Senate approves changes to law against terrorism
THE Senate on Wednesday approved on final reading a bill that seeks to boost the government’s anti-terrorism thrust.
With 19 votes in favor, two against and zero abstention, Senate Bill 1083 or the proposed Anti-Terrorism Act will repeal the Human Security Act of 2007.
The bill will expand the coverage of terrorist acts and will now include attacks that cause death or serious injury, extensive damage to property, and manufacture, possession, acquisition, transport and supply of weapons or explosives.
The law only penalizes four terror acts — commission of the actual crime of terrorism, conspiracy to commit terrorism, being an accomplice and accessory to the crime.
Under the bill, violators face life imprisonment without parole. Violators also include any person who plans, trains, prepares and facilitates a terror act, conspires or recruits other people to a terrorist organization.
Those found guilty of threatening, proposing or inciting to commit terrorism will be penalized with 12 years in jail.
Senator Francis N. Pangilinan, one of two senators who voted against the bill, said the measure could be abused by police.
He said the new definition of terrorism is “vague and encompassing, making it open to abuse.”
He also opposed clauses allowing the military to access data and information, and intercept private communications of suspects under surveillance and detain them for 14 days without an arrest warrant. — Charmaine A. Tadalan
