Manila: Four years after the Philippines passed a landmark law against terrorism, President Benigno Aquino now wants the measure amended to give it more teeth and at the same time guard against its possible abuse by authorities.
"The government recognises that terrorism is a constant threat that requires us to be vigilant. After reviewing our counter-terrorism initiatives, we decided to focus on strengthening anti-terror legislation to make it more responsive to the threats posed by terrorists," Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa said yesterday.
In 2007, the Philippines enacted the Human Security Act, its version of the US Patriot Act, in the aftermath of the September 11, 2001 attacks in the United States and the spate of devastating attacks that had been attributed to radical groups operating in the Philippines such as the Abu Sayyaf, the Rajah Sulaiman Movement and the regional pan-Islamic group Jemaah Islamiyah.
The law prescribed capital punishment for groups or individuals found guilty of committing acts of terrorism.
Ochoa, who also chairs the country's Anti-Terrorism Council (ATC), said the changes they are seeking are designed to give more teeth to the law and make the measure consistent with existing international agreements and Philippine laws.
