THE House of Representatives yesterday approved on third and final reading eight significant measures, including the proposed 2006 national budget and the controversial antiterrorism bill.
Before the chamber adjourned past midnight yesterday, congressmen also set a fixed, three-year term for the Armed Forces chief, and passed House Bill 5008 which makes the University of the Philippines the premier state university.
They also passed House Bill 5015, which defines the composition and functions of the National Labor Relations Commission; and three other measures aimed at supporting military reform.
Of the eight bills, HB 4839 or the antiterrorism bill faced the strongest resistance from opposition lawmakers, who regarded it as another government effort to suppress civil liberties. The bill was passed by a vote of 116-28.
During deliberations that began Tuesday afternoon, majority and minority congressmen were at odds over the proposed amendments to the bill. Some even engaged in shouting matches.
“This is already terrorism!” exclaimed Mindanao Rep. Benasing Macarambon at one point on the floor.
House Bill 4839 was passed with no abstentions.
The bill defines acts of terrorism and sets parameters for law enforcement agencies to determine who should be charged with the crime. It likewise provides for warrantless arrests of suspected terrorists and a penalty of life imprisonment.
Its passage follows two deadly bomb attacks in Mindanao early last week.
In Lubao, Pampanga, President Gloria Macapagal lauded the House for setting aside their differences and passing the antiterrorism bill. The bill, she added, would enable the government to step up its campaign against terrorism.
Cebu Rep. Antonio Cuenco, one of the principal authors of the measure, clarified that mere membership in a suspected terrorist organization would not automatically make an individual a terrorist.
He said one could be a suspect if “more than three members openly and publicly declare, admit or acknowledge any of the acts punishable by this act.”
Left-leaning partylist lawmakers opposed the measure, saying it could be worse than Proclamation 1017, which was used by the government to declare a state of emergency and to arrest suspected communists last February.
If enacted, the measure would allow detention of suspected terrorists for not more than three days, and proscription of suspected terrorist organizations.
Under the proposed law, the following can be considered as “acts of terrorism”: threatening or causing death or serious bodily harm to a person or persons; threatening or causing serious risk to health or safety of the public or any segment of the public; threatening or causing substantial damage or wanton destruction or resorting to arson against critical infrastructure or property, public or private; causing serious or unlawful interference with or serious unlawful disruption of an essential service, facility or system, whether public or private; hijacking or threatening to hijack any kind of craft; kidnapping or serious illegal detention of any civilian; killing or violently attacking an internationally protected person; attacking or threatening to attack cyberspace; willfully destroying natural resources in land, water, and air; unlawfully manufacturing, processing, selling, acquiring, processing, using, diverting, supplying or transporting chemical, biological, radiological or nuclear agents; and unlawfully manufacturing, selling, acquiring, supplying, disposing of, using or processing explosives, bombs, grenades, projectiles, devices or other lethal weapons.
Deputy Majority Leader Rep. Edcel Lagman of Albay said the bill provides adequate protection of civil liberties.
Amendments to the original bill removed the death penalty and ensured that demonstrations, rallies and marches would be presumed to be valid exercises of the freedom of assembly and expression.
The appropriations bill, meanwhile, provides for a P1.04 trillion budget for 2006.
House Speaker Jose De Venecia has directed the House secretary-general to “personally deliver the 1,057-page GAA (general appropriations act)” to the Senate yesterday morning. The final vote on the budget was 145-16 recorded at 10 p.m. Tuesday.
“We expect this new budget, when ultimately signed into law by the President, to pump prime the economy and help defeat poverty in the country, create millions of new jobs, build more classrooms and school buildings, hospital and health services, irrigation systems, roads and bridges to facilitate efficient transport system through the country and increase social services for the people,” De Venecia said.
The Department of Education got the lion’s share with P119.1 billion, followed by the Department of Public Works and Highways with P62.3 billion. The Department of National Defense and the Department of Interior and Local Government were allotted P46.6 billion and P45.6 billion, respectively.
House Bill 219, authored by Muntinlupa City Rep. Tuffy Biazon, Parañaque Rep. Roilo Golez and Ilocos Norte Rep. Imee Marcos gives the Armed Forces chief a continuous term in office for three years.
“This will avoid the revolving door policy on the appointment of AFP chief. This would spare the institution from being politicized,” said House Majority Leader Prospero Nograles.
The bill also gives major service commanders a fixed term of two years, which will start on the day they are appointed by the President.
The chief of staff’s term can be extended in times of war or national emergencies as declared by Congress. With Macon Ramos Araneta and Joyce Pangco Pañares
Congress approves antiterror, budget bills
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