NEWSPhilippine President Arroyo enacts anti-terror law
MANILA, March 6 (Xinhua) -- Philippine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo signed into law on Tuesday the Human Security Act of 2007, more commonly known as the anti-terrorism law.
President Arroyo said in a statement that the law is a "landmark in the battle against evil waged by all freedom loving Filipinos and allies in the world."
"This brings to a higher level our successful campaign against the Abu Sayyaf, Jemaah Islamiya and Al Qaeda cells now being carried out in a broader front of national and regional vigilance," she said.
The Act, approved by Congress during a special session on February 19, has been a priority measure of the Arroyo administration to address the Philippines' domestic security threats, such as anti-government insurgency all over the country.
Presidential Spokesman Ignacio Bunye assured the public that the bill has enough safeguards to prevent possible human rights violations that may arise from the extra powers to be given by the law to authorities.
The final version of the anti-terrorism law will allow authorities to detain terrorist suspects for a maximum of three days even without charging them.
The Act also carries a provision barring its effectivity until after the May elections to allay fears the extra powers it would grant to authorities might be used against some candidates who are critical of the Arroyo administration.