‘Anti-terror law to protect rights’

A long-awaited measure to combat terrorism gives the government enough means to prevent some future terror attacks while safeguarding human rights, a defense official said.

But critics believe the new law will be used to crack down on the opposition.

The law is being criticized by security officials as "lacking in teeth" and by civil libertarians as "too draconian," Defense Undersecretary Ricardo Blancaflor said Friday.

"If two opposing sides criticize the same bill, then there must be something good in it," Blancaflor said, appealing to both sides to give the law a chance. "What is important is we finally have something to stop terrorism."

President Arroyo is expected to sign the anti-terrorism bill into law, which will be called the "Human Security Act," after it was approved Monday by the House of Representatives following its passage in the Senate earlier this month.

It increases the capability of law enforcers to conduct surveillance, including wiretaps, freeze suspected terrorist bank accounts, and limit the movement of suspects, who can be held without charges for three days, Blancaflor said.

Blancaflor said human rights shall be protected "at all times," and the use of this law on political dissent will be banned.

He said the measure has many "procedural safeguards," particularly regarding the custody and detention of suspects, he said. Any person wrongfully held would receive P500,000 in compensation for each day of detention.

There also are "very stringent" penalties on law enforcers who violate the rights of suspects, including jail terms ranging from six to 20 years, he said.

The measure says people or groups who create conditions of "widespread and extraordinary fear and panic" among the public to "coerce the government to give in to an unlawful demand" can be classified as terrorists.

Under this definition, some political offenses such as rebellion, insurrection and coup d’etat would be categorized as terrorism and punishable by up to 40 years in prison, Blancaflor said.

Rep. Teddy Casiño of the left-wing Bayan Muna party said the safeguards were mere remedies that "will kick into place only after your rights are violated."

"It gives you a false sense of security," Casiño said. "Giving authorities too much discretion (in defining terrorism) is a formula for abuse."

He said he and several other left-wing legislators would be charged with terrorism if they repeat a street protest they led last year to demand the resignation of Mrs. Arroyo over alleged corruption and election cheating.

They are facing rebellion charges in connection with that protest, which the government said was in coordination with a coup attempt by rebel soldiers.

He also said a loophole allows security officers to hold suspects for more than three days during an "actual or imminent threat" of a terror attack, with the written approval from a judge or a local human rights commission officer. - AP