Bato: Jolo blasts should open eyes of anti-terror law critics

Senator Ronald "Bato" Dela Rosa on Tuesday said the recent bombing attacks in Jolo, Sulu should make critics of the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020 think twice about their opposition to the measure.

"Tunay nga na ang mga terorista ay hindi pipili ng panahon at lugar kung saan maghasik ng lagim. Ito na po 'yung kasagutan sa mga bumabatikos sa timing ng pagsabatas ng Anti-Terrorism Law," Dela Rosa said in a privilege speech.

He said that despite the anti-terror law's intention to prevent and punish terrorism in the Philipines, several "frantic concerns on imagined abuses" had been raised against the measure.

"To the critics, I dare ask this question: With the recent Jolo bombing, have you not realized that terrorism is indeed in our midst, with its clear, imminent and present danger, ready to devour anyone in its path?" Dela Rosa said.

"Ano ba talaga ang mas matimbang sa inyo, yung inyong imagined threat na pwedeng gagawin ng gobyerno laban sa mga kritiko, or itong real, clear and present danger na makikita natin na nagkalasog-lasog na katawan ng ating mga sundalo, policemen at mga sibilyan?" he added.

Dela Rosa previously said the critics of the law can push for its junking, so long as they will not blame the government if their lives or of their loved ones are endangered by acts of terrorism.

At least 15 people were killed and dozens were wounded in the twin blasts that occured in Jolo on Monday.

Dela Rosa also warned that the grim threat of bombings reaching Metro Manila is possible, saying he received intelligence information that the children of slain Abu Sayyaf members are also being radicalized to be suicide bombers.

'Human rights'

Chairing the Senate committee on public order, the lawmaker also said that human rights advocates should condemn terrorist attacks, and shift their focus from the "ill actions done by a few members of the military and the police."

"The members of the military and the police force are also victims of human rights abuses in the face of terrorism. They too deserve your attention and assistance," he said.

The Commission on Human Rights has, in fact, announced that it will investigate the "cruel and inhuman" terrorist attacks. 

Dela Rosa also accused the CHR's mandate of being "focused more on the human rights of the non-state actors such as the terrorist Abu Sayyaf and CPP-NPA and not the state actors."

"How about the human rights of their grieving families? They are non-state actors, I suppose," he added.

Senator Christopher "Bong" Go agreed with the sentiments of Dela Rosa and called for the proper implementation of the anti-terror law.

"I urge the government to properly enforce the law within its bounds against those who break it and stop terrorism at its roots," he said in a manifestation.

Several supporters of the anti-terror law in the Senate said it is unnecessary to declare martial law in Sulu as the anti-terror law is already in place. — BM, GMA News