Security, antisubversion laws to curb terrorism, crimes

MANILA, Philippines — Philippine National Police chief, Gen. Oscar Albayalde, on Tuesday advised the public to look at the proposed amendments to the Human Security Act of 2007 in a positive light.

“These laws are meant to address criminality, terrorism. This is not to address political rivalry,” he said at a press briefing in Camp Crame.

The proposed amendments to the Human Security Act include extending the wiretapping period of suspected criminal acts from 30 days to 90 days, and the period of allowable detention from 36 hours to as long as 60 days.

Interior Secretary Eduardo Año has expressed support for the proposed changes, saying the law has safeguards against abuse.

Presidential adviser for the peace process Carlito Galvez Jr. meanwhile favored the revival of Republic Act No. 1700, or the Anti-Subversion Act, as a means to curb “organizations affiliated with communist rebels.”

“And we can issue warrants,” he added of the law abolished in 1992, but whose revival would outlaw membership in communist organizations.

In Malacañang on Tuesday, Galvez cited the experience of Malaysia, which he claimed had its own antisubversion law.

Surprisingly, Sen. Imee Marcos rejected initiatives to revive the antisubversion law that her father, the late strongman Ferdinand Marcos, had abused to muzzle dissent during his martial law regime.

In a statement, Marcos said authorities should concern themselves with penalizing criminal acts instead of outlawing communism and similar ideologies.—Reports from Jeannette I. Andrade, Julie M. Aurelio and Marlon Ramos