All Set For Anti-Terror Summit In Southern Philippines

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY (Mindanao Examiner / 09 Jul) – Security is tight Monday in Cagayan de Oro City where President Gloria Arroyo is to speak on an anti-terrorism summit.

Arroyo would also meet with her Cabinet security cluster in the first leg of public consultations on the Human Security Act (HSA) which is set to take effect on July 15.

Senior Supt. Aurelio Trampe Jr., chief of the local police force, said he placed the entire city on heightened security alert because of the summit at the Pryce Plaza here. “Additional personnel will be deployed in crowded places in the entire city,” said Trampe. “We provided 2nd and 3rd layer security to President Arroyo today.”

The summit is expected to draw leaders and experts in the security field from the government, business, religious and the academe, according to Trampe. But militant groups and political activists have threatened to stage mass actions to protest the anti-terrorism law.

They said the HAS would be used by the government to silence progressive groups and politicians opposed to Arroyo’s rule. Beverly Musni, head of the human rights group, Karapatan, said militants and activists would immediately be arrested once the HSA took effect.

But Norberto Gonzales, National Security Adviser and acting Defense chief, said the HSA had enough safeguards to prevent its abuse.

“There is nothing to fear really. The law is there to protect the public, not to harm them,” he said, adding people must commit a terrorist act before they can be arrested.

Gonzales, who is also the Partido Demokratiko Sosyalista ng Pilipinas (PDSP) consultant, also said the anti-terror law is all set for implementation but admitted that its organizational structure is still being finalized.

“We’ve already complied with most of the requirements but I’m not sure how complete our organization is because we have to identify members of the office that would implement it,” he said.

Trampe said they expect militant groups to hold protest actions but this would not hinder the consultation. “We are prepared with our civil disturbance management team in case there will be street rallies,” Trampe said.

City Mayor Constantino Jaraula said Arroyo would arrive later in the day.

According to a government handout, the summit aims to identify problems and difficulties faced in fighting terrorists from the perspectives of the stakeholders and to agree on an action agenda to strengthen local mechanisms for counter-terrorism. (Ben Balce)

RP Anti-Terror Law, Nothing To Fear!

MANILA (Mindanao Examiner / 05 Jul) – Filipino defense and military officials on Thursday allayed fears that the anti-terrorism law will be used to spy on journalists who are critical of the Arroyo government.

Defense Undersecretary Ricardo Blancaflor assured the rights not only of the journalists, but every law abiding citizens. Journalists groups expressed alarm after justice officials said the law, which will take effect July 15, can be used to tap into phones of journalists who are suspected of aiding a terrorist.

Armed Forces Chief of Staff General Hermogenes Esperon Jr. said there is enough protection for everybody under the anti-terrorism law or the Human Security Act of 2007.

He said the target of the law is the terror groups, such as the Abu Sayyaf or the New People’s Army and not the media.

"Well if it's called for, but no, this is not wiretapping of the media, but wiretapping of probable terror suspects," Esperon said. "The anti-terrorism law is not about wiretapping, it is about neutralizing would be terrorists and that should be for the good of all of us."

Human rights groups are opposing the implementation of the law, saying, it threatens the basic rights of citizens and could be used by the government to spy on innocent victims for political gains. (Juley Reyes)