MANILA – Sen. Panfilo Lacson has defended the proposed anti-terrorism act, saying it has enough safeguards from human rights abuses as being feared by the critics of the measure.
Lacson, the bill’s proponent, said in a statement Tuesday that concerns being raised by various human rights groups have already been taken up into consideration when the measure was being drafted.
“The concerns being raised by the progressive and leftist groups as well as human rights advocates have been adequately addressed during the Committee on National Defense and Security public hearings as well as the debates and interpellations in plenary,” Lacson said.
“Enough safeguards are in place. The critics should read first the bill itself to see for themselves what I am saying,” he added.
Lacson also said that he is confident that the measure will be pass the soonest at the House of Representatives after it was certified by President Rodrigo Duterte as urgent on Monday afternoon.
“That gives the bill a chance to [be] enacted into law within 30 days unless vetoed by the President which is very unlikely considering the certification that he issued,” Lacson said.
In a letter to House of Representatives Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano, President Duterte called for the immediate passage of House Bill No. 6875, which amends the Human Security Act of 2007.
The call for a speedy passage aims to “address the urgent need to strengthen the law on anti-terrorism in order to inadequately and effectively contain the menace of terrorist acts for the preservation of national security and the promotion of general welfare.”
Malacañang has also defended President Duterte’s decision to certify as urgent the passage of the measure as there was no “draconian provision” to be feared on the proposal.
“Wala naman pong Draconian na provision diyan, lahat po ng provision diyan ay binase natin sa batas ng ibang bansa,” Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said./PN
