TAGUIG CITY - Energy Secretary Alfonso G. Cusi on Tuesday (16 June) expressed hope that President Rodrigo Roa Duterte will soon sign the anti-terrorism bill to equip the government in its effort to maintain peace and order, as well as enhance security in the country.
Speaking at the second quarter meeting of the Regional Peace and Order Council (ROPC) of Region IV-B MIMAROPA (Mindoro-Marinduque-Romblon-Palawan) via Zoom video conferencing, the Energy Chief said the bill, once signed into law will benefit not only the region, but the Philippines in general.
The Secretary addressed the RPOC in his capacity as the designated Cabinet Officer for Regional Development and Security (CORDS) for Region IV-B.
“We are working to really achieve peace and order in our region. We are just waiting for the anti-terrorism bill to be signed into law,” Secretary Cusi told the Council, which is chaired by Palawan Governor Jose Alvarez.
“I am sure and I am hopeful that with the strong leadership of our president, he will sign it into law to really equip us ensure a safer future for our next generation,” Secretary Cusi pointed out.
“We need this anti-terrorism law to save our country. We need it to combat the terrorists who are hiding behind the human rights law to propagate their activities. Kailangan naman natin talaga to make our region, and also our country, peaceful. We need to have a law that will also help us achieve peace,” he stressed.
He also enjoined the Council to help in the information drive and correct the misconception about the bill to counter the disinformation drive by some sectors that only sow confusion among the people.
“So we need to speak up and really have this bill passed into law,” Secretary Cusi said.
For his part, RPOC Chairman Alvarez expressed support for the bill’s enactment into law and committed to help in the government’s drive to disseminate facts about the Anti-Terrorism Bill.
He also echoed Secretary Cusi’s call as he urged the President to sign the bill immediately.
“We are going to request President Duterte to sign it immediately. I would like to say that we really have to support its passage. It is long overdue,” Gov. Alvarez said.
Secretary Cusi has also issued yesterday a statement to the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) expressing support to the anti-terrorism bill. The Task Force is chaired by President Rodrigo Roa Duterte while National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon acts as Vice Chairman.
The full statement follows:
“Many of our brothers and sisters have lost lives and property, their freedom constrained by vulnerability and lack of opportunities, due to decades of terrorist acts. If we allow terror to beset us, we deny each other of the freedom that we deserve: the freedom to live the life that we aspire for, that is, freedom from poverty, oppression, and fear. We owe this to each other, to choose progress over conflict, peace over terror, and trust over fear.”
“The Anti-Terrorism Bill enables us to act against terror and fear.”
“I am a Filipino, and I support the Anti-Terrorism Bill because people’s lives matter.”
It will be recalled that President Duterte has certified as urgent House Bill 6875 that proposes amendments to the Human Security Act of 2007, the country's existing anti-terrorism law.
The President said the call for its speedy passage aims to "address the urgent need to strengthen the law on anti-terrorism in order to inadequately and effectively contain the menace of terrorist acts for the preservation of national security and the promotion of general welfare."
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