Philippine President signs Anti-Terror Bill

#1

Anti-terror law: For bombers only

MANILA, Philippines -- The long-sought anti-terror law was signed Tuesday by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, who said it would be used œagainst bombers and not protesters.

Republic Act No. 9372 or the Human Security Act (HSA) of 2007 -- which Malaca±ang said took 12 years and three Congresses to pass -- will come into effect two months after the May 14 elections, supposedly to prevent its abuse by the authorities against the opposition. It will be automatically suspended one month before and two months after every election, in keeping with the amendment inserted by Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel Jr.

But militant groups were quick to denounce the HSA, saying it would infringe on basic civil rights.

œThe building blocks of martial law are here -- widespread political killings, the militarization of Metro Manila, and now a law that can violate the people™s right to privacy, movement, security of person and political affiliation, Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) secretary general Renato Reyes said in an hour-long protest rally at Plaza Miranda.

Elsewhere, Joel Maglunsod, secretary general of Kilusang Mayo Uno, warned that the government would œuse the law to stop and suppress all forms of legitimate crusades by the people against anti-people policies.

œLet™s not allow Ms Arroyo to bury our democracy for good, he said in calling on civil libertarians to unite and fight the HSA.

In a statement, Sen. Jamby Madrigal said the new law was œa license to kill.

œWith the signing of this draconian law, Ms Arroyo has arrogated unto herself the powers of a dictator to punish her enemies by branding them terrorists, Madrigal said.

œThose who have supported and pushed for this law have the blood of Filipinos on their hands, she said.

No safe haven

Earlier in the day, the President announced at the convention of the Provincial Board Members League of the Philippines that she was about to sign the bill into law.

œOur message to the world is to have no safe haven for terror in our country, and to have a strong democratic society driven by freedom under the rule of law, she said in her speech.

She added: œWe will keep bombers at bay as we drive up confidence in the Philippines, grow jobs, increase incomes and lift the people from poverty.

œLaw-abiding Filipinos have nothing to fear in this law for it is a weapon that shall be wielded against bombers and not protesters. Let us all unite behind a renewed campaign against terror and drive out this scourge to a modern Philippines.

The President signed the HSA in Malaca±ang, in the presence of Speaker Jose de Venecia Jr. and other sponsors of the measure from the Senate and the House, as well as diplomats from 27 countries, including the United States and Australia.

The Philippines had been under pressure from its allies to come up with an anti-terror law because of the presence in the country of extremists with links to the Jemaah Islamiyah and al-Qaeda terror networks.

Although he was a principal sponsor of the measure, Senate President Manuel Villar, who is running for reelection under the Genuine Opposition, was a no-show at the signing ceremony. He was represented by Senators Juan Ponce Enrile, Alfredo Lim and Ramon Revilla Jr.

Strong anti-terror drive

Ms Arroyo told the Provincial Board Members League that the Philippines was being praised in an ongoing anti-terror conference in Indonesia because of its strong anti-terror campaign.

She said the signing of the HSA would bring to œa higher level the Philippines™ œsuccessful campaign against the Abu Sayyaf, JI and al-Qaeda cells now being carried out in a broader front of national and regional vigilance.

She also said the HSA was œa landmark in the battle against evil waged by all freedom-loving Filipinos and allies in the world.

œIt upgrades our preemptive capability to check the conspiracies of harm and mass murder, and contain the movement of arms and funds to sow mayhem, she said.

Sen. Franklin Drilon, who had introduced extensive amendments to the terror bill, said Pimentel™s amendment on the suspension of the law during elections was intended to prevent the possibility of the law being used against the opposition.

But Drilon, who said he had not been invited to the signing ceremony, conceded that the final version was practically of no use: œI™m not in favor of the administration, but that law is toothless. We in the Senate made sure civil liberties are protected. But [in the final version] there is an overabundance of civil liberties such that some may even say civil liberties are overprotected.

40 years max

œAt the end of the day, he said, œit is the integrity, competence and trustworthiness of our law enforcers and the justice department that will spell the difference between the success or failure of the anti-terror law.

The HSA makes terrorism a crime punishable with a maximum prison term of 40 years. It defines terror as the act of œsowing and creating a condition of widespread and extraordinary fear and panic among the populace, in order to coerce the government to give in to an unlawful demand.

While the original Senate bills listed specific crimes considered as terrorism, the final measure cited violations of 12 provisions of the Revised Penal Code, including piracy, mutiny, rebellion or insurrection, coups, murder, kidnapping, destruction of property or arson, use of toxic substances and others committed as an act of terror.

The law allows the detention of suspects for three days without charges, wiretapping of communications of terror suspects, and monitoring of bank accounts. It also provides for the outlawing of groups suspected of plotting terrorism.

As embodied in Senate Bill No. 2137 and House Bill No. 4839, it also enshrines the rights of people detained on suspicion of terror or conspiracy to commit terrorism.

The law will be implemented by the Anti-Terrorism Council chaired by Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita. Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez is the vice chair and Secretaries Alberto Romulo (foreign affairs), Hermogenes Ebdane (defense), Ronaldo Puno (interior) and Margarito Teves (finance) and National Security Adviser Norberto Gonzales are the members.

Congratulations

In separate statements, the United States and Australia congratulated the Philippine government on the signing of the HSA.

œThis new law will help provide Philippine law enforcement and judicial authorities with the legal tools they need to confront the threats posed by international terrorism, while ensuring protection of civil liberties and human rights, the US Embassy said.

It said the United States would continue to work with the Philippines as a partner and ally in the war on terrorism by providing technical assistance and training and sharing information.

Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer said the HSA would strengthen the Arroyo administration in investigating, prosecuting and bringing to justice terrorists and their supporters who are captured in the Philippines.

Downer said the passage of the law was complemented by the Philippines™ strong commitment to implement counterterrorism measures.

Extension of US war

But according to Bayan chair Carol Araullo, the anti-terror law is the legal extension of the US war on terror.

œAt a time when the whole world is reviewing and rethinking anti-terrorism legislation, the Philippines continues to cling to the US terror war, she said.

œThe US is probably jumping with glee with the signing of this piece of repressive legislation, especially at a time when US foreign policy is so isolated by the international community.

Wilson Fortaleza, Sanlakas national president, said in a statement that the HSA™s definition of terrorism was so vague that œany political democratic exercise critical of the ruling government would be deemed unlawful.

œThe passage of the terror bill will usher in the dark ages for civil liberties and democracy and will be used to trample our human rights as citizens. More alarmingly, the terror law will be aimed at quelling legitimate dissent, he said.

The KMU™S Maglunsod said the new law could also be used to justify the harassment of leftist groups in urban poor and rural communities.

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Bot · #2

This the same woman who pulled her country out of Iraq after one of her soldiers was kidnapped... meh.

#3

about time the law was signed.

although i can't say i agree with it 100%, i believe it is a step in the right direction.

jail all the cowards who bomb civilians targets !!!