PCOO Usec Joel Egco, Sec. Martin Andanar, and Usec Lorraine Badoy call on Gapan City Mayor Emerson Pascual. Photo by Armand M. Galang
CABIAO, Nueva Ecija – The proposed anti-terrorism measure that was approved on third and final reading by the House of Representative is one of the “lightest in the world,” a ranking government communication official said here on Saturday.
Communications Undersecretary Lorraine Badoy, said the bill’s provision on 14-day detention in warrantless arrest was short of the 750 days in Singapore.
“The anti-terrorism law has very, very clear safeguards against abuses,” she said.
Badoy, who was also designated as spokesperson for the National Task Force to End Local Communist and Armed Conflict joined Sec. Martin Andanar and Usec. Joel Sy Egco in meeting leaders of different media organizations pf Nueva Ecija.
They also discussed the government’s Balik Probinsya Program with Mayor Ramil Rivera of this town and Mayor Emerson Pascual of Gapan City.
The warrantless arrest, which she said, was adopted from the Human Security Act of 2007, is vital in running after suspected terrorists.
“Pero kailangan yun kasi kunwari hot pursuit, makakahanap ka ba ng judge para bigyan ka ng warrant?” she said.
Badoy noted that no law is perfect but the citizens should trust the government “as legal luminaries would tell me,” as a “sacred contract between the citizens and their officials.”
The people should only be vigilant, she stressed, assailing alleged disinformation against the bill.
“Yung disinformation about this bill talagang nagkalat siya para takutin at lituhin ang tao tungkol sa anti-terrorism bill,” Badoy said, naming Alter Media as allegedly one among above ground organizations of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army-National Democratic Front behind such activity.
Andanar, meanwhile, dismissed claim by the United Nation High Commissioner for Human Rights Concerns over alleged censorship and curtailment of the freedom of information amid the Covid-19 pandemic.
Press freedom, he said, is in the Philippine Constitution: “Katunayan,kaya nga naglipana yung lahat ng mga komento sa social media, naglipana ngayong panahon na mayroong Covid.”
“Wala namang reporter na nakulong ngayong panahon ng Covid at bago, even before, kaya nga meron tayong Presidential Task Force on Media Security sa pangunguna ni Director Egco,” Andanar added.
