On 25 June 2020, LGU Casiguran passed a resolution through its Municipal Peace and Order Council (MPOC), Municipal Anti Drug Abuse Council (MADAC) and Municipal Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (MTF-ELCAC) in support to a strengthened Anti-Terror Bill with emphasis on its proper enforcement observing and respecting basic human rights and democratic institutions.
Concerns and even fear from various groups and some citizens resulted from the issuance of certification of urgency from President Rodrigo Roa Duterte that Anti-Terror Bill to be passed by the Congress and Senate. Many Filipinos expressed their sentiments that the law is oppressive and that it may be abused by the government. More so, many are anxious that freedom of expression will no more exist.
During the recently concluded Joint MPOC-MADAC-MTF ELCAC meeting, one of the main agenda was the discussion on the proposed Anti-Terror Bill.
MLGOO Jesus L. Vizconde, Jr. presented the salient features of the bill for the information of the members of the body. 1Lt Bobby A. Ferrer shared his insights on the pros and cons of the bill and even said, “Kami pong mga sundalo, ganun din ang mga kapulisan, ay ayaw din po ng armadong laban. Mas gusto din po naming walang namamatay dahil sa labang ito. At tulad po ninyo, hangad din po naming ang pag-unlad ng bawat bayan na payapa at maunlad.”
It was highlighted that progress and development is conjoined with peace and security. In response to the violent actions of terrorist entities the state thru the passage of an anti-terror bill intends to strengthen its laws to deal with this entities taking into consideration in its drafting the anti-terror laws of other countries with long established democratic institutions.
The resolution was moved by PCapt Ricky J Rabor, duly seconded by PMaj Bayani A Balbuena, and was unanimously approved by the body.
