House adopts Senate version of Anti-Terror bill

The House of Representatives adopted the Senate version of the Anti-Terror Bill or Senate Bill No. 1083 on Friday.

This means no bicameral conference committee meeting will be needed anymore and the bill will now be sent to Malacañang for the President’s signature.

The House of Representatives approved the Anti-Terror Bill on third and final reading last Wednesday with 173 voting in favor, 31 against and 29 abstentions.

Under the proposed measure, law enforcers can detain a suspected terrorist for 14 days without any charges. This detention can be extended by ten days if deemed necessary.

The proposal seeks to penalize with a 12 year prison term anyone who will propose, incite, conspire and participate in the planning, training, preparation, and facilitation of a terrorist act. The same penalty applies to those who will provide material support to terrorists, and recruit members for a terrorist organization. 

People proven guilty of engaging in a conspiracy to commit terrorism will be sentenced to life imprisonment without the benefit of parole.

Some lawmakers meanwhile expressed concern that the measure will lead to abuse of police power in the country.

Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano urged critics to read the bill before criticizing it.