Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana. (Screengrab from pre-SONA forum)
MANILA – The Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020 will allow government security forces to defeat the threats posed by terror groups, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said on Wednesday.
"The passage of Republic Act No. 11479, also known as Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020, will greatly enable our security forces to proactively defeat and prevent terrorism," Lorenzana, chair of the Security, Peace, Justice Cluster, said in a pre-SONA briefing aired over state-run PTV-4.
He also assured the public that the newly-enacted law is aimed at curbing terrorist groups out to wreck terror and violence against the Filipino public and their communities.
Lorenzana added that they will not allow this law to be abused and used to trample human rights.
Earlier, he said fears that the law is unconstitutional and could trample on people's rights are unfounded.
"We maintain that the fears of these petitioners are unfounded. But we leave the final determination to the SC (Supreme Court) if it is constitutional or not," he added.
The law, which gives more teeth to the government’s fight against terrorism and violent extremism, has been questioned by critics, including several petitions before the SC.
While it took effect last July 18, Lorenzana said they would wait for the implementing rules and regulations (IRR), to be crafted by the Anti-Terrorism Council and the Department of Justice, before the law can be implemented.
The Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020 was signed last July 3.
Earlier, Senator Panfilo Lacson, author of the measure, credited President Rodrigo Duterte for his strong political will in signing the “landmark legislation” that seeks to boost the country’s drive against terrorism.
It also allows a 60-day surveillance with an allowable 30-day extension that can be conducted by the police or the military against suspected terrorists.
The law also imposes a 12-year jail term on a person who voluntarily or knowingly joins a terrorist organization. (PNA)
