Gaa to defend delay in RP terror bill before US

Ambassador to Washington D.C. Willy Gaa said on Wednesday he is ready to defend the country’s failure to pass the long overdue anti-terrorism bill if the United States asks about the proposed legislation.

Gaa told the Manila Overseas Press Club (MOPC) forum at the Hotel Intercontinental in Makati City that the Philippines’ failure to finally pass an anti-terrorism law is expected to be raised if he meets with US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.

"That is a tough question," Gaa said. "It is still up there in Congress and it is an act that has to be passed by another branch of government. Each branch is independent, but there is no lack of effort on the executive part to have it passed."

While the bill has been pending for almost four years, Gaa said the delay in passing the bill is the responsibility of the legislature: "As I said, we have this other branch of government delaying the passage of this bill. We have to make measures that would ensure the security of the country while trying to convince Congress to have it passed."

President Arroyo and Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto Romulo assured Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Eric John at a separate meeting during the US official’s visit to Manila last November that the anti-terrorism bill would be passed by Congress before yearend.

National Security Adviser Norberto Gonzales had asked Congress to pass the Anti-Terrorism Act to bolster the government’s fight against terrorism.

Some terrorist-related offenses, like the illegal possession of explosives, are bailable, he said. Stiffer punishments for such offenses can be imposed if an anti-terrorism law is passed.

Gonzales raised serious concern over the failure of Congress to pass the anti-terrorism bill that makes the arrest and filing of criminal charges against suspected terrorists very difficult for authorities despite the evidence seized from those arrested.