Lorenzana urges public to read Anti-Terrorism Act, give the law a chance

Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana on Sunday urged the public to read the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020 and appealed to them to give the new law a chance amid supposed misinformation and disinformation.

In a statement, Lorenzana assured the public that the law will be strictly implemented according to its purpose while they ensure it will not be abused.

“We appeal to the public to give this law a chance and not to be swayed by misinformation and disinformation,” Lorenzana said.

“We urge everyone to read and understand the law,” he added.

For him, the anti-terror law is needed to give law enforcement agencies the ‘necessary power’ in their fight against terrorists in the country.

“It is a much-needed measure to clothe law enforcement agencies with the necessary power to contain and eradicate terrorists who don’t play by any rules and who hide behind our laws to pursue their evil deeds,” he said.

On Friday, it was announced that President Rodrigo Duterte has signed the anti-terror bill into law.

Duterte signed the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020 (Republic Act 11479) despite objections from various groups, including the United Nations human rights body and the Bangsamoro Transition Authority. —Joviland Rita/KG, GMA News