ANTI-TERROR DRIVE. Northern Samar Governor Edwin Ongchuan talks to key officers of the Philippine Army's 20th Infantry Battalion (IB) during a camp visit in Las Navas town on May 19, 2020. Local government officials in Northern Samar on Sunday (June 14, 2020) expressed support to the enactment of the Anti-Terrorism Bill to contribute to the “attainment of just and lasting peace” in the province. (Photo courtesy of Philippine Army 20th IB)
TACLOBAN CITY – Local government officials in Northern Samar have expressed support to the enactment of the Anti-Terrorism Bill to contribute to the “attainment of just and lasting peace” in the province.
Northern Samar Governor Edwin Ongchuan, a former lawmaker, has joined the call to have an effective law to fight terrorism, taking into consideration the “entrenched guarantees, and safeguard of our Constitution”.
“I hope that the enactment of the Anti-Terrorism Bill, once approved by the President, will facilitate the end of terrorist activities in the country and ensure that our constituents be truly safe from the myriads of the evolving form of terrorism,” Ongchuan said in a statement issued on Sunday.
The Philippine Army’s 20th Infantry Battalion based in Northern Samar consolidated the statements of support from the governor and four mayors in the province which were posted on their Facebook account.
In the town of Las Navas, one of the strongholds of the terrorist New People’s Army (NPA) in Northern Samar, Mayor Arlito Tan, Sr. said the local government fully supports the passage of the bill to end insurgency in the country.
Several gun battles between the Philippine Army and the NPA have been reported in Las Navas in the past years.
The town has been the venue of many anti-government demonstrations organized by organizations allied with the communist terrorist group.
“The passage of the proposed Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020 will give teeth to the Philippine government in its campaign against insurgencies in the country,” Tan said.
Violence committed by communist terrorists prompted San Roque town Mayor Don Abalon to back the proposed law meant to protect the country from terrorism.
“We believe that the law is our most effective weapon to suppress all forms of terrorism that caused the suffering of poor families in Northern Samar and other parts of the country,” Abalon said.
Laoang Mayor Harris Christopher Ongchuan has called on their residents to draw inspiration from the united efforts to fight against the coronavirus pandemic in support of the passage of the bill.
“It is embedded in the blood of the people of Laoang, Northern Samar to fight as one against any terrorist group,” the mayor said.
Unpredicted attacks by terrorists anytime and anywhere in the country drove Mayor Francis John Tejano of Mapanas town to support the bill, which has been criticized by left-leaning groups.
“It is said that terrorism knows no time, no place, or indefinite. With that, the occurrences in the future must be prevented as our country’s vulnerability will be exploited by the terrorists. We must act now!” Tejano said.
Northern Samar is considered to be the NPA’s stronghold in Eastern Visayas due to poor road network, thick forest, high poverty incidence, and low level of education in upland communities.
The NPA, which has been waging a five-decade armed struggle against the government, is listed as a terrorist organization by the United States, the European Union, the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the Philippines.
The Philippine Army earlier said the bill seeks to end the decades-long communist insurgency in the country.
The bill introduces provisions imposing life imprisonment without parole on those who will participate in the planning, training, preparation, and facilitation of a terrorist act; possess objects connected with the preparation for the commission of terrorism; or collect or make documents connected with the preparation of terrorism.
Under the bill, any person who will threaten to commit terrorism will suffer the penalty of 12 years. The same jail term will be meted against those who will propose any terroristic acts or incite others to commit terrorism.
Any person who will voluntarily and knowingly join any organization, association, or group of persons knowing that such is a terrorist organization, will suffer imprisonment of 12 years.
Under the bill, the number of days a suspected person can be detained without a warrant of arrest is 14 calendar days, extendable by 10 days. (PNA)
