Anti-terror bill ensures punishment for abusive lawmen — Año

MANILA, Philippines — The controversial anti-terror bill will make sure that abusive law enforcers will face penalties as a safeguard against human rights violations and other anomalies, Interior Secretary Eduardo Año said Wednesday.

Año pointed out that law enforcers who will be found guilty of committing human rights violations and other abuses will face 10 years of imprisonment under the anti-terror bill.

“If magkaroon ng abuses, nandiyan sa batas 10 years of imprisonment. ‘Yung nag-conduct ng wire-tapping with no authorization at kung nagkaroon ng torture o kung anumang paglabag sa human rights, 10 years of imprisonment yan at forever banning sa anumang government position,” Año said at the Kapihan sa Manila Bay forum on the anti-terror bill when asked about the possibility of human rights violations being committed by policemen who will implement it.

(If there are abuses, under the law, the violator faces 10 years of imprisonment. Those who conduct wire-tapping without authorization and those who were involved in torture or other human rights violations will also face 10 years of imprisonment and will forever be banned from holding any government position.)

Año assured the public that they will strictly monitor the implementation of the anti-terror bill once it becomes a law.

“Lalo na tayong magiging mahigpit kapag mayroong batas na ito. Kailangang bantayan talaga natin at gusto natin naka-focus lang tayo sa terrorism,” the Interior chief said.

(We will be stricter when the bill becomes law. We need to monitor as we need to focus on terrorism.)

Año also assured the public that the reform programs in the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and Philippine National Police (PNP) to remove rogue personnel in its ranks will continue.

The Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020 awaits the signature of President Rodrigo Duterte after Congress transmitted the copy to Malacañang last June 9.

/MUF