Palace: No ‘draconian’ provisions under anti-terror bill

MANILA, Philippines — There are no “draconian” provisions included in the measure that is seen to toughen up the government’s anti-terrorism policies, Malacañang said Tuesday.

Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque issued the statement after President Rodrigo Duterte certified the bill as urgent.

“Wala naman pong draconian na provision dyan, lahat po ng probisyon dyan ibinase din po natin sa batas ng mga iba’t ibang bansa na mas epektibo po ang kanilang pagtrato dito sa mga terorista,” Roque said in an online briefing.

(There is no draconian provision there. All of those provisions are based on laws of other countries that are effective in combating terrorists.)

“Meron po tayong three volume books na pinublish ng Cambridge na kinukumpara ang mga anti-terrorism laws sa buong mundo at isa po talaga sa pinakamaluwag na batas ang batas natin dito sa Pilipinas, ‘yung Human Security Act,” he further said.

(There are three volume books published by Cambridge comparing the anti-terrorism laws of countries worldwide and one of the most lenient laws is the Philippines’ Human Security Act.)

The Philippines is not a stranger to terrorist acts, Roque added, citing the Marawi City siege and the Abu Sayyaf’s attacks in Sulu.

“Now, alam ko po panahon ng COVID pero itong mga bills naman pong ito ay naisampa na nung 17th Congress pa, hindi lang naisabatas nung 17th Congress,” Roque said.

(I know it is the time of COVID-19 but these bills were filed during the 17th Congress but weren’t passed into law at the time.)

“Wag po natin kalimutan, hindi po tayo estranghero sa terorismo, nandyan po yung Marawi, nandyan pa rin po yung mga pinaggagawa ng mga Abu Sayyaf sa Sulu,” he added.

(Let’s not forget that we are not a stranger to terrorism. There was the incident in Marawi and the things Abu Sayyaf did in Sulu.)

Several groups questioned the government’s supposed prioritization of the bill despite existing problems caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

But despite criticisms, Cabinet officials like Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana insisted that the fear with the anti-terror bill is “baseless” since human rights are covered by the measure’s provisions.

Under the anti-terror bill, any person who shall threaten to commit terrorism and those who will propose any terroristic acts or incite others to commit terrorism shall suffer the penalty of 12 years in prison.