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Thursday July 5, 9:47 AM
Philippines Says Anti-Terror Law to Push Through on July 15MANILA, July 5 Asia Pulse - The Philippine Presidential Office on Wednesday said the implementation of the Anti-Terrorism Law or the Human Security Act will push through on July 15, despite protests by some lawmakers. Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita, in his weekly press briefing, said there is a need to implement the measure on July 15.
Ermita said the government is prepared to comply with the stipulations of the law on publication in newspapers in designated areas and airing on television and radio stations to make the public aware of the new law. He said the government has also came up with a primer on the Anti-Terror law to be distributed all over the country. Under the new law, the crime of terrorism includes piracy in general or mutiny in high seas; rebellion or insurrection; coup d'etat, including acts committed by private persons; murder; kidnapping and serious illegal detention; and crimes involving destruction such as arson. The crime of terrorism is punishable by 40 years of imprisonment without the benefit of parole. President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo signed on March 6, Republic Act no. 9372, commonly known as the Anti-Terrorism Law, but its implementation was deferred until after the May 14 elections to allay the fears of human rights advocates and the opposition that this would be used to harass critics of the administration. To help ensure that law enforcers will not abuse their authority, provisions such as having to pay acquitted suspects P500,000 (US$10,855) in damages for every day that he/she has been detained or deprived of liberty or arrested without a warrant was included in the law. (PNA)
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