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Philippines' Duterte tells citizens not to fear anti-terror bill

Published 07/08/2020, 03:03 AM
Updated 07/08/2020, 03:10 AM

MANILA, July 8 (Reuters) - Philippines President Rodrigo
Duterte on Wednesday told citizens not to fear a new
anti-terrorism law, addressing for the first time the
controversial legislation that has unnerved rights groups over
potential violations of civil liberties.
The mercurial leader last week signed the anti-terrorism
bill, prompting rights groups to stage protests and lawyers to
question the law before the Supreme Court. "For the law-abiding citizen of this country, I am
addressing you with all sincerity, do not be afraid if you are
not a terrorist," he said in a televised national address mainly
to update Filipinos on the coronavirus outbreak.
Those not planning to bomb churches and public utilities to
derail the nation have nothing to fear, Duterte said, adding
that communists are among the terrorists.
The conflict between the government and the armed wing of
the communist party has raged for half a century and killed more
than 40,000 people. In the volatile south, the Philippines faces
piracy, kidnappings and extremism by groups influenced by
Islamic State, who occupied a southern city in 2017 and are now
increasingly carrying out suicide bombings.
The new law creates an anti-terrorism council appointed by
the president, which can tag individuals and groups as
terrorists and detain them without charge for up to 24 days. It
also allows for 90 days of surveillance and wiretaps, and
punishments that include life imprisonment without parole.
Local and international human rights groups had said that
while the Philippines does have clear security threats, the
legislation could be abused to target administration opponents
and suppress peaceful dissent.

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