MANILA, Philippines – Despite the immense opposition, President Rodrigo Duterte signed the anti-terrorism bill into law on Friday, July 3.
The signing of RA 11479 or the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020 was confirmed by Interior Secretary Eduardo Año and Presidential spokesman Harry Roque.
The Congress on June 9 transmitted the bill to Malacañang for President Duterte's signature.
Año previously said the Anti-Terrorism Bill seeks to protect the rights of innocent people from terrorists emphasizing that it is not anti-human rights.
"The Anti-Terrorism Bill aims to eradicate terrorism from our country. The people have nothing to fear from this bill; it is only the terrorists and their supporters who should fear it," he said.
Duterte has recently certified the bill as ‘urgent’. The bill seeks to amend and improve the provisions of the Human Security Act of 2007. Año said the said current law “is outdated, has been ineffective, and out touch with the realities on the ground”.
Año refuted the claim that the said bill will lead to abuse on the part of law enforcement. On the contrary, he explains that the bill strengthens the power of law enforcers to protect the people from the threat of terrorism while safeguarding the rights of those accused of the crime.
He said that the bill provides for 10-year imprisonment to any law enforcement agent who will violate the rights of persons under custody. “Mapaparusahan po ang sinumang lumabag sa karapatang-pantao ng mga masasakdal na mga terorista, tinitiyak din po iyan ng Anti-Terrorism Bill.”
READ: DILG says Anti-Terrorism Bill not anti-human rights; only terrorists should be afraid of it
— The Summit Express
The signing of RA 11479 or the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020 was confirmed by Interior Secretary Eduardo Año and Presidential spokesman Harry Roque.
 |
| Copy of RA 11479 or the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020. |
 |
| Copy of RA 11479 or the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020. |
The Congress on June 9 transmitted the bill to Malacañang for President Duterte's signature.
Año previously said the Anti-Terrorism Bill seeks to protect the rights of innocent people from terrorists emphasizing that it is not anti-human rights.
"The Anti-Terrorism Bill aims to eradicate terrorism from our country. The people have nothing to fear from this bill; it is only the terrorists and their supporters who should fear it," he said.
Duterte has recently certified the bill as ‘urgent’. The bill seeks to amend and improve the provisions of the Human Security Act of 2007. Año said the said current law “is outdated, has been ineffective, and out touch with the realities on the ground”.
Año refuted the claim that the said bill will lead to abuse on the part of law enforcement. On the contrary, he explains that the bill strengthens the power of law enforcers to protect the people from the threat of terrorism while safeguarding the rights of those accused of the crime.
He said that the bill provides for 10-year imprisonment to any law enforcement agent who will violate the rights of persons under custody. “Mapaparusahan po ang sinumang lumabag sa karapatang-pantao ng mga masasakdal na mga terorista, tinitiyak din po iyan ng Anti-Terrorism Bill.”
READ: DILG says Anti-Terrorism Bill not anti-human rights; only terrorists should be afraid of it
— The Summit Express
