Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles. File photo
Making amendments to the Human Security Act could be the solution to prevent further extensions of martial law in Mindanao, Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles said on Wednesday.
Nograles said the Human Security Act amendments are included in the executive branch’s priority bills expected to be passed during the first regular session of the 18th Congress.
He said the administration’s security cluster had already asked Congress to make amendments to the Human Security Act after the lawmakers granted President Rodrigo Duterte’s request for yet another extension of martial law in Mindanao last year.
Duterte declared martial law in Mindanao following attacks launched by the ISIS-inspired Maute Group in Marawi City in 2017.
“So yung (the) security cluster mentioned (to legislators), ‘sir kung i-amend niyo lang ang (if you only amend the) Human Security Act lagyan natin ng mas magandang ngipin (give it more teeth), we will not need the extension of martial law,” Nograles said during a Kapihan sa Manila Bay forum.
“Malaki ang (There is a huge) chance na ma-lift ang martial law sa Mindanao (that martial law in Mindanao will be lifted) with the amendment of the Human Security Act,” he added.
Despite calls to lift martial law in Mindanao, Nograles said Duterte was hesitant to do so unless there were long-term solutions to deter threats of terrorism in the region.
“Right now, pinag-uusapan (we are talking about the) Davao City Council asked that martial law be lifted. The President said no because the President understands…we need to come up with a long-term solution to this and the long-term solution is the amendment to the Security Act,” Nograles said.
Interior Secretary Eduardo Año earlier said he supported amendments to the Human Security Act particularly the longer wiretapping and detention period to counter terrorism.
Asked if there was still a need for an Anti-Subversion law separate from the amendments to the Human Security Act, Nograles said it remains to be seen.
Año has stood pat on his proposal to revive the Anti-Subversion law to put an end to the communist insurgency.
“We’ll see. Tignan natin (let’s see where it goes). Siguro (Perhaps) when we start talking about the amendments to the Human Security act maybe dun din mapag-usapan na baka yung ibang elements doon mako-cover na yung intent ni (that’s when we can talk other elements that will cover the intent of) Sec. Año when he proposed for the revival of the Anti-Subversion Law,” Nograles said.
Nograles said the executive branch will still leave it to Congress to decide on amendments to the Human Security Act.
“Would it be strong enough na di na natin kailangan i-revive ang (that we no longer need to revive the) Anti-Subversion law then so much better kasi isa lang naman ang (because we have only one) objective natin dito (here), it’s anti-terrorism,” he added.
The Anti-Subversion Act (Republic Act 1700), passed in June 1957 during the presidency of Carlos P. Garcia, declared the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) illegal as an organized conspiracy to overthrow the government for the purpose of establishing in the Philippines a totalitarian regime.
During the martial law period, RA 1700 was expanded through Presidential Decree (PD) 885 in 1976 and PD 1835 in 1981 which made it a subversive criminal act to be affiliated with a group and attend a meeting or take part in any activity meant to overthrow the government with the open or covert assistance and support of a foreign power.
https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1078358
Nograles said the Human Security Act amendments are included in the executive branch’s priority bills expected to be passed during the first regular session of the 18th Congress.
He said the administration’s security cluster had already asked Congress to make amendments to the Human Security Act after the lawmakers granted President Rodrigo Duterte’s request for yet another extension of martial law in Mindanao last year.
Duterte declared martial law in Mindanao following attacks launched by the ISIS-inspired Maute Group in Marawi City in 2017.
“So yung (the) security cluster mentioned (to legislators), ‘sir kung i-amend niyo lang ang (if you only amend the) Human Security Act lagyan natin ng mas magandang ngipin (give it more teeth), we will not need the extension of martial law,” Nograles said during a Kapihan sa Manila Bay forum.
“Malaki ang (There is a huge) chance na ma-lift ang martial law sa Mindanao (that martial law in Mindanao will be lifted) with the amendment of the Human Security Act,” he added.
Despite calls to lift martial law in Mindanao, Nograles said Duterte was hesitant to do so unless there were long-term solutions to deter threats of terrorism in the region.
“Right now, pinag-uusapan (we are talking about the) Davao City Council asked that martial law be lifted. The President said no because the President understands…we need to come up with a long-term solution to this and the long-term solution is the amendment to the Security Act,” Nograles said.
Interior Secretary Eduardo Año earlier said he supported amendments to the Human Security Act particularly the longer wiretapping and detention period to counter terrorism.
Asked if there was still a need for an Anti-Subversion law separate from the amendments to the Human Security Act, Nograles said it remains to be seen.
Año has stood pat on his proposal to revive the Anti-Subversion law to put an end to the communist insurgency.
“We’ll see. Tignan natin (let’s see where it goes). Siguro (Perhaps) when we start talking about the amendments to the Human Security act maybe dun din mapag-usapan na baka yung ibang elements doon mako-cover na yung intent ni (that’s when we can talk other elements that will cover the intent of) Sec. Año when he proposed for the revival of the Anti-Subversion Law,” Nograles said.
Nograles said the executive branch will still leave it to Congress to decide on amendments to the Human Security Act.
“Would it be strong enough na di na natin kailangan i-revive ang (that we no longer need to revive the) Anti-Subversion law then so much better kasi isa lang naman ang (because we have only one) objective natin dito (here), it’s anti-terrorism,” he added.
The Anti-Subversion Act (Republic Act 1700), passed in June 1957 during the presidency of Carlos P. Garcia, declared the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) illegal as an organized conspiracy to overthrow the government for the purpose of establishing in the Philippines a totalitarian regime.
During the martial law period, RA 1700 was expanded through Presidential Decree (PD) 885 in 1976 and PD 1835 in 1981 which made it a subversive criminal act to be affiliated with a group and attend a meeting or take part in any activity meant to overthrow the government with the open or covert assistance and support of a foreign power.
https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1078358
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