Enactment of Anti-Terrorism Act lauded

The security sector, which directly deals with the threat of terorrism in the country, lauded on Saturday President Duterte’s signing into law of Republic Act No. 11479 or the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020.

In a “Laging Handa” press briefing, National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon Jr. said the security officials are grateful to Duterte as he “fulfilled his promise” of solving the problems of terrorism in the country.

“Kami sa security sector ay talagang nagpapasalamat sa ating Pangulo dahil tinupad niya ang kanyang pangako na bibigyan niya ng solusyon ang mga kaguluhan hindi lang sa Mindanao, maaaring sa buong Pilipinas, na dulot ng terorismo,” he said.

“This Anti-Terrorism Act will bring about a culture of security that is based on legality, based on orderliness, and based on due regard for human life and human rights,” he vowed.

Meanwhile, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) was “elated” with the signing of a “powerful statute.”

“We now have a powerful statute that provides law enforcement agencies the legal wherewithal to protect and defend our people,” said Major Gen. Edgard Arevalo, AFP spokesperson.

He said the AFP leadership, under Gen. Felimon Santos Jr., expressed gratitude to the Commander-in-Chief “for his resolve in putting public security and general welfare his primordial consideration in enacting the law that specifically targets terrorists.”

The Anti-Terrorism Act seeks to provide stronger measures to counter terrorism in the country but critics claimed that the law could be used to stifle dissent.