Local leaders support anti-terror bill

Local leaders nationwide, led by officials of the Union of Local Authorities of the Philippines, support the passage of the anti-terror, believing that this will effectively deter, if not prevent, the commission of heinous crimes and bombing attacks by hardened criminals and terrorist organizations.

Interior and Local Government Secretary Angelo Reyes said that the enactment of the anti-terror law has become more imperative than ever considering the spate of bombings in various parts of the world, including the latest blast that killed 25 people and scores injured in Bali, Indonesia.

Reyes, who was appointed chief of the National Anti-Crime Task Force early this week by President Arroyo, commended the overwhelming pledge of support from the new officials of the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao ARMM), led by Gov. Zaldy Ampatuan, saying that the anti-terror bill must feature adequate, efficient and effective counter-measures against terrorist attacks without sacrificing the rights and freedom of the people.

"Our local officials believe that the passage of the anti-terror bill is long overdue. We must protect our people against this borderless threat which calls for greater national cooperation and global collaboration to combat the menace," said Reyes.

Bohol Gov. Erico Aumentado, president of ULAP and the League of Provinces, issued an urgent appeal to lawmakers of both houses of Congress to fast-track the approval of the anti-terror bill even as he disclosed that the governors and ULAP are "moving soon to help bridge the gap between" the Senate and Malacañang.

Aumentado was referring to the stalemate that was created by the issuance of Executive Order 464, which bans officials of the national government and the military from appearing in congressional inquiries without permission from the President.

"We must unite for the sake of the people," said Aumentado, whose group is now arranging a dialog between the Senate and the Palace to end the rift between the two co-equal branches of government.

Eastern Samar Gov. Ben Evardone, press relations officer of the LPP, said that the growing terrorist menace should be met head on with iron-clad statutes. "Terrorists should not be treated with kid gloves. They know nothing but murder and mass slaughter," said Evardone.

The 1,501-strong League of Municipalities through national president and Binalonan, Pangasinan Mayor Ramon Guico Jr. said Congress cannot ignore the seriousness of the times because not even the world’s greatest superpower has been spared by acts of terrorism.

"The Sept. 1, 2001 World Trade Center bombing in New York City that killed close to 4,000 people is too gruesome to be forgotten," said Guico, who is also the executive vice-president of the 1.5 million-strong ULAP.

He said members of Congress should get their act together and set aside political differences to enable the country stave off the tide of global terrorism even as he supported the call of President Arroyo for the solons to put an end to their political wrangling and to focus instead in bringing vital services to the people.

League of Cities chief and Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Treñas said cities, because of their burgeoning population, are more prone to terrorist attacks, so that stringent security measures are necessary to discourage would-be bombers from committing crime.

"I think that there is a real need for the passage of anti-terrorist laws so that nothing is left to chance. The government must aggressively implement the law and throw the book at offenders who are caught and jailed," Treñas said.

The rash of bombing incidents in the cities of Zamboanga, Gen. Santos, Davao and Koronadal is simply too traumatic not to be forewarned, he said.

He also hoped that sectors protesting its enactment would consider first the safety and welfare of the greater majority of the people before even thinking of resisting the legislation in favor of vested political interests.

Agusan del Sur Gov. Bong Plaza said it is about time Congress acted as one single-minded body and consider legislating such a law that will arguably give the police and military adequate legal basis to move against cold-blooded killers and criminal organizations.

"The anti-terrorist bill is pro-people," Plaza said.

Philippine Councilors League national president Carlo Fortuna said the anti-terror law will help improve the peace and order conditions in the country.

"The world is being held hostage by conscience-less villains who are happy to see their fellowmen suffer the trauma. The anti-terrorist bill is more of a pre-emptive strike against perpetrators of dastardly acts who commit mayhem and mass murder as if it were part of their daily routine," Fortuna, also the ULAP secretary-general, said.