AFP proposes tougher amendments to Human Security Act

August 15, 2019

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) wants the "act of glorification of terrorism" punishable under the Human Security Act, its spokesman said Thursday.

Brig. Gen. Edgard Arevalo said the AFP includes this on its proposed amendments  to the existing Human Security Act.

"We also would like to move to penalize and punish the act of glorification of terrorism," Arevalo told reporters in a press conference in Camp Aguinaldo. 

"As I have said one of the platforms, a potent one that these terrorists use in order to recruit and to convert individuals into violent extremists is through social media, to make as platform to glorify, promote and advance terrorism," he said.

"We are also including in our proposal to penalize not only consummated acts of terrorism but also including crimes like inciting to commit terrorism, recruitment to terrorist organization, and providing material support to terrorism,'' he added.

Arevalo said these some proposals the military is presenting Congress to add to the Human Security Act which ''appear to be more restrictive of the security forces rather than empowering members of the security forces."

Arevalo said the proposed amendments include the "removal of the 500 thousand peso fine in case a suspect was eventually acquitted in a terrorism charge where a member of a security forces or the arresting team would have to pay 500 thousand pesos per day of incarceration."

He said the AFP is also "seeking for the extension from three days to 30 days of the period within which we can continue to hold in detention suspected terrorist to continue piling up of evidence and obtaining vital information that would help us in establishing our case that would lead to conviction."

"We are also looking into coordination with, engagement with legislature to include foreign terrorist fighters and aliens as among liable those in the crime of terrorism because under the present law, the Human Security Act, it's only about proscription of a terrorist group not individuals. So we are proposing that individuals can be classified or should be classified as terrorist instead of just their organization," he added

Arevalo said the military also recommends stiffer penalties.

"From the original penalty  40 years of imprisonment, we are actually recommending it to be increased to life imprisonment without benefit of parole because of the seriousness of the crime of terrorism and the need for us to serve and make convictions and penalties stiff as these are to prevent and deter terrorists," he said.

Arevalo emphasized the importance of the passage of amendments for the security forces, especially in their efforts against terrorism.

"What is at stake today is not just us, is not just our lives and limbs of our work, and our possessions, it is about the future generation of our children... because as I said terrorism no longer poses as clear and present danger, because terrorism and terrorist attack is here and has made its ugly face present in our faces," Arevalo noted.

"We need this badly for us to be able to deter terrorism and defeat it in the name of peace, security and development of our country," he added.

Arevalo appealed  to lawmakers to heed their recommendations.

''We are not abandoning, as a matter of fact respecting the particular article in the 1987 Constitution which talks about the Bill of Rights and I assure you and we appeal to you that you trust, you trust your AFP," he said.

"We are living in extraordinary times, we are facing exceptional risk to our security. That's why we require uncommon solution," he added.  Robina Asido/DMS