Republic Act No. 11479

Republic Act No. 11479, known as the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020, is a Philippine law enacted to strengthen the country's legal framework against terrorism. It replaced the Human Security Act of 2007 and introduced more comprehensive measures aimed at combating terrorism.LiCAS News+8RESPICIO & CO.+8Diskurso PH - Salitang May Gawa+8GNET+4Diskurso PH - Salitang May Gawa+4Wikipedia+4

Coverage of the Law

The Anti-Terrorism Act defines terrorism broadly, encompassing acts intended to cause death or serious harm to individuals, endanger public safety, or create a serious risk to public safety. Key provisions include:Diskurso PH - Salitang May Gawa

Extended Detention: Authorities can detain suspected terrorists without a warrant for up to 14 days, extendable by an additional 10 days.Diskurso PH - Salitang May Gawa+1Malaya Business Insight+1
Surveillance Powers: The law allows for surveillance and wiretapping of suspects for up to 60 days, extendable by 30 days.Diskurso PH - Salitang May Gawa
Anti-Terrorism Council (ATC): A body composed of key government officials is empowered to designate individuals or groups as terrorists, freeze their assets, and authorize warrantless arrests.LiCAS News+4Diskurso PH - Salitang May Gawa+4GNET+4
Criminalization of Support: Providing material support to terrorists is criminalized, which could potentially include humanitarian or advocacy work.GMA Network | News and Entertainment

Potential Human Rights Violations

The law has faced criticism for potential human rights violations:

Vague Definitions: The broad and vague definition of terrorism could be used to target political dissent and activism.
Due Process Concerns: The ATC's power to designate individuals as terrorists without judicial oversight raises concerns about due process and the presumption of innocence.Malaya Business Insight+6RESPICIO & CO.+6VERA Files+6
Freedom of Expression: Provisions that could criminalize speech perceived as inciting terrorism may infringe on freedom of expression.
Extended Detention: Detaining individuals for up to 24 days without charge exceeds international standards and could lead to abuse.amnesty.org.ph+1RESPICIO & CO.+1

Human rights organizations, including Amnesty International, have expressed concerns that the law could be used to suppress dissent and target activists.Diskurso PH - Salitang May Gawa

Key Figures Behind the Law

The Anti-Terrorism Act was principally authored by Senator Panfilo Lacson. Other notable proponents in the Senate included Senators Tito Sotto, Imee Marcos, Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa, Lito Lapid, and Bong Revilla. In the House of Representatives, the bill was introduced by Representatives Narciso Bravo Jr. and Raul Tupas. The law was signed by President Rodrigo Duterte on July 3, 2020.Malaya Business Insight+9Diskurso PH - Salitang May Gawa+9Inquirer Opinion+9Diskurso PH - Salitang May Gawa+6Wikipedia+6VERA Files+6