Imagined fears of Anti-Terrorism law

NOW that the Anti-Terrorism Council has approved the implementing rules and regulations of the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020, the citizenry is now well-advised how to conduct themselves, how to protect themselves against the imagined, perceived abuses that may be committed against them.

Since all these fears were embodied in the more than 30 petitions filed before the Supreme Court, we pray that these petitions will now be dismissed and allow our government, law enforcers and the citizenry act with confidence in seeing to the proper implementation the law.

The law is, after all, aimed at protecting innocent lives and properties against criminal elements out to destabilize and crush our democratic system, our peaceful way of life.

All the fears and imagined abuses should be set aside and allow the law to face the enormous challenges it faces, instead of allowing the challenges to control our lives and the law.

The IRR, we are told, has detailed provisions on terrorism and terrorism-related crimes, on surveillance, on designation of terrorist individuals and organizations, on proscription, on the examination of bank accounts, among others. These should calm nerves of the citizenry.

As our Armed Forces of the Philippines has correctly stated, the IRR will empower the AFP to hunt down terrorists, help in their arrest, and ensure the security of the country against terrorist groups. So, damn the torpedoes and save the innocent.

 

Presidential power

OUR constitution speaks of separation of powers among the Supreme Court, Congress and Malacanang.  Our SC justices interpret the laws passed in the Congress (House of Representatives and Senate). The President of the Philippines executes the laws for the benefit of the people.  But in reality, the President is the most powerful of all. His word is practically the law.  A recent proof to this was how the fight for Speakership between Alan Peter Cayetano of Taguig and Lord Allan Velasco of Marinduque was resolved.  President Duterte had to step in to break the standoff.  We weren’t told he chose Velasco over Cayetano but events surrounding the impasse somehow indicated that. In doing so, the President had only in mind the quick passage of the P4.8 trillion 2021 budget, which included COVID-19 expenses—in peril amid the House squabbles.  When disaster lurks, the President’s action is crucial. It cannot be challenged.

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