Published February 5, 2021, 10:49 PM
The issues surrounding the controversial Anti-Terror Law of 2020 were brought to the fore once again as the Supreme Court (SC) on Tuesday started hearing oral arguments concerning it. One of the main concerns was the reported vagueness of the law, which gives authorities a wider scope on how to interpret it.
Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra (TOTO LOZANO/PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO /MANILA BULLETIN)
But for Department of Justice (DOJ) Secretary Menardo I. Guevarra, the issue of vagueness concerning the law has already been resolved.
“Ambiguity in the law itself… [has been] given remedy by the implementing rules and regulations (IRR) that was crafted by inter-agency group led by the DOJ,” he said during the Laging Handa public briefing on Friday.
New AFP chief vows to go after real threat, avoid collateral damage
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Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 4) Lt. Gen. Cirilito Sobejana is aiming at destroying local terrorist groups in his six-month stint as Armed Forces of the Philippines chief, promising to “go fast” while being mindful to avoid missteps.
“My focus now is going after the real threat – the communist terrorist group as well as the local terrorist groups,” Sobejana said in an interview with CNN Philippines.
He mentioned the Communist Party of the Philippines and its armed wing New People’s Army, which the executive department recently designated as terrorist organizations, as well as Islamic militant groups Abu Sayyaf, Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters, Dawlah Islamiyah-inspired groups, Maute, and remnants of the Ansar Al-Khilafa Philippines.
UP, DND hold dialogue on abrogation of 1989 accord
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Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 4) Key officials of the University of the Philippines and the Defense Department met on Thursday to discuss issues surrounding the controversial termination of their 1989 accord.
This was confirmed by the Commission on Higher Education, which facilitated the meeting between UP President Danilo Concepcion and Defense chief Delfin Lorenzana.
In a statement, CHED chairman Prospero De Vera III thanked Lorenzana and Concepcion for their “openness to talk to each other” and for raising their concerns over the issue.
“I am happy to bring together UP and DND so that both sides can have an open and frank exchange of views over a wide range of issues related to the accord,” De Vera said.
Published February 4, 2021, 12:03 PM
Opposition Senator Leila de Lima has filed a bill seeking to uphold academic freedom in the University of the Philippines (UP) and provide the institution the “democratic space” to ensure that exchanges and expression of ideas within its premises are free from intimidation from state forces.
Senator Leila de Lima (MANILA BULLETIN FILE PHOTO)
“While it is important to protect our national security, it is likewise important to afford our academic institutions the democratic space conducive to free exchange of ideas and critical thinking, which leads to more effective participation in the national conversation,” De Lima said in filing Senate Bill No. 2035.
CALOOCAN CITY, Feb. 4 (PIA) The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) said it intends to raise the matter of alleged continued “clandestine recruitment” by the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) and its front organizations of University of the Philippines (UP) students in a meeting this week.
“Upon the request of UP, we are open to a meeting. Kailangan na talaga nating umupo at mag-usap dahil sa dami ng mga pagbabago, pangyayari at problema sa UP,” said DILG Undersecretary and Spokesperson Jonathan Malaya.
The DILG is set to meet with UP officials this week to review their 1992 agreement, plus a host of other peace and order concerns.