Senator Risa Hontiveros on Friday (July 3) expressed belief that with the proper amendments the Human Security Act (HSA) of 2007 already suffices for the country in dealing against terrorism.
(Senate of the Philippines / FILE PHOTO / MANILA BULLETIN)
“Sa tingin ko yung Human Security Act sapat na kung properly amyendahan (I think the HSA is enough if there are proper amendments),” said the lawmaker during an interview over CNN Philippines as she continues to oppose the Anti-Terrorism bill (ATB) which will repeal the HSA.
“We could have amended the Human Security Act kung gusto talaga ng mga proponents (if the proponents of the ATB wanted to),” she reiterated.
With this, the senator appealed to President Duterte to veto the ATB.
“I hope still that the President maybe to this, at this time, attend more urgently to the health and economic needs of our people,” said Hontiveros.
Among the contentious provisions of the ATB, the senator said she is most concerned over the expanded definition of what could be considered as terrorism.
“Masyadong pinalawak na depinisyon ng terrorismo way beyond in the Human Security Act , the HSA of 2007, and way beyond yung common sensical understanding din ng lahat natin kung ano yung terrorismo, yung paggamit ng karahasan para pumatay, para magwasak ng property with the aim of terrorizing, scaring the public and forcing government to act against its better judgment (The definition of terrorism became too broad and way beyond what is defined in the HSA, common sensical understanding that terrorism is the use of violence to kill and destroy property with the aim to terrorize and scare the public and force the government to act against its better judgment),” she stated.
On the other hand, the senator assured that she is not opposed to any anti-terrorism laws.
“All of us are against terrorist actions and it is the duty of government to secure people’s safety against terrorist actions but not with this overly broad, vague and subject to interpretation definition,” Hontiveros said.