PNP says no additional powers to them if anti-terror bill becomes law

June 9, 2020

The chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP) on Tuesday assured the public that no additional powers will be given to them once the Anti-Terrorism Bill is passed into a law.

“The Anti-Terrorism Bill when signed by the President (Rodrigo Duterte) will become an Anti-Terrorism Law, it will not give additional powers to the PNP,” Police General Archie Francisco Gamboa said during the Laging Handa  press briefing.

Gamboa said he is sure lawmakers included safety nets when they formulated the law.

“There are appropriate remedies that aggrieved parties can go to since this is not martial law. So all the courts, all the legislators are still active,” he said.

Gamboa said the PNP would not like to discuss the matter since it is still not a law.

“We will wait for the IRR (implementing rules and regulations) so that we can see what's in it for the PNP and what's in it for the public but rest assured the PNP would always operate under the law. We will follow due process,” Gamboa said.

“So no need for the public to worry because appropriate safety nets are provided for under the law,” he added.

As protesters continue to air their concerns over the bill, Gamboa reminded them to do it in another way.

“We have a pandemic, there is an added demand from the public which is actually the requirement of less mass gathering and social distancing. That's why I openly said as much as possible if the right to express your own opinion can be done in some other ways, not through mass gathering,” he said.

After the shifting of enhanced community quarantine to general community quarantine, mass protests were made in different parts of the country in which some protesters were arrested, according to Gamboa, they test the tolerance of the police officers which is tantamount to disobedience.

“The PNP asked them to disperse but they don’t want and they are provoking them. They really tried the tolerance of the police and to some extent where it is too much and already tantamount to disobedience, that's why it caused the arrest of all these people,” he said.

“I appeal to the public that if you want to air your sentiments against the government, about the policies, then please do it the other way around, not during this pandemic…  I hope everybody would understand,” he added.

Ganboa encouraged everyone to stay at home and those who really need to go out must observe the health protocols such as wearing of face mask and observing physical distancing.

“We need the cooperation of the community… So much is expected of us as public servants. Let's abide by what the public wants to see us to be and  we will give our utmost service to the public,” Gamboa said. Ella Dionisio/DMS