First district representative Edgar Chatto declares that there is a need for a more robust law to fight the terrorist threats in the country.
Chatto, together with the two (2) other solons of Bohol, voted in favor of the anti-terror bill.
The two other solons who voted in favor of the bill last Wednesday, June 3, 2020, are Representative Aristotle Aumentado and Representative Alexie Tutor of the 2nd and 3rd districts, respectively.
In an interview over “Newsmakers ug Uban Pa” radio program today, Tuesday, June 9, 2020, Chatto revealed that the new anti-terror bill is meant to amend the Human Security Act of 2007.
He said that the old law is found to be insufficient in the fight against terrorism and as years went by, Chatto added, terrorism became more “sophisticated”. Thus, he said, there is a need to amend the law to be attuned to the needs of the present times. “Ang terrorismo lahi man gyud ang iyang nature; ang safety and security sa atong katawhan mao gyud ang atong major concern,” Chatto said in the radio interview.
The first district solon also said in the same forum that the law should be robust enough to fight the threats of terrorism in the country.
Moreover, Chatto said that the old law, the Human Security Act, placed a lot of restrictions on law enforcers in pursuing terrorists. The new measure, Chatto continued, provides a strong legal backbone to prosecute, prevent, and repel terrorists from initiating their evil schemes.
Chatto bared, too, during the interview that the new bill that will be signed into law soon by President Duterte, has been a subject of criticisms. Critics say the bill uses a broad definition of the word “terrorism” and may lead to the arrest of suspects without a warrant and will subject the suspect to two (2) weeks of detention even in the absence of charges being filed in court.
The program anchorperson, Ardy Araneta-Batoy (managing editor of The Bohol Tribune) asked the comment of Chatto regarding the special body composed mainly of cabinet officials, appointed by the president, who would provide the authority to enforce the law. Chatto answered by saying that he is not surprised that there are sectors that are opposed to the soon-to-be-law.
The first district solon admitted that he voted in favor of the bill. Prior to the voting, he solicited the opinion of local officials, and legal minds in Bohol, who worked with him during the Abu Sayyaf incursion. He asked these people about their opinion about the bill in relation to their experience during the Abu Sayyaf incident in Bohol. In other words, Chatto gave his affirmative vote to the anti-terror bill based, for one, on the experience of Bohol during the Abu Sayyaf incursion.
To remember, a band of 11 Abu Sayyaf bandits back in 2017, entered Bohol with the intent to sow terror.
Chatto was the governor of Bohol at that time. He said that the Human Security Act, at that time, made it difficult for them to prosecute the suspected terrorists during the incursion of the Abu Sayyaf bandits here.