Ignoring the strong backlash from multiple parties, President Duterte signed the controversial anti-terror bill into law just yesterday. The law will become active 15 days after its publication.
Anti-terror bill explained
The new Anti-Terrorism Act 2020 law is to replace the 2007 law. It expands the definition of terrorism and permits surveillance against suspected terrorists for up to 14 days.
The new law defines terrorism as “acting to kill or cause bodily harm to another person or attempting to take a life”, as quoted from VOA News. The aforesaid law also puts “damaging public property to spread fear” under the act of terrorism. The Anti-terrorism Act 2020 also allows authorities to suspend suspects without arrest warrants involved.
The mounting oppositions against the anti-terror bill
Critics deem the new definition is vague. They also express their fear over misinterpretations of the law. Power abuse, rights violation, and suppression of freedom of speech are ones of them. Upon this news, local business groups, civil society organizations, and representatives from academia demanded the president to veto the bill. They added, “a more thorough discussion is needed for such an important law.” They also hope for a stronger unity to fight the ongoing bigger health and economic crisis, as Nikkei Asian Review quotes.
What does the government say about the anti-terror bill?
Presidential spokesmen, Harry Roque, said that the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020 is signed after an extensive review by his legal team, as Business Mirror reports. It is, he adds, proof that the legislation fully commits to ending terrorism.
Lacson pointed out that the rush in legalizing the new law is to abide by the UN’s guidelines of terrorism eradication. As mentioned by Lacson, effective measures against terrorism have been previously urged by the UN. Human Rights Watch’s (HRW) deputy Asia director, Phil Robertson, on the other hand, commented that Duterte’s acts may “push Philippine democracy into the abyss”, as quoted from Business Mirror.
What’s in the Philippines’ future?
Meanwhile, bills regarding economic recovery amidst COVID-19 pandemic is still awaiting lawmaker’s approval and will be taken into sessions for adjourning this week. A lot of sides question the Philippine government’s decision for prioritizing the anti-terror bill. It seems that economic recovery for the Philippines may take a longer time than expected.
