Capiz top cops get orientation on anti-terror
Roxas City -- The Capiz Police Provincial Office (CPPO) has already explained the salient provisions of the Republic Act 9372 or the Human Security Act (HSA) of 2007 to all its city and municipal police chiefs and other police officers.
"My instruction now for the various Chiefs of Police is coordination with local government officials to eventually explain the anti-terror law to the people," said Capiz Police Director Police Senior Supt. Roberto Villanueva.
Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Oscar Calderon has called on for public information dissemination and discussion of the new law within the PNP organization to preempt abuse and ensure proper implementation of HSA during his recent visit to the region.
"Let us implement the law because it is a law," said S/Supt. Villanueva reechoing General Calderon's message at Police Regional Office (PRO) -- 6 in Camp Martin Delgado in Iloilo City.
The HSA has enough built-in safeguards against violations of human rights such as warrantless arrests, eavesdropping and wiretapping, illegal sequestration of properties and tracing of assets.
The law prescribes specific rules on the conduct on its enforcement. Law enforcement agents must first secure a permit from the "assigned and designated" Court of Appeals officer, as well as an authorization by the Anti-Terrorism Council (ATC) before they conduct surveillance on a suspected terrorist or terrorists, said a Malacañang statement.
In a statement, Press Secretary and Presidential Spokesman Ignacio R. Bunye said that tourism and commerce are expected to surge once peace and prosperity in the countryside is restored with the implementation of the anti-terror law.
(PIA/A.Lumaque)