Senate chief says anti-terror measure won’t lead to abuses
THE Senate on Friday ruled out police abuses after it approved on final reading a bill that seeks to boost the government’s anti-terrorism thrust.
“We at the Senate have been working hard to make our people feel safe in their homes and communities,” Senate President Vicente C. Sotto III said in a statement.
“The threat of nefarious individuals disrupting our peaceful lives is something that we all fear about, but is something that lawmakers can do something about,” he added.
The chamber this week approved Senate Bill 1083 or the proposed Anti-Terrorism Act will repeal the Human Security Act of 2007.
The measure gives the military increased access to data for surveillance and allows wiretapping of terror suspects.
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
