MANILA – President Rodrigo Duterte said his legal team is currently reviewing the controversial Anti-Terrorism Bill.
“My legal (team) is still reviewing it… Hindi ko pa natanggap. I had it reviewed. It’s always automatic,” said Duterte during the address to the public on Monday evening.
“‘Pag naano sa’kin, I endorse it to legal, without even reading it actually… It’s legal who will return it to me with the recommendation if I will approve it or not,” the Chief Executive added.
Earlier in his public address, President Duterte have showed signs of him supporting the measure as he said that terrorism was the country’s top problem aside from the coronavirus disease 2019.
“Terrorism is number one on our list. Actually the number one threat to the country hindi Abu Sayyaf, hindi ‘yung mga terorista of no value. Itong high-value targets ito ‘yung mga komunista,” Duterte said.
“Kaya ang utos ko talaga sa Armed Forces, sa sundalo, upakan mo, upakan mo. Kasi ‘pag ikaw ang inabot,” the Chief Executive added.
Militant and human rights groups, among others, fear that the Anti-Terrorism Act will be abused and used to go after critics of the government, while Commission on Human Rights called on the bill’s vague definition of terrorism.
Under the anti-terrorism bill, persons who shall threaten to commit terrorism, and those who will propose any terroristic acts or incite others to commit terrorism shall suffer imprisonment of 12 years.
Suspected persons can be detained for 14 days without a warrant of arrest with an allowable 10-day extension. A 60-day surveillance on suspected terrorists can also be conducted by the police or the military, with an allowable 30-day extension./PN
