Give priority to terror bill, Barbers asks GMA

Sen. Robert Barbers challenged President Arroyo yesterday to give top priority to the problem of terrorism, saying it has already caused the country "untold economic and other losses."

He noted that the Philippines has numerous home-grown terrorist organizations like the Abu Sayyaf group with known links to the al Qaeda, that have victimized hundreds of innocent civilians.

He lamented that despite the gravity of the problem on terrorism, the Philippines still has no law against terrorism.

Barbers said he would vigorously work for the enactment of Senate Bill 1980 or the proposed anti-terrorism law, that he filed early this year.

He urged President Arroyo to certify the bill as urgent to assure its speedy passage.

Under the measure, terrorism will be classified as a heinous offense and as a crime against humanity and punishable by life imprisonment to death.

The bill also punishes mere membership in a terrorist organization or association.

It authorizes law enforcement agents, pursuant to a court order, to undertake secret searches of the homes of suspected terrorists and conduct electronic and other forms of surveillance on them.

Authorities can also inquire into peso and foreign currency bank deposits of suspected local and international terrorists, as well as deport and refuse entry to aliens suspected of being terrorists.

"These powers of law enforcement agencies can only be exercised after the issuance of the appropriate court order and following established judicial processes," Barbers stressed.

The bill seeks to create an Anti-Crime Commission under the Office of the President that will formulate a comprehensive plan or program to prevent, counter and respond to all forms of terrorism.

"Terrorism has to be fought tooth and nail and on all fronts, using every means available, lest we become hostage to it," Barbers added. — Efren Danao