GMA News
Hontiveros, Pangilinan reject anti-terror bill approved by Congress
Senator Risa Hontiveros and Senator Francis Pangilinan condemned the passage of the proposed Anti-Terrorism Act in Congress, arguing it shows misplaced priorities amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
Hontiveros stated that in a time when Filipinos are getting sick, losing jobs, and going hungry due to COVID-19, the government's solution is an Anti-Terrorism Bill that could imprison those who complain.
Pangilinan added that the country needs social security, health services, and efficient transportation, not a bill that gives the government more power to suppress citizens' rights.
Both senators were the only members of the Senate who voted against the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2019, which seeks to repeal the Human Security Act.
The bill is now up for President Rodrigo Duterte's signature, who had previously certified it as urgent.
Topics in this story
Explore more stories about these topics.
🤖
This story was generated by AI to help you understand the key points. For more detailed coverage, please see the news articles from trusted media outlets below.
News Sources
See how different news organizations are covering this story. Below are the original articles from various Philippine news sources that contributed to this summary.
Officials from Ateneo de Manila University (ADMU) and De La Salle University (DLSU) urged President Duterte to veto the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020, citing concerns about its timing and potential for abuse.
Read more →
Senator Panfilo Lacson, principal author and sponsor, asserts the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020 is designed to safeguard the Philippines and its citizens from domestic and foreign terrorist groups.
Read more →
Several Filipino celebrities and progressive organizations are expressing opposition to the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020.
Read more →
Former Supreme Court Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno stated that it is "the most unfortunate of times" to pass the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020.
Read more →
The University of Santo Tomas (UST) and the University of the Philippines Diliman (UPD) have opposed the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020, expressing concerns that it could undermine civil rights.
Read more →