AMID JOLO SHOOTING

Can AFP, PNP fairly enforce anti-terror law? ‘Good luck na lang sa atin,’ says De Lima

Senator Leila De Lima on Monday expressed doubt that the Armed Forces and the Philippine National Police will be able to prudently implement the anti-terror law, given the deadly "shooting incident" that transpired between the two forces in Jolo, Sulu last week.

"These are the security forces, the AFP and the PNP, who are supposed to enforce the Anti-Terror Law on a population of 110 million, when they cannot even prevent nine of their policemen from wiping out from the face of the earth four of their Army troopers. If that is not messed up, then I don’t know what is," De Lima said in a statement.

"Kung ang kapulisan mismo ang pumapatay sa ating mga sundalo na tumutugis sa mga teroristang Abu Sayyaf, aba eh good luck na lang sa atin at manalangin tayo sa Diyos na alam ng mga pulis sa ating mga komunidad kung sino ang kakampi at kung sino ang mga terorista," she added.

De Lima asked the military if President Rodrigo Duterte's "gifts" of arms, increased salary, and position are enough for them to turn a blind eye to the possible abuse that may be committed through the anti-terror law.

"Mga sundalo na kayo, niratrat pa kayo ng mga pulis. Paano pa kaya ang mga sibilyan na walang mga armas at kalaban-laban?" she said.

Senator Francis "Kiko" Pangilinan, also a lawmaker from the minority bloc, previously raised the same concern.

"Nakakabahala ang balitang ito. Ngayon pa lang na hindi pa batas ang anti-terror bill, may nangyayari nang ganito. Ano na lang ang laban ng ordinaryong tao?" Pangilinan said.

On Friday, Duterte signed the anti-terror law despite strong opposition grounded on concerns that it may be used to silence dissenters of the administration.

Meanwhile, National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon said critics should not link the Jolo shooting incident to their concerns about how the police may act under the anti-terror law.

He said Pangilinan's concern was the reason why the Anti-Terrorism Act mandates the Anti-Terrorism Council to issue a written authority to law enforcers who would conduct arrests of proscribed terrorists.

"We designate agents with written authorities to arrest because, you know, you cannot just allow anybody to be conducting arrests. This is a very technical job, so they must be trained for it. Hindi kung sinu-sino na lang ang nag-aaresto in connection with terrorism," Esperon said.

Several groups challenged the constitutionality of the anti-terror law before the Supreme Court on Monday. — BM, GMA News