#JunkTerrorBill? Go ahead, but don't blame gov't if acts of terrorism happen, Bato tells critics

Senator Ronald "Bato" Dela Rosa on Sunday told critics of the controversial new anti-terrorism bill to "go ahead" and push for its junking, so long as they will not blame the government if their lives or of their loved ones are endangered by acts of terrorism.

Dela Rosa made the remark amid incessant calls from the public for President Rodrigo Duterte to veto the measure following its approval in Congress.

"Sige, i-junk ninyo. Gusto niyo i-junk? Junk ninyo. Kapag kayo ay naging biktima ng terorista, sumabog ang bomba diyan, may namatay sa mahal sa buhay ninyo, o kayo mismo, huwag ninyong sisihin ang gobyerno na hindi gumagawa ng paraan para mahinto ang terrorism, para masawata ang terrorism," Dela Rosa told critics during a Dobol B sa News TV interview, referring to the #JunkTerrorBill call.
"Sige, gusto niyo another Marawi siege? Go ahead! Gusto niyo ng another Zamboanga siege? Go ahead! Gusto niyo bombing kaliwa-kanan, go ahead! I-junk natin ito, basta huwag ninyong sisihin ang gobyerno kapag nagka-leche leche tayo sa terrorism dito," he added.

Dela Rosa, during the interview, defended the new anti-terrorism bill, which he co-authored in the Senate.
He said that law-abiding citizens should not fear the proposed measure, as it only targets terrorists and those who support them.

"Itong anti-terror bill na ito, kung ikaw ay law-abiding citizen at ayaw na ayaw mo ng terorismo, you will rejoice when this bill is signed into law. Pero kung ikaw ay terorista o kaya'y supporter ng mga terorista, dapat matakot ka sa batas na ito. Kailangang-kailangan talaga natin itong batas na ito," he said.

Dela Rosa belied the claims of critics of the measure that the bill will be used to stifle dissent. He told the public not to listen to those who spread disinformation about the bill.

"Kaya huwag kayong makinig diyan sa mga nagbibigay ng disinformation at basahin niyo ang batas. Huwag kayong makinig diyan sa nagdi-disinformation dahil alam ko grabe ang disinformation na ginagawa ngayon dito, lalo na ng mga kaliwa, dahil alam nila na tatamaan ang NPA [New People's Army] sa batas na ito," he said.


"Kaya talagang nagkukumahog sila na sirain ang batas na ito, hindi maisabatas dahil alam nila na tatamaan ang NPA. Kaya basahin niyo ang batas, mawala ang agam-agam niyo," he added.
The senator said the bill very clearly states that activism and other forms of dissent are not considered an act of terrorism.

"Sa Section 4 ng bill na ito, nakasaad doon, 'terrorism does not include advocacy, protest, dissent, stoppage of work, mass or industrial actions and other similar exercises of civil and political rights,'" he said.

"Magsigaw-sigaw ka diyan na ang gobyernong ito, demonyo, wala. Kahit murahin mo ang gobyerno, murahin mo ang Presidente, murahin mo kaming mga senador, hindi ka huhulihin dahil mere expression of dissent," he added.

Dela Rosa also clarified that the Anti-Terrorism Council (ATC), unlike what critics say, serves as a "safeguard" for those who were arrested for suspected terrorist activity.

"Itong role ng ATC dito is additional safeguard ito sa human rights ng isang suspect dahil nga kapag hinuli ka, suspected terrorist ka, hinuli ka ng pulis, i-report agad ng pulis sa tatlong ahensya — 'yung nearest court, 'yung ATC, at sa Human Rights Commission," he said.

"'Yung tatlong ahensya na 'yan, mabigat na 'yan kapag 'yan ay nag-monitor sa 'yo. Hindi mo talaga ma-violate ang karapatang pantao. Itong pag-report mo sa ATC, ang ATC mismo ang magsasabi. Safeguard 'yan sa tao," he added.

Dela Rosa likewise defended the provision in the bill where the number of days a suspected person can be detained without a warrant of arrest has been set to 14 days and can be extended by 10 days.

"Anong rational behind that? Dahil ang terorismo ay hindi ordinary crime. It is a crime against humanity, very complicated 'yung crime lalo na global terrorism, 'yung connection niyan sa ibang bansa napakalalim, ang hirap mag-imbestiga nito," he said.

"Kaya nga kailangan natin ng ample time to establish 'yung ebidensya, pag-establish ng magandang kaso against them, so bigyan natin ng time," dela Rosa added.
He said the law only followed the similar provision in Australia's law to counter terrorism.

"Sa Australia, 14 days [ang kulong]. 'Yan ang sinunod ng Pilipinas, 'yung Australian model na 14 days. Bakit? Dahil nga napakahina talaga ng batas natin, 'yung ating Human Security Act. Kaya tayo ginawang paboritong hub ng mga terorista dito sa Pilipinas," Dela Rosa said.

Dela Rosa is hoping that despite the call of critics, President Rodrigo Duterte would sign the bill into law.

"Since the President has signed that bill to be urgent, sana mapirmahan niya. Otherwise, kawawa naman kaming grabe ang pagtalakay sa batas na ito, grabeng balitaktakan, grabeng deliberation nito, tapos mave-veto lang," he said.

Duterte’s chief legal counsel Salvador Panelo on Friday urged the President to sign the anti-terror bill into law, saying enough safeguards were in place to prevent abuse.

Panelo said he came up with the recommendation following a “careful and thoughtful review” of the bill.

Source: Erwin Colcol/KG, GMA News

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