Top cop assures they will not abuse anti-terrorism law

By Jennifer P. Rendon

 

Amid apprehensions over the enforcement of Republic Act 11479, the top cop of Western Visayas assured that they will not take advantage of the law.

Police General Rene Pamuspusan, Police Regional Office (PRO)-6 director, cited that even before the passage of RA 11479, or the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020, there were no reported violators and abuses on human rights in the region.

“But we still have to wait for the implementing rules and regulations (IRR). We might still have to conduct regionwide seminars to inform our policemen kung ano ba talaga itong Anti-Terrorism Law kasi we don’t want anyone to be taking advantage of this and using it in the wrong purpose,” he said.

Pamuspusan said he already talked to the PRO-6 legal team because he wanted to conduct a seminar once they received the IRR.

“We will be calling unit leaders and investigators so that we will have one interpretation of the law. Gusto ko everyone should be aligned. Everyone should have one interpretation of what is really expected in the implementation of this law,” he said.

The region’s top cop said they have the basic knowledge of what ATL is all about but “we want to know the specifics of the law.”

Despite widespread criticisms, President Rodrigo Duterte signed RA 11579 on July 3, 2020. The law effectively replaced the Human Security Act of 2007 and took effect on July 18.

Following its passage, several petitions have been filed at the Supreme Court questioning RA 11479.

Among others, petitioners question the provision wherein authorities could jail suspects without charge for up to 24 days.

The law is said to allow surveillance and wiretaps for 90 days.

Also, the law imposes punishments that include life imprisonment without parole.