A PARTYLIST representative allayed fears of groups against the newly passed anti-terror bill.
Representative Eric Go Yap of the Anti-Crime and Terrorism Community Involvement and Support (ACT-CIS) and Benguet's caretaker said citizens are still free to voice out their complaints against the government.
The lawmaker, during his visit in the province, added he is willing to accompany those who will be jailed for voicing their concerns.
"Nakita naman natin iyong nangyari sa Marawi, iyong mga Isis, nagtatago sila sa press freedom, freedom of expression, hindi po totoo iyon so pinapasok nila iyon para itanim sa mga kabataan, kababayan natin. Ang anti-terror bill matakot po ang terorista dito pero iyong ordinaryo mamamayan, citizen na nagrally mayroong hinaing sa gobyerno, malaya po silang gawin iyan," the lawmaker added.
"Iyong mga nagrarally na hindi terrorista, pagkayo nakulong, sasamahan ko po kayo sa kulungan. Kung kayo po ay nilalabas lang ang saloobin niyo sa gobyerno pero wala kayong nilalabag na batas, kung kayo ay huhuluhin, sasamahan po kayo sa kulungan," Yap assured.
The legislator has also appealed to people of Benguet not to fear the anti-terror bill.
On June 3, the House of Representatives approved the new anti-terrorism bill, adopting the full version of the bill passed by the Senate with voting of 173-31 with 29 abstentions despite protests held by some activists and human rights groups.
Yap, together with 70 other lawmakers, introduced House Bill 6875, known as the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020, that would repeal the Republic Act (RA) 9372 or "Human Security Act of 2007."
House Bill 6875 was passed just a couple of days after President Rodrigo Duterte certified it as urgent and asked Congress to address the "urgent need to strengthen the law on anti-terrorism."
In the bill, terrorists are defined as a person who engages in acts intended to cause death or serious bodily injury to any person, or endangers a person's life, engages in acts intended to cause extensive damage or destruction to a government or public facility, public place or private property, engages in acts intended to cause extensive damage or destruction to a government or public facility, public place or private property, cause extensive interference with, damage or destruction to critical infrastructure, among others.
With the Congress approval of a bill that adopted an approved Senate measure, there would no longer be any bicameral conference and the final bill would be submitted to President Duterte for approval.
If enacted into law, this will allow warrant less arrests of persons suspected of being terrorists. They may be detained for 14 days with an allowable 10-day extension, or up to a total of 24 days without charges.
The bill also penalizes persons who voluntarily and knowingly join any terrorist organization, association, or group of persons with imprisonment of 12 years.
Authorities may conduct 60-day surveillance on suspected terrorists, with an allowable 30-day extension.
To allay concerns of abuse, the Commission on Human Rights will be notified in case of detention of a suspected terrorist. (With a report from VoxPop Philippines)
