Año tells critics of anti-terror bill: Read it first

June 10, 2020

Interior Secretary Eduardo Año on Wednesday said the administration wants the critics of the anti-terrorism bill to read it so they can fully understand the proposed measure.

“What we want is for them to read it because the things they are protesting is not included in the anti-terrorism bill,” Año said in a TV interview.

Año assured the public that the bill, once signed into law by President Rodrigo Duterte, will have safeguards.

“Even if we read it one-by-one, I believe that human rights are protected there,” Año added.

According to Malacañang on Tuesday, they received the enrolled Anti-Terror Bill and President Rodrigo Duterte has 30 days to act on it.

Some human rights groups said thebill should be junked as it will only lead to more human rights abuses.

The police and military said no additional powers will be given to them once it is implemented.

The measure defines terrorism if a person commits any of the following: engaging in acts intended to cause death or serious bodily injury to any person or endangers a person’s life; engaging in acts intended to cause extensive damage or destruction to a government or public facility, public place, or private property; engaging in acts intended to cause extensive interference with, damage, or destruction to critical infrastructure; developing, manufacturing, possessing, acquiring, transporting, supplying, or using weapons; and releasing dangerous substances or causing fire, floods or explosions when the purpose of such act, by its nature and context, is to intimidate the general public, create an atmosphere to spread a message of fear, provoke or influence by intimidation the government or any international organization, or seriously destabilize or destroy the fundamental political, economic, or social structures in the country, or create a public emergency or seriously undermine public safety.

Threats to commits terrorism and proposals to carry out the act will be punishable by imprisonment of 12 years while conspiring, planning, training, preparing, and facilitating to commit the act will be punishable by life imprisonment. Ella Dionisio/DMS