Chief legal counsel Salvador Panelo on Friday asked President Rodrigo Duterte to sign the Anti-Terrorism Bill, citing the measure has enough safeguards to prevent abuse.
Panelo made the recommendation after a “careful and thoughtful review” of the bill. The measure has garnered criticisms for its alleged vague provisions that could open opportunities for violation of human rights.
“Our office has studied each and every provision, which should not be read in isolation but in connection with each other so as to render the document in its entirety, as well as its directives, effective in combatting terrorism, and found the same passing the constitutional test,” Panelo said.
“The bill contains sufficient safeguards which ensure that its provisions would be implemented and enforced against those who intend to sow and create a condition of widespread and extraordinary fear and panic among the populace through lawless actions without violating the latter’s political and civil rights.”
Panelo said there are legal actions against authorities who would abuse the Anti-Terror bill, which aimed to replace the 13-year-old Human Security Act. The former Presidential Spokesman also said the fears raised by the opposition were “more imagined than real.”
“The proposed Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020 will serve as a powerful weapon against participants of these lawless actions, the threat of which is extremely imminent during our current times,” Panelo said.
Senate President Vicente Sotto III, he and House Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano signed the bill on Monday night. They submitted it to Malacañang, where officials will review it before making a recommendation to the President.
Roque earlier said the President has 30 days to either sign or veto the controversial measure. If Duterte were not able to decide within that period, the Anti-Terror bill would automatically become law.
Leaders of Indigenous People Mandatory Representatives (IPMRs) in the Caraga Region have also asked President Rodrigo R. Duterte to sign the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020 into law.
According to the IPMRs, the Anti-Terror bill would help the indigenous people and their communities in the Caraga region to stop the extortion, harassment, and killing activities of the communist New People’s Army (NPA).
