Senator Panfilo “Ping” Lacson defended the anti-terrorism bill against the disinformation being spread by its critics.
In a statement on June 4, Lacson hoped that the critics of the anti-terror bill would not be a victim of terrorist organizations someday.
The said bill was criticized by different celebrities including Miss Universe winners Catriona Gray and Pia Wurtzbach.
“To the critics, I dare say: I hope the day will not come when you or any of your loved ones will be at the receiving end of a terrorist attack, so much so that it will be too late for you to regret convincing the Filipino people to junk this landmark legislation,” he said.
Lacson also said that people should not believe some of the fake news about the said measure, saying that it was made to protect the people and not to destroy the critics of the government.
According to him, they’re always thinking of the constitution and basic human rights while they’re conducting hearing about the said bill.
Lacson also said that some of the provisions they put in the bill was inspired by the anti-terrorism laws being implemented in strong democratic countries like the United States and Australia.
He also said that the Philippines has a shorter reglementary period of detention compared to “Thailand with up to 30 days; Malaysia, up to two years; Singapore at 720 days extendible to an indefinite period of detention without formal charges; and Indonesia, up to 120 additional days,”
“Safeguards have been put in place to ensure the rights of those detained,” the Senator said.
The Senator said that the Human Security Act of 2007 only convicted one individual.
Only Nur Sapian, a recruiter of the Maute group was convicted under the 2007 law.