virtually repeal the Human Security Act of 2007, the country's existing law against terrorism. The bill was approved by the House of Representatives on third and final reading on Wednesday. The Senate version of the bill was passed last February.
The measure, which Duterte certified as urgent, became an enrolled bill since there were no disagreeing provisions between the Senate and the House versions.
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Several groups have criticized the bill, raising concerns that it may empower the government to go after dissenters and activists and that it may be abused by authorities.
An author of the bill, PBA party-list Representative Jericho Nograles, has said that the proposed law is not anti-activist and only targets terrorists and violent extremists.
Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque, for his part, has said the Constitution -- the fundamental law of the land -- guarantees the freedom of expression.
The bill defines terrorism as an act committed by a person in or outside the Philippines who engages in activities intended to cause death or serious bodily injury to any person or endanger's a person's life, and to cause extensive damage or destruction to a government or public facility, public place or private property.
Terrorism is also committed by a person who engages in acts intended to cause extensive interference with, damage or destruction to critical infrastructure, and develops, manufactures, possesses, acquires, transports, supplies, or uses weapons, explosives or of biological, nuclear, radiological or chemical weapons.
Under the measure, any person who will threaten to commit terrorism, propose any terroristic act, incite others to commit terrorism, join any terrorist group, or act as an accessory in the commission of terrorism will be imprisoned for 12 years.
It removes the provision on the payment of P500,000 in damages per day of detention of any person acquitted of terrorism charges. As Bachelet pointed out, the bill sets a 14-day period, extendable by 10 days, in which a suspected terrorist can be detained without a warrant.
The proposed measure also allows the police or the military to conduct a 60-day surveillance -- extendable by up to 30 days upon authorization by the Court of Appeals -- on suspected terrorists.
It provides that law enforcement or military personnel found to have violated the rights of the accused will face imprisonment of 10 years
Amid apprehensions, retired senior associate justice Antonio Carpio has said once signed into law, the Anti-Terrorism Act may immediately be challenged before the Supreme Court. —AOL/KBK, GMA News