At least to anarchists, the best law is no law, Sen. Panfilo Lacson said Friday.
Lacson pointed this out amid repeated claims by some groups that it is better not to have an effective anti-terrorism measure in place.
“To the anarchist, the best law is no law,” Lacson, who sponsored the anti-terrorism bill in the Senate, said in a tweet.
In defending the measure, which he sponsored as Senate Bill 1083, Lacson pointed out the current law, the 2007 Human Security Act, is virtually useless as it is not used by law enforcers against suspected terrorists.
He noted law enforcers, deterred by a P500,000 daily penalty of a suspect who would eventually be acquitted, chose instead to file other charges such as murder of illegal possession of firearms.
But without the proper charges filed against them, the suspected terrorists are detained in “regular” facilities and could recruit other inmates to their “cause.”
Despite Lacson’s repeated explanations of some provisions of the proposed measure, some groups continued to spread disinformation about the bill, including claiming the bill allows abuse as it authorizes the Anti-Terrorism Council to order the arrest of a suspected terrorist.
“In actual fact, the ATC remains NOT authorized under this Section to order the arrest of a suspected terrorist. Rule 113 on warrantless arrest remains valid. What is being amended is Art 125 of the RPC – from 3 days to 14 days,” Lacson had said in a separate tweet.
Lacson also found himself the subject of personal attacks from opponents of the bill.
Senate Bill 1083 was adopted by the House of Representatives and has been sent to Malacanang for President Rodrigo Duterte to sign into law, or veto. The President may also allow it to lapse into law after 30 days.
