Enrile sees compromise on anti-terror bill

The Senate may agree after all on a compromise to settle the contentious issues in the proposed anti-terrorism bill.

Sen. Juan Ponce Enrile, principal sponsor of Senate Bill 2137 or the proposed Anti-Terror Act, is optimistic that opposition and administration lawmakers will be able to reach a consensus on the controversial provisions of the bill, including the reduction of the 15-day warrantless detention period.

Sen. Franklin Drilon has introduced on Tuesday major amendments that would provide adequate safeguards against possible abuses by law enforcement and security officers.

Enrile agreed to adopt Drilon’s more than 30 minor and major amendments to address fears expressed by local and international civil rights groups that the bill could be exploited by abusive law enforcers and trigger more human rights violations in the country.

Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel Jr. and Sen. Manuel Roxas II participated in the deliberations.

Drilon expressed confidence that the Senate would be able to pass its version of the anti-terrorism bill before the Christmas break.

The House of Representatives approved its version of the anti-terror bill in December last year.

Among the major changes introduced by Drilon, chairman of the public order and illegal drugs and finance committees, were provisions on imposing administrative and criminal sanctions against law enforcers who would abuse the anti-terror law and conduct illegal arrest, arbitrary detention, illegal seizures and unlawful surveillance activities.