Philippines to launch info campaign on terror law

MANILA — To allay public concerns over the Human Security Act (HSA) of 2007, the government is preparing a full-blown campaign to inform the public on the pros and cons of the new law also known as Republic Act (RA) 9372, Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita said today.

In his weekly press briefing in Malaca�ang, Ermita said aside from disseminating the pertinent provisions of the new anti-terror law in both broadcast and print media, the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) is also preparing a primer on the HSA for distribution to the public.

He said the HSA primer will also be available to high school and college students.

The HSA, or an “act to secure the state and protect our people from terrorism,” takes effect July 15.

Ermita urged the people to read and assimilate the provisions of the law and not be carried away by doomsday warnings on perceived dangers of the anti-terror statute.

He stressed that the HSA has enough built-in safeguards against violations of human rights such as warrantless arrests, eavesdropping and wiretapping.

He added that the law prescribes specific rules on the conduct on its enforcement.

“Hindi masyadong founded yung fear na sinasabi ng iba dahil yung mga issue tulad ng warrantless arrest, eavesdropping and wire tapping of telephones, illegal sequestration of properties and tracing of assets, and others are all detailed in this law,” Ermita said.

He said that under the HSA, law enforcement agents must first secure a permit from the “assigned and designated” Court of Appeals officer, as well as an authorization by the Anti-Terrorism Council (ATC) before they conduct surveillance on a suspected terrorist or terrorists.

“Ang dami-daming requirements na hindi basta magagawa ng mga law enforcers ang gusto nilang mangyari,” he said.

The “common denominator is that before any such action (surveillance) can be done by them, kinakailangang merong authority ng specifically assigned, designated Court of Appeals (CA) officer and, second, the application must be authorized by the Anti-Terrorism Council,” Ermita added.

He said that law enforcement agencies will also have to justify their requests “kung bakit dapat sila mabigyan ng permit na mag-wiretap, mag-sequester ng property o yung pag-freeze ng mga assets.”

“Kaya sa palagay ko, ang aking advice lamang, before attacking the law as it is, ay basahin nila munang mabuti,” Ermita said.

He explained that the HSA’s intent is “to safeguard the security of the people, our government and our communities as a whole so that we can protect the way of life of our people.”