MANILA, Philippines — Senate President Vicente Sotto III has expressed confidence that the executive department can answer “all allegations and misinterpretations” against the newly-signed Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020.
Sotto said in an online media forum on Wednesday that: “The executive department has more than enough to be able to answer all their (petitioners) allegations and misinterpretations.”
“I’m very confident. I don’t see any problem with the Anti-Terrorism Law of the Philippines. As a matter of fact, it is the most conservative law against terrorism in the world. I assure you,” he added.
Groups have questioned the constitutionality of the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020, which repeals the Human Security Act of 2007, before the Supreme Court.
And if the Supreme Court orders the Senate to respond to some of the petitions filed, Sotto said the Office of the Solicitor General (OSG) would be the one to represent the chamber.
“I don’t think we will be asked. If ever, it’s going to be the Office of the Solicitor General or the OSG that will represent the Senate. I am told, if I recall, I think the Senate impleaded in one of the petitions filed by someone but then again, as I’ve said, the OSG will represent the Senate,” he said.
Earlier, Sotto welcomed the numerous petitions against the anti-terror law.
“I do not think SC justices can be [intimidated] by anyone or the number of petitions. [It’s] about content! So you are filing? Be my guest!,” he said in a previous tweet.
President Rodrigo Duterte recently signed into law the anti-terrorism bill despite wide opposition as several provisions in the measure are seen open to abuse and may allegedly be used to crack down on dissent.
But the Senate president, one of the principal authors of the measure in the Senate, stressed that the law is “flooded” with safeguards.
“Ang depensa nung bill or nung law sa Supreme Court is the law itself. It is the best defense. It is the best argument. Read it. Do not interpret. Read it black and white makikita mo. Oras na nilagyan mo ng sarili mong interpretation, activism daw is not terrorism. Eh sino maysabi nun? Sinong gago may sabi na activism is terrorism,” he continued.
“We even placed it in the law that activism is NOT. Andudun nakalista doon eh, advocacy. It’s there, talagang ini-specify namin. Kaya nagtataka ako kung minsan, sapagkat naririnig ko ‘yung mga komentaryo nung iba,” Sotto added.
Further, Sotto rebuked claims that the government rushed the passage of the anti-terror law amid the pandemic.
“This has been being discussed for three Congresses already, the 16th, the 17th, and the 18th Congress. Kasi some people are insisting na ngayon lang na may pandemic daw pinag-usapan. Para bang ang dating nila, ang dating sa akin, when they insist on that is parang isinisingit lang kasi. Ganun ang dating nila eh,” he said.