Duterte signs controversial anti-terrorism bill into law

PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte signed Friday, July 3, 2020, the anti-terrorism bill into law, Malacañang confirmed.

In a statement, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque reiterated that the President signed Republic Act No. 11479, or the Ant-Terrorism Act of 2020, after studying the measure together with his legal team and weighing the concerns of different stakeholders.

“The signing of the aforesaid law demonstrates our serious commitment to stamp out terrorism, which has long plauged the country and has caused unimaginable grief and horror to many of our people,” Roque said.

“Together, let us defeat terrorism and make our communities safe and secure under the rule of law,” he said.

Sen. Panfilo Lacson, primary sponsor of the bill and a former police chief, credited the President for the enactment of the law.

“Much credit goes to President Rodrigo Duterte. With all the pressure coming from different directions against the signing of the anti-terrorism bill into law, at the end of the day, it is his strong political will that mattered most,” Lacson said in a statement.

“I cannot imagine this measure being signed under another administration. If only for this, I take my hat off to the President. Rest assured that

I will exert extra effort in guarding against possible abuse in its implementation, notwithstanding all the safeguards incorporated in this landmark legislation,” the senator added.

Lawyer Democrito Barcenas, who was detained during martial law, was hopeful that the Supreme Court will strike the law down as unconstitutional.

“The signing of the anti-terrorism bill by President Rodrigo Duterte is the last nail in the coffin of our fragile democracy,” he said.

He said the law will be used to silence dissenters and critics of the government.

“The courts have been castrated because warrantless arrests can be issued by the Anti-Terrorism Council which is not part of the judiciary but are all alter egos of the president,” he added.

The Health Alliance for Democracy (Head) in Cebu called for the repeal of the law while condemning the lack of adequate response to the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) crisis.

“As the people have yet to see actual leadership amidst crisis, the government is now giving its people a whole new level of disaster in the face of the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020,” the group said in a statement.

Among others, the new law allows warrantless arrests of persons suspected of being terrorists. They may be detained for 14 days with an allowable 10-day extension, or up to a total of 24 days without charges.

RA 11479 replaces the Human Security Act. /