The controversial Anti-Terrorism Bill was passed in Malacañang on Tuesday morning for President Rodrigo Duterte to sign and make it into law.
According to Senate President Vicente Sotto III, he and House Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano signed the bill on Monday night.
“Alan signed last night… The bill is on the way to the President this morning,” said Sotto.
The proposal aims to strengthen further the Human Security Act of 2007 to prevent the spread of terrorism in the country.
Under the Anti-Terrorism Bill, the meaning and elements of terrorism crime are more explicit. It also covers terrorism done outside the country.
According to the authors, it protects the legitimate use of freedom of speech and assembly.
Those who are planning and preparing to sow terrorism can also be charged.
The anti-terror bill, however, abolished the provision of the Human Security Act of 2007, which provides P500,000 damages per day to any terrorist suspect who is found to be innocent.
The Section 29 of the Anti-Terrorism Bill allows the police and military to imprison – without a judicial warrant of arrest or case – the “suspected” perpetrators, conspirators, and conspirators to commit terrorism for up to 14 days, which can extend to 10 more days.
Critics said there are provisions in the bill that are “vague” and “broad” that could be prone to abuse by law enforcers and military personnel.
For the group Concerned Lawyers for Civil Liberties, the bill has no enough provisions to combat the abuse of law.
Also read: Terrorists’ problem is ideology, not poverty- Sotto
They also said the act expanded the definition of terrorism and took power from the court.
“The danger therein lies with how the government can construe legitimate acts of dissent or opposition within these definitions – it gives the government almost free reign in determining who are suspected terrorists. Even ordinary citizens airing their grievances against the government on social media may fall within its ambit,” the group said.
Sotto, one of the authors of the proposal, said that activists and protesters should have nothing to fear.
“Dapat member ka ng terrorist organization. Member ka ba? Hindi pala eh, bakit ka umaangal? Kung hindi kayo member, magwala kayo, murahin niyo ang Presidente, laitin niyo kami, go ahead, hindi kayo kasama sa Anti-Terror law. Puwede libel, defamation, pero hindi sa Anti-Terrorism law,” Sotto said.
(You should be a member of a terrorist organization. Are you a member? No, then why are you complaining? If you are not a member, go beserk, curse the President, criticize us, go ahead, you are not included in the Anti-Terror law. It could be libel, defamation, but not Anti-Terrorism law.)
Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque sa Palace press briefing meanwhile said President Duterte would still study the Anti-Terrorism Bill first before he signs or vetos it.