Lawyers’ groups warned that the anti-terror bill being pushed by President Duterte in Congress will weaken democracy and Constitutional protection of people’s freedoms.
The proposed bill allows the warrantless arrest of suspected person and detention of up to 24 days while surveillance can be conducted by the police or the military for 60 to 90 days.
Progressive groups criticized President Rodrigo Duterte for “diverting” the public’s attention following his threat to declare martial law amid the Coronavirus crisis in the country.
A women’s group here on Thursday assailed the proposed amendments to the Human Security Act of 2007, saying it is “worse” than the martial law in curtailing people’s basic rights and freedom.
Human rights advocates are alarmed at the military’s push for the passage of amendments to the Human Security Act (HSA) in exchange of the lifting of martial law in Mindanao.
