Senators lauded the signing of the controversial Anti-Terrorism Act on Friday.
Senate President Vicente Sotto III, one of the main proponents of the measure, told reporters that he was “glad the President has sifted through the rubble and saw the importance of the law!”
The law seeks to strengthen measures against terrorist acts, including activities for its support, and repeals the Human Security Act of 2007.
President Duterte signed the bill days before the measure was set to lapse into law, and amid fears that it will be abused and pave the way for human rights violations.
In a separate text message, Sotto assured anew that the measure is “full of safeguards” and will instead be “strong against terrorists.”
Later, he said, “Law-abiding citizens have nothing to fear.”
“A democratic republic like ours is not lame and anemic form of government due to many liberties and due processes every step of the way,” the Senate chief reiterated in his statement.
Senator Panfilo Lacson, also a co-author of the measure, praised the President's “strong political will.”
“Much credit goes to PRRD (President 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. I cannot imagine this measure being signed under another administration. If only for this, I take my hat off to the President,” he said.
Lacson had gone through different forums to explain the merits of the measure from criticisms such as those from former Supreme Court Associate Justice Antonio Carpio and from the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP).
Lacson repeated that he will keep an eye on the implementation of the law against its possible abuse, “notwithstanding all the safeguards incorporated in this landmark legislation.”
Senator Francis Tolentino said President Duterte's signing of the measure was “very timely and historic as it is a measure needed by our nation.”
“It just goes to show that a stable peace and order climate should go hand with economic rejuvenation post COVID-19. We should all support this measure,” said the administration senator.
The United Nations Commission on Human Rights had earlier urged Duterte not to sign the anti-terrorism measure for its “chilling effect to human rights.”
Human rights groups Amnesty International on Friday said the law's “vague” definition of terrorism “can only worsen attacks against human rights defenders” and would give the government “excessive and unchecked powers.”
Sotto, however, maintained that the new law would be the “answer” to the Philippines persisting problem on terrorism.
“The government's hands are no longer tied. We now stand at par with many countries in the region in capacity-building measures against terrorists,” he said.
“When its very survival is threatened, it can raise its arms in self-defense, protect the people from ruthless ideologies and stop unrepentant agitators from sowing mayhem and disorder,” he added.
Draconian measure
Opposition Senator Francis N. Pangilinan, however, was least surprised by the signing.
“From Day 1, this administration unleashed draconian and authoritarian measures as a showcase of its brand of leadership,” Pangilinan, president of the Liberal Party (LP), stressed.
Pangilinan pointed out that these draconian measures, however, have been exposed as nothing more than a show of senseless, mindless violence as means to sow fear amongst the people.
“From the murderous drug war, to the longest martial law in Mindanao, to the longest lockdown in the world, and now to the anti-terror law,” he said.
Pangilinan said the drug war has not nailed big-time drug lords and illegal drugs still flow after four years.
“Martial law in Mindanao has miserably failed to address the reconstruction of Marawi,” he added.
“The longest lockdown has not addressed the continuing spread of COVID. Patunay lahat ito na hindi kamay na bakal ang solusyon sa ating mga problema sa bansa (These only show that an iron fist is not the answer to the ills of the country),” he said.
“The Anti-Terror Law is not the answer to health problems and hunger brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic… This measure should be thrown out of the window and we are prepared to ask the Supreme Court to rule on the constitutionality of the law,” he said.
Another opposition, Senator Risa Hontiveros, rejected the signing of the Anti-Terrorism Act, saying it is now clear what the Duterte administration's priority amid the COVID-19 crisis.
“While the country’s COVID-19 cases have gone past 40,000 and while 7.3 million Filipinos have lost their jobs and livelihood, Malacañang has instead signed the Anti-Terrorism Law that it will use to trample on Filipinos’ basic rights and freedoms,” the senator lamented.
“Isa lang ang dahilan kung bakit pinagpilitan ng gobyernong ito ang pagpasa ng batas na ito sa gitna ng isang health crisis (There’s only one reason this government is insisting on the passage of this law amid a health crisis),” she said.
“They are afraid of the growing discontent of the people with the government's incompetence and abuses during the global pandemic,” added the senator.
“Pero hindi tayo papatinag. Mas lalo nating palalakasin ang ating boses laban sa paniniil ng ating kalayaan (But we will not cower. We will strengthen our voices against the curtailment of our freedom),” Hontiveros said.
Former Senator Antonio Trillanes IV, another opposition stalwart, also slammed the signing of the Anti-Terrorism Law.