ANTI-TERRORISM ACT OF 2020 ;PAVES THE ROAD FOR POSSIBLE ABUSE
The Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020, officially designated as Republic Act No. 11479, is a Philippine law whose intent is to prevent, prohibit, and penalize terrorism in the Philippines. This law is one of the most contentious laws in recent memory in the Philippines. The law was signed by President Rodrigo Duterte on July 3, 2020 and effectively replaced the Human Security Act of 2007 on July 18, 2020. The Act defines terrorism as engaging in acts intended to cause death or serious bodily injury to any person, acts that intended to cause extensive damage or
destruction to a government or public facility, public place, or private property. Engaging in acts intended to cause extensive interference with, damage, or destruction to critical infrastructure. Developing, supplying, or using weapons and releasing dangerous substances or causing fire, floods or explosions when the purpose is to intimidate the general public, create an atmosphere to spread a message of fear, provoke or influence by intimidation the government or any international organization, seriously destabilize or destroy the fundamental political, economic, or social structures in the country, or create a public emergency or seriously undermine public safety. "Advocacy, protest, dissent, stoppage of work, industrial or mass action, and other similar exercises of civil and political rights" shall not be considered as terrorist acts only if they "are not intended to cause death or serious physical harm to a person, to endanger a person's life, or to create a serious risk to public safety. The Anti-Terrorism Act of
2020 earlier signified as urgent and sign into law. The legalization of the said law received so much criticism.
Protesters call on Philippine legislators to scrap an anti-terror bill that human rights activists fear will be used to suppress free speech and harass opponents of President Rodrigo Duterte. The rally was held June 4 in Quezon City. Many fear the lawโs sweeping definitions will provide a new tool to silence those who are calling for accountability for abuses committed under Duterteโs leadership, including extrajudicial killings carried out during an anti-drug crackdown launched after his election in 2016. A measure that critics warned could lead to more widespread of human rights abuses. Rights group and activists say the new law is designed to give Duterteโs police and military forces to stifle dissent against his populist rule amid his war on drugs, which killed thousands of people. The new law allows the suspect to be detained without a judicial warrant of arrest, prolong the amount of time that they can be detained without being charged in court. Suspects can be jailed for up to 24 days and it can be extended to 14 days with 10 days extension without charge and feared to lead into torture. Senator Risa Hontiveros, one of the two senators to vote against the bill, said that it was untimely, especially during Covid-19. She said that the government should address the pandemic, the health, and economic crisis
rather than fast-tracking the bill. "All of us are against terrorist actions and it is the duty of the government to secure people's safety against terrorist actions, but not with this overly broad, vague, and subject to interpretation definition," she added. International human rights organizations have made their opposition clear. Human Rights Watch said in a press statement that the law is a โhuman
rights disaster in the making that will open the door to arbitrary arrests and long prison sentences for people or representatives of organizations that have displeased the president.โ Despite of the challenges and critics the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020 earned the overwhelming supports by the 47 Municipal and City peace and order council.
Terrorism is a crime against the country, its people and humanity. Terrorism has already unimaginable effects on our community. A wider socio-economic effects associated with terrorism, such as businesses closing and, therefore, an increase in poverty and unemployment. The destruction of structure and houses, loosing lives of both military and civilian. Nowadays the Number of terrorism is increasing and it became rampant and aggressive, even the lockdown did not stop the terror. Thus fight against terrorism requires a comprehensive action.
Recently the Julu bombings killing 14 people and wounding 75 others causing the government to urgently implement the Law. This law was necessary to crack down on terrorism that strikes anytime and anywhere. When the democratic government is threatened, the Law can help raise its arms in self defense, protect the people from wrong ideologies. In addition making decision has advantages and disadvantages itโs up to us on how can we deal with it. If you are not a terrorist, then there is nothing to fear as long as you follow the law enforced by the government. The Government will not legalized a law that is harmful to the people. The government is aware of their work and they will also play their role in this law which they have enacted without abusing people, rights and dignity.
CITATIONS:
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