Panelo asks Duterte to sign anti-terror bill

Chief presidential legal counsel Salvador Panelo on Friday said he recommended the signing of the Anti-Terrorism Bill af ter a thoughtful review of the proposed measure to President Duterte.

In a statement, Panelo said he studied each and every provision of the bill which should not be read in isolation and see the document in its entirety and its directives effective in combatting terrorism, and found it passed the constitutional test.

Panelo said the bill contains sufficient safeguards that ensure that its provisions are implemented and enforced against those who intend to create a condition of widespread and extraordinary fear and panic among the populace through lawless actions without violating the latter’s political and civil rights, as protected by the 1987 Constitution and recognized through globally accepted norms.

Aside from this, he said there are remedies in the basic charter, together with relevant laws and rules, that are in place against abuses on the part of government agents, such as availing protective writs from courts of law.

“We reiterate that this legislation is intended solely against terrorists (and definitely not against citizens who peacefully dissent against and criticize the government’s policies, fears raised by certain sectors which are more imagined than real,” Panelo said.

“We therefore ask them to study its provisions carefully and discuss the same with legal experts so they can understand fully the spirit of the bill,” he added.

Further, by strengthening policies against terrorism and its actors, Panelo said the nation will effectively honor its obligations to the community of nations by countering and eliminating terroristic acts through proper legislation.

“We note that the UN Security Council in 2017, through Resolution No. 2396, reiterated and stressed that, “Member States have the primary responsibility in countering terrorist acts and violent extremism conducive to terrorism.” Our lawmakers have guaranteed — and we agree — that provisions found in the draft legislative policy are not just compliant, but are supportive as well, to our international covenants,” Panelo said.