Security at the
Senate grounds has tightened as the controversial Anti-Terrorism Bill is
set to go through final reading.
As of this writing,
police at the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CPP) grounds – of
which the Senate building occupies a part – have been stopping
fully-loaded jeepneys from entering the Senate premises. A number of
individuals on their way to the Senate by foot have been interrogated by
the CCP police.
This developed as
close to a hundred members of the Bagong-Alyansang Mabakayan (Bayan or
New Patriotic Alliance) and other militant groups were staging a picket
right in front of the Senate building against the Anti-Terrorism Bill
earlier this afternoon.
The Anti-Terrorism
Bill, which human rights groups and civil libertarians have assailed as
an “authoritarian measure,” was passed on second reading late last
night. It is expected to be rushed and passed on third reading today,
the last session day for Congress.
The Anti-Terrorism
Bill allows for the proscription of groups labeled as “terrorist”
organizations. Critics have charged that the bill defines “terrorism” so
broadly that even legal protest actions may be classified as “acts of
terrorism.”
The draft
Anti-Terrorism Bill also allows for up to 72 hours of detention without
charges for suspected “terrorists,” as well as several forms of
electronic surveillance.
“The intent of the
sponsors of the Anti-Terrorism Bill is to legislate and institutionalize
repression in the country,” said Bayan secretary-general Renato Reyes,
Jr.
“What is most
worrisome for us is that the Anti-Terrorism Bill will compound and
complicate the deteriorating human rights situation in the country,”
said Bayan Muna (People First) Rep. Satur Ocampo. Bulatlat
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