President Benigno Aquino III wants amendments made to the antiterrorism law to make it possible for anyone creating fear or coercing the government to be prosecuted for terrorist acts.
Under the proposed amendment, anyone can be a subject of interest under the Human Security Act if either one of the two conditions are present, Mr. Aquino told a news conference on Tuesday following a meeting with congressional leaders.
The Human Security Act defines terrorist acts as those involving certain crimes “sowing 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.”
The bill proposing amendments to the antiterrorism law was one of the 13 measures that the executive branch presented for priority legislation to the legislative-executive development advisory council.
Terrorism is penalized with 40 years imprisonment without the benefit of parole.