NICA seeks CHR help in telling public that anti-terrorism bill aims to protect people’s rights

The director general of the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency (NICA) on Wednesday urged the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) to help in "explaining" to the public that the new anti-terrorism bill aims to protect the rights of every citizen.

"I would like to ask Commissioner Gwen's help here because the CHR plays a very important role in assuring our people that this law is not crafted to abuse the rights of the people but to protect the rights of the people," Alex Paul Monteagudo said at a virtual press briefing.

"Sana po ay matulungan niyo kami in explaining to the people na this bill is being passed to protect and secure the lives of the people," he added.

According to Monteagudo, NICA will serve as the secretariat of the Anti-Terrorism Council once the proposed measure is enacted into law.

Monteagudo pointed out that there is an urgent need for the anti-terrorism law as the Human Security Act of 2007 does not really help in preventing terror attacks in the previous years.

In response, CHR commissioner Gwendolyn Pimentel-Gana said the agency is also against terrorism but added that CHR believes there are some provisions in the bill that needs to be re-studied.

"We are actually here, hand in hand with the government, to protect our citizens and to promote their rights," Pimentel-Gana said. "We're not here to sow dissent or even try to diminish the importance of fighting terrorism."

The anti-terrorism bill has already been submitted by the Congress to President Rodrigo Duterte last June 9.

Duterte has yet to decide whether to enact, veto, or sit on the bill until it lapses into law after 30 days. — RSJ, GMA News