PNP mulling anti-terror bill information drive to deter possible abuse
MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Friday said it is planning to conduct an information drive on the anti-terror bill to prevent police officers from abusing the enforcement of the controversial measure once it becomes a law.
“As far as the PNP is concerned, we are prepared to implement the law if it is approved. We plan to conduct a massive information campaign drive to inform our police personnel along with our human rights office,” PNP spokesman Brig. Gen. Bernard Banac said in an interview on ANC.
“We need to do this to allay the fears of the public that this will again be prone to abuse so we will conduct a massive information drive so that all PNP personnel will be aware of provision and prevent any possibility of the law getting abused in the future,” Banac added.
“There are safeguards put in place in the law and part of that is the possibility of imprisonment for 10 years so that is something that would really deter PNP personnel from committing abuses,” he said.
Banac also mentioned that abusive police officers will be dismissed from service, detained and charged.
The Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020 was signed by leaders of Senate and House of Representatives and was already transmitted to President Rodrigo Duterte for his signature.
