Press Release
July 4, 2007

JAMBY FILES BILL JUNKING ANTI-TERROR LAW

While Malacañang is contemplating on suspending the implementation of the anti-terror law, Senator Jamby Madrigal wants it junked into to. As such, she has filed Senate Bill No. 23 seeking to repeal R.A. 9372, otherwise known as the Human Security Act of 2007.

"If the government is suspending its implementation, ibig sabihin lang nito ay hindi sila handang ipatupad ito, or they themselves are not sold to it. There is no urgency at all so why not repeal it now," Senator Madrigal strongly states.

She reiterates that the Human Security Act is probably the most dangerous piece of legislation passed by the Philippine Congress. The law is replete with provisions that ravage constitutional guarantees such as freedom of speech, freedom of communication and correspondence, right to travel, as well as an individual's right to be secure in their things and in their person.

"This draconian law should be shredded to pieces and thrown into the garbage bin. The use of violence against civilians under any guise should be opposed. National Security should not be used as an excuse to stifle basic freedoms and constitutionally-guaranteed human rights," Senator Madrigal adds.

Senator Madrigal further argues that the anti-terrorism law creates a shadow criminal justice system and can be used as an instrument of greater terror perpetrated by people in power against their critics and political opponents.

There is no clear definition of who a terrorist is. A person maybe labeled as one by reason solely of his or her political or religious belief and his or her defense thereof. The vagueness of defining a terrorist is not limited to the Philippines. Since 1995, the United Nations has yet to come up with a clear definition of who or what constitutes a terrorist.

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