Sotto says US lawmakers criticizing anti-terror law are misinformed

Senate President Vicente Sotto III on Thursday hit back at "misinformed" US lawmakers who urged the Philippine government to repeal Anti-Terrorism Law, saying they should mind their own business.

Sotto was referring to 45 US lawmakers, including Janice Schakowsky of Illinois  and Judy Chu of California, who sent a letter to the Philippine ambassador to the US to raise their concerns about the new law, which they consider as a tool to repress peaceful dissent, and a threat to human rights.

“Offhand, I would say they are misinformed. Why don’t they look at their own laws? Iyong Homeland Security Act nila? Bago sila mamintas, napakahigpit nung sa kanila,” Sotto said.

“They are only saying those things on what they read on social media. Itong sa atin, lunod nga sa safeguards. Mas magagaling pa ang senador ng Pilipinas kesa sa Senador nila. Bakit ba sila nakikialam, pakialaman nila iyong bansa nila,” Sotto added.

Under the Anti-Terrorism Law, the Anti-Terrorism Council has the authority to direct the speedy investigation and prosecution of all persons detained or accused of committing acts of terrorism as defined by the said law.

Also, the law allows detention of suspects from 14 to 24 days without a warrant from a court , a provision seen by the law's opponents as unconstitutional. 

At least nine petitions questioning the legality of the measure have been filed before the Supreme Court, but the Palace has said that it is confident the new law will withstand such scrutiny. —LBG, GMA News