DOJ set to submit comments on anti-terror bill

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Justice (DOJ) is set to submit to President Duterte its comments on the controversial Anti-Terror Bill on Wednesday after the agency was tapped to review the measure. 

“The DOJ has been requested to submit its comments on the Anti-Terror Bill to the office of the president by Wednesday, June 17,” Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said yesterday.   

Guevarra could not yet disclose the DOJ’s recommendations or comments since the department’s lawyers would still meet for brainstorming on Monday.  

He assured the public that they will review the law as independently and objectively as possible, with only the security of the nation and the civil and political rights of the people in mind. 

Prior to sending the comments of the DOJ, the International Association of Democratic Lawyers (IADL) sent an open letter asking Guevarra not to recommend the anti-terrorism law on constitutional and procedural grounds. They also urged Duterte to veto the bill. 

The IADL has also asked the congressmen who supported the bill “to speak up and withdraw your vote,” which it called an opportunity “to act to uphold and protect the basic human rights of the Filipino people.” 

“The international community is alarmed by the apparent abuses of power and civil unrest that the law will bring about. It will suppress and criminalize free speech and dissent, label and punish political enemies as terrorists and unjustly deprive them of basic internationally recognized human rights and due process,” the IADL said.    

The IADL said that the Philippines no longer needs the Anti-Terrorism Bill as it has the existing Human Security Act.  

Among the organizations that have signed the open letter are IADL along with the Arab Lawyers Association in UK, Asociación Americana de Juristas, Asociación Nacional de Abogados (ANAD) de México, Asociación Venezolana de Juristas and Canadian Association of Labour Lawyers. 

Some 21 other international lawyer groups have also signed the open letter along with 87 leaders of different lawyer groups all over the world.