Terror Bill is ‘moderate, lenient’ compared to other countries — Tupas

The chairman of the House national defense and security committee on Sunday hit back at critics, saying the Anti-Terrorism Bill as proposed by Congress was in fact “moderate and lenient” compared to similar measures in other countries.

“The warrantless detention of 14 days, when compared to similar measures of other countries, is moderate or lenient,” Iloilo Rep. Raul “Boboy” Tupas said.

“Both Australia and Sri Lanka, in their proposed amendment to their Anti-Terror Law, allow for 14 days detention without warrant of arrest. Bangladesh allows for 15 days while Indonesia for 21 days, Pakistan for 30 days, Malaysia for 59 days, and Singapore for 730 days,” he said.

“These are countries which have experienced their share of terrorist attacks of the most bloody kind,” Tupas said.

“Thailand’s initial period of detention without warrant is seven days but this can be extended up to 30 days. Indonesia allows for extension up to 120 additional days, and Malaysia up to two years. Both the Maldives and Singapore provide for the indefinite period of detention of suspects deemed to be threats to national security,” he added.

Tupas said the anti-terror bill was cognizant of “our Martial Law history.”

“Congress saw to it that the bill requires the arresting officers to notify in writing the judge of the court nearest the place of apprehension or arrest of the following facts: (a) the time, date, and manner of arrest; (b) the location or locations of the detained suspect/s and (c) the physical and mental condition of the detained suspect/s. These notification safeguards are new under the Anti-Terror Bill,” he said.

“The bill also requires law enforcement agents or military personnel to furnish the ATC and the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) their copy of the written notice given to the judge,” he said.

“As the current chair of the House committee on national defense and security and co-chair of the joint-committee along with Rep. Narciso Bravo, chair of the committee on public order and safety, I vouch that this piece of legislation will stand scrutiny,” Tupas said.

Source: Latest Politics News Today (Politics.com.ph)