Here are five things you should know about the legislation that has polarized the Southeast Asian country as it grapples with the economic impact of the pandemic. On September 17, 2001, Attorney General John Ashcroft directed that the fight against terrorism and the prevention of future acts of terrorism be the first and foremost priorities of law enforcement agencies. As a result, he directed each U.S. prosecutor to establish a Counterterrorism Advisory Council (ATAC) to fulfill three main functions in his jurisdiction. ATAC should, first and foremost, ensure effective coordination so that law enforcement authorities can better prevent future terrorist attacks. They should also ensure that effective information exchange systems are put in place to help public and private bodies to be informed of information that could help them fight terrorism. Finally, ITAC has been tasked with ensuring that adequate management plans are in place in the event of another terrorist attack. For more details on ITAC, please click here. Greenpeace`s Southeast Asia office has lobbied for the repeal of the 2020 counterterrorism law because of its “full definition of terrorism,” which it says could be misused to stifle dissent. [71] “We believe this violates the constitution,” said human rights lawyer Jose Manuel Diokno. “Given the broader definition of terrorism, government critics could be characterized as suspected terrorists.” More than 1,000 students and human rights activists gathered at the UP Diliman CAMPUS on June 12, 2020, coinciding with the 122nd Independence Day from Spanish Colonial Domination, nicknamed the “Great Mañanita”.
[81] They called on the government to “reject” the bill, fearing it would restrict fundamental human rights and freedom of expression and dissent. The rally took place despite the state`s ban on mass gatherings in general community quarantine in Metro Manila and other parts of the country due to the pandemic. Protesters wore masks and practiced social distancing. [82] [83] Similar protests were organized by activists in various cities such as Baguio, Legazpi, and Cebu City. Requires financial institutions to establish anti-money-laundering programmes, which should include, at a minimum, the development of policies, procedures and internal controls; Appointment of a Compliance Officer; an ongoing employee training program; and an independent verification function for test programs. (Manila) – The Philippine government is poised to enact a counterterrorism law that will remove important legal safeguards and allow the government to take action against groups and individuals classified as terrorists, Human Rights Watch said today. The 2020 counterterrorism bill has passed both the House of Representatives and the Senate, and President Rodrigo Duterte is expected to sign the bill quickly. The bill uses an overly broad definition of terrorism that can detain suspects arrested without warrant for weeks before they appear before a judge. A special body, composed mainly of officials appointed by the President, would give the power to enforce the law. “The counterterrorism law is a disaster for human rights,” said Phil Robertson, deputy Asia director at Human Rights Watch. “The law will open the door to arbitrary arrests and lengthy prison sentences for individuals or representatives of organizations who displeased the president.” In a letter to Congress from 1.
In June 2020, Duterte certified that passage of the counterterrorism bill was urgent, shortening a more in-depth debate on the legislation and prompting the House of Representatives to quickly pass a full version of the bill passed by the Senate. The measure would replace the existing Human Security Act of 2007. The bill creates a new Counter-Terrorism Council (ATC), composed of members appointed by the executive branch, which would allow authorities to arrest people they designate as “terrorists” without a judicial arrest warrant and detain them without charge for up to 24 days before being brought before a judicial authority. Under current law, terrorism suspects must be brought before a judge within three days. Human Rights Watch believes that anyone in custody must appear before a judge within 48 hours. Under the bill, those convicted on the basis of overly broad definitions of “terrorism” face life imprisonment without parole. A person, as well as a group, commits terrorism when it “commits acts intended to cause death or serious bodily harm to a person or to endanger the life of a person” or to “cause significant damage to public property” to “create an atmosphere or spread a message of fear”. While the definition also includes targets often associated with terrorism, such as attempting to “seriously destabilize or destroy the basic social, economic or political structures of the country,” it does not require such intent. Under this broad definition, starting a fight in a bar could technically be classified as an act of terrorism, Human Rights Watch said. The bill also criminalizes “inciting terrorism against others by means of speeches, proclamations, writings, emblems, banners or other representations that serve the same purpose.” The law, which does not define incitement, poses a threat to media freedom and freedom of expression by providing an indefinite basis for the prosecution of expressions of opinion.