The Army’s 3rd Infantry Division cautioned the public yesterday against a “disinformation campaign” against the anti-terrorism bill being waged by some groups stressing that by name alone, the bill is for “terrorist”, contrary to claims that it targets critics and dissenters of the government.
“We encourage the public not to be swayed by the efforts of the critics through illogical propositions,” Maj. Cenon Pancito, 3ID Public Affairs Office chief, said yesterday, as he urged the people of Western and Central Visayas to read the bill itself “to get a more learned idea”.
While commenting on the bill may be premature pending the enactment, or signing by President Rodrigo Duterte, Pancito said that 3ID soldiers are fully supportive of its passage, as it will give the much needed strong legal backbone to support the criminal justice response against terrorism.
Activism is never terrorism, he pointed out, adding that “the mere fact that they can shout to their hearts content, their criticism is a manifestation that democracy is ever living in this country”.
While the measure includes tough provisions against terrorists including foreign ones, even tougher safeguards are in place against abuse, Pancito said, as he also debunked misconceptions that label the anti-terrorism bill as martial law.
He added that the authority to issue Judicial Authorization for Surveillance is retained with the Court of Appeals.
The bill extends to 14 working days the time when a suspected terrorist can be detained without an arrest warrant. But this is still within the moderate-to-lenient bracket, compared to Bangladesh that allows for 15 days, Indonesia for 21 days, Pakistan for 30 days, Malaysia for 59 days, and Singapore for 730 days, Pancito said.
He pointed out that the 14-day detention period is only upon a written authorization of the Anti-Terrorism Council, after it studies the grounds for such, with safeguards to ensure the rights of the detainee, including access to lawyers and representatives from the Commission on Human Rights.
Violations by law enforcement agents―including tampering of records ― will be punishable by imprisonment of up to 10 years, he also said, adding that the measure does not allow authorities to cite the law to arrest people on mere suspicion, contrary to claims.
https://www.visayandailystar.com/2020/June/08/topstory2.htm
“We encourage the public not to be swayed by the efforts of the critics through illogical propositions,” Maj. Cenon Pancito, 3ID Public Affairs Office chief, said yesterday, as he urged the people of Western and Central Visayas to read the bill itself “to get a more learned idea”.
While commenting on the bill may be premature pending the enactment, or signing by President Rodrigo Duterte, Pancito said that 3ID soldiers are fully supportive of its passage, as it will give the much needed strong legal backbone to support the criminal justice response against terrorism.
Activism is never terrorism, he pointed out, adding that “the mere fact that they can shout to their hearts content, their criticism is a manifestation that democracy is ever living in this country”.
While the measure includes tough provisions against terrorists including foreign ones, even tougher safeguards are in place against abuse, Pancito said, as he also debunked misconceptions that label the anti-terrorism bill as martial law.
He added that the authority to issue Judicial Authorization for Surveillance is retained with the Court of Appeals.
The bill extends to 14 working days the time when a suspected terrorist can be detained without an arrest warrant. But this is still within the moderate-to-lenient bracket, compared to Bangladesh that allows for 15 days, Indonesia for 21 days, Pakistan for 30 days, Malaysia for 59 days, and Singapore for 730 days, Pancito said.
He pointed out that the 14-day detention period is only upon a written authorization of the Anti-Terrorism Council, after it studies the grounds for such, with safeguards to ensure the rights of the detainee, including access to lawyers and representatives from the Commission on Human Rights.
Violations by law enforcement agents―including tampering of records ― will be punishable by imprisonment of up to 10 years, he also said, adding that the measure does not allow authorities to cite the law to arrest people on mere suspicion, contrary to claims.
https://www.visayandailystar.com/2020/June/08/topstory2.htm
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