The House of Representatives on Friday adopted the Senate version of a bill that seeks to expand the coverage of terror acts and allow the military to intercept private communications of suspects under surveillance.

The bill, which will repeal the Human Security Act, will be submitted to the presidential palace for President Rodrigo R. Duterte’s signature.

The measure allows the Anti-Terror Council (ATC) made up of Cabinet officials to do functions otherwise reserved for courts, such as ordering the arrest of suspected terrorists. It also allows the state to keep a suspect in jail without an arrest warrant for 14 days from three days now.

The bill considers attacks that cause death or serious injury, extensive damage to property and manufacture, possession, acquisition, transport and supply of weapons or explosives as terrorist acts.

The Human Security Act only penalizes the commission of actual terrorism, conspiracy to commit terrorism, being an accomplice and accessory to the crime.

The Senate passed the bill as early as February. Mr. Duterte certified the bill as urgent this week. — Charmaine A. Tadalan

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