Lt. Col. Alexie Desamito. FB photo
TALAVERA, Nueva Ecija — The municipal police station here expressed the belief that the controversial anti-terrorism bill is the key to addressing the violence “perpetrated by the terrorists.”
“Kami, ang mga kawani ng Talavera police station ay lubos na sumusuporta sa panukalang na Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020 upang matugunan at masugpo ang matagal nang paghihimagsik at paghahasik ng karahasan ng mga terorista,” said town police chief Lt. Col. Alexie Desamito in a 2.5-minute video.
The violence, she said, has been creating huge trouble that individual rights were being jeopardized and sacrificed: “Sa kadahilanang ang mananaig at ipinaglalaban ang sariling kapakanan ay sariling kapakanan ng mga terorista.“
Desamito said in the video that was also posted in the police’s social media page that the ATB aims at delivering the peace for each Filipino, saying that terrorism threatens the country’s economic growth.
“Gaya na lamang ng pagkabahala at pagkawala ng mgaturista, mga banyagang mamumuhunan sa ating bansa, at iba pa,” she said.
This municipality, adjacent to Cabanatuan City, is one of the biggest agricultural yet urbanizing place in Nueva Ecija.
Desamito did not specify any terrorist group in her video.
Nueva Ecija legislators have voted different ways on the ATB during the third reading on the bill. 1st District Rep. Estrellita Suansing voted “yes” while 3rd District Rep. Rosanna Vergara voted “no.”
The other two solons Reps. Micaela Violago and Maricel Nagaño of the 2nd and 4th districts respectively, abstained from voting.