MANILA, Philippines — In a last-ditch effort, Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman on Friday urged Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano not to sign the enrolled bill of the House-proposed Anti-Terrorism Act.
In a formal letter sent on Thursday, the lawmaker said the “sizeable” number of negative votes, abstentions, and affirmative votes with reservations on the chamber’s version of the bill, House Bill No. 6875, show that it lacks “full support.”
Lagman noted that the House failed to approve its own version and it adopted completely its counterpart bill in the Senate, “which contains the draconian provisions violative of human rights and civil liberties which are guaranteed by the Constitution.”
Even one of the main authors and sponsors of the House measure, Rep. Ruffy Biazon, voted against the bill and withdrew his authorship, Lagman pointed out.
Further, Lagman said the proposed Anti-Terrorism Act is gaining “escalating multi-sectoral and nationwide popular protest” for being an “inordinately repressive and palpably unconstitutional” measure.
If Cayetano would not sign the enrolled copy of the bill, it will not be transmitted to Malacañang and the President will have nothing to approve or act upon.
Lagman said this will give time for the House leadership to consult with lawmakers to address serious concerns on the constitutionality of the proposed measure and “its chilling threat to legitimate dissent and other fundamental freedoms.”
He further said that the approval of a bill on third reading can also be rescinded by action of the House.
The House of Representatives approved on third and final reading the controversial Anti-Terror bill last Wednesday, June 3, with an overwhelming 173 affirmative votes.
The bill, which seeks to amend the Human Security Act of 2007, had 31 negative votes and 29 abstentions.
The proposed measure penalizes those who will propose, incite, conspire, participate in the planning, training, preparation, and facilitation of a terrorist act; as well as those who will provide material support to terrorists, and recruit members in a terrorist organization.
Any person who shall threaten to commit terrorism, and those who will propose any terroristic acts or incite others to commit terrorism shall suffer the penalty of 12 years.
Any person who shall voluntarily and knowingly join any organization, association or group of persons knowing that such is a terrorist organization, shall likewise suffer imprisonment of 12 years. The same penalty shall be imposed on any person found liable as an accessory in the commission of terrorism.
Meanwhile, those who will be proven guilty of engaging in a conspiracy to commit terrorism shall be penalized by life imprisonment without the benefit of parole.