By Civ Alonzo-Cruz
The Department of Justice (DOJ) said that the Anti-Terror Law is still good amid the Supreme Court’s decision to declare two of its provisions as unconstitutional in the Laging Handa briefing on Friday, Dec. 10
DOJ Undersecretary Adrian Sugay said that the Department has yet to receive a copy of the Supreme Court (SC) decision and they are only giving their opinion on the Anti-Terror Law based on the advisory from the court’s public information office (PIO).
He said that the high tribunal only struck out some parts of the Section 4 of the law and the decision only cleared its scope in defining acts of terrorism.
“Base doon sa inilabas ng PIO, hinigpitan lang ng Korte Suprema ang Section 4, o ang depinisyon ng terorismo. Nilinaw kung ano lang ang saklaw nitong batas doon sa Section 4,” USec. Sugay said.
“Tinanggal lang doon ang probisyon, kung saan sinasabi na ang exercise of civil and political rights, advocacy, protest, at stoppage of work ay hindi act ng terorismo,” he added.
With regards to the SC decision, the Department of Justice is still hopeful to see the continuous implementation of the law.
“Sabi nga ni [DOJ] Sec. Guevarra, nais niyang makita ang batas na mapatupad ng tama. Dahil sa desisyon ng Korte Suprema, nakikita namin na magiging tuloy-tuloy na ang implementasyon ng naturang batas,” USec. Sugay said.
When asked about the petitioners of the law, the Undersecretary said that they have the right to do so by filing a motion for reconsideration.
“Karapatan naman nila iyon. Kung sa tingin nila ay maaapektuhan sila nito ay nasa sa kanila naman kung sila ay magpapasa ng motion for reconsideration,” he said.
“Sa amin kasi, malinaw na malinaw doon sa paglilinaw ng Korte Suprema na ang mga maaaresto lamang ay ang mga terorista lang,” he added.
Usec. Sugay also noted that in case of wrong arrest, the Anti-Terror Law has provisions that safeguard the petitioners and all their judicial process, including the right to call the Commission on Human Rights.
“Mayroong mga probisyon ang batas upang siguruhin na ang lahat ng maaaring gawin o pagdulugan ng mga na-agrabyado ay may safeguards. Halimbawa na ang isang tao ay naaresto, kailangang mai-report kaagad yan sa pinakamalapit na korte, sa lalong madaling panahon. Kailangan ding tawagin ang Commission on Human Rights,” he said.
Usec. Sugay assured that the law is needed to protect the public from terrorism, and that there is no need to fear on it because the Supreme Court made it clear that only terrorists will be apprehended.
“Kailangan natin ‘yang batas upang masiguro na ang banta ng terorismo ay ating masawata para lahat tayo ay ligtas sa terorismo. Makakaasa ang ating mga kababayan na dahil sa naging desisyong ito ng Supreme Court ay naging malinaw ang mahahalagang probisyon ng batas,” he said.
“Wala kayong dapat ipangamba. Ang ating gobyerno at law enforcement unit will ensure na tama ang pag-implementa ng batas,” he added.
The Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020 was signed by President Rodrigo Roa Duterte on July 3, 2020 and took effect on July 18. It has received 37 petitions seeking to nullify its measures, making it one of the most challenged laws to date. -rir
