Monday, July 16, 2007 Bishop seeks suspension of HSA
MANILA Archbishop Gaudencio Cardinal Rosales yesterday asked for the deferment of the implementation of the Human Security Act (HSA) or the anti-terrorism law until “gray areas” in the provision are clarified.
“It may serve and create a widespread panic (if these gray areas in the law are not resolved first before it is implemented),” Rosales said in an interview over Radio Veritas.
The prelate said he is not against the HSA, but the definition of “terrorism” is very broad and may be “misinterpreted.” He feared that some people might abuse these “unclear provisions” in the law.
He particularly asked for elaboration and clear definition of placing certain people under house arrest.
Various militant groups, headed by Bayan Muna, held a protest in Manila to denounce the HSA implementation.
Church-based groups, on the other hand, will stage a prayer protest today in Kalaw, Manila against the law.
Chance
Sen. Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr. appealed to the public to give the anti-terror law a chance.
Revilla expressed concern over the growing qualms in the implementation of the anti-terror law on July 15, but assured the public that the law was enacted by the legislature with good intentions.
“Both Houses of Congress passed this measure in the honest belief that it will improve the lives of Filipinos, and I am sure that we, in Congress, will not allow the legislative intent behind the law to be bastardized,” he said.
Revilla said he will personally act as the guardian of human rights in the implementation of Republic Act 9372 to ensure that no abuses will go unpunished.
“I will be very active in seeing to it that this law is not abused. I will also make sure that those who will abuse the law will be made accountable, regardless of their positions in government,” he said.
Review
Meanwhile, Isabela Rep. Edwin Uy underscored the need for the military and police to review and strictly observe their rules of engagement in dealing with terror suspects, in light of the HSA implementation.
Uy said due process and the principle of presumption of innocence must also be observed by authorities to prevent accusations of police and military brutality in arresting terror suspects.
He said authorities should take the HSA implementation as an opportunity to prove to everyone that this law is not a guise for “state-sponsored terrorism” as projected by some critics.
He said Section 2 of RA 9372 explicitly provides that in the implementation of the government’s anti-terrorism policy to protect the people, the state will uphold the basic rights and fundamental liberties of individuals.
Limitations
“We believe the Philippine National Police and the Armed Forces of the Philippines can properly handle any given situation during the HSA implementation. If their members fully know the limitations and circumstances under which they can initiate and apply combat engagement with terrorists or terror suspects, they should also know how to conduct arrests, searches, seizures and inquiries properly,” he said.
The lawmaker also urged the civil society to monitor the implementation of anti-terror measures under the law.
“They can help make the law an effective tool of security and safety rather than criticize it even before it is tested,” he said. (Sunnex)
