Palace receives enrolled anti-terror bill

June 9, 2020

Malacañang has received the enrolled Anti-Terror Bill.

Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque confirmed this to reporters in a text message on Tuesday.

He said President Rodrigo Duterte has 30 days to act or not to act on the bill.

"Just like what I said before, that will undergo a process. The provisions will be thoroughly studied. And if there's a provision that is unconstitutional, then the President will be advised if it (bill) should be vetoed or not," he said.

Some quarters have been criticizing the bill for fear that it could be used by authorities against those critical of the government once it becomes a law. There were concerns that human rights abuses could significantly increase.

Roque assured that the bill has safeguards to prevent abuses.

"First, there is a need for judicial declaration to be classified as a terrorist group; it's not the executive alone. The executive and the judiciary have to agree in tagging a group as terrorist," he said.

The spokesman also said the bill, once it becomes a law, also provides a 10-year imprisonment for law enforcers who would be found of violating the law. Celerina Monte/DMS