Enrile commended the SC ruling on Anti-Terrorism Act

By Jason de Asis

SENATE OFFICE, Manila, January 12, 2011-Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile commended the Supreme Court ruling on the Republic Act No. 9372 commonly known as the Human Security Act of 2007 or the Anti-Terrorism Law which does not violate the Philippine Constitution.

Enrile hailed the Supreme Court ruling which conforms to the fundamental law and to protect the citizenry from terrorist acts that lead to loss of life and destruction of property saying that terrorism has no place in a civilized society like our country.

He explained that Anti-Terrorism Law also contained adequate safeguards against abuses from the military and the police and there is a need to maintain law and order throughout the country, and prevent terrorist groups from causing disorder and chaos in our society adding that the said law ensures the government to uphold the rule of law in the country at all times.

The terrorist groups like the Abu Sayyaf Group which launched terroristic bombings and hostage taking in Mindanao and Metro Manila are not allowed in a civil society like ours and the AFP forces should pursue them without let-up.

He said that the SC en banc dismissed the petitions filed by the Integrated Bar of the Philippines, Southern Hemisphere Engagement Network Inc., Bagong Alyansang Makabayan, Bayan Southern Tagalog and Karapatan seeking the reversal of its Oct. 5, 2010 ruling which declared the constitutionality of the Human Security Act according to a two-page resolution.

The SC stressed that the groups failed to raise new arguments in their motion for reconsideration in dismissing the various petitions, adding that the SC ruled that the petitioners had no legal standing to assail Republic Act 9372 since none of them faces any charge of violating the said law. The cause-oriented groups invoked their legal right to file the suit on the basis of being suspected communist fronts by the government, while individual petitioners invoked the transcendental importance doctrine and their status as citizens and taxpayers according to its ruling dated Oct. 5, last year.

No case has not yet been filed before any court declaring these organizations as domestic terrorist groups according to the High Tribunal although the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP), the New People’s Army (NPA) and the Abu Sayyaf Group were classified by the United States and the European Union as foreign terrorist organizations.

“Since the implementation of the law in 2007, the petitioners conducted their activities fully and freely without any threat, or any actual prosecution or prescription under Republic Act 9372,” the Supreme Court pointed out.  (Jason de Asis)