R.A No. 9372 or the Human Security Act is supposedly designed to protect the citizens of the Philippines form security threats like terrorism and rebellion. The HSA would allow the authoritities; police and military to conduct surveillance, intercept communication and allow warrant-less arrests, these are just some of the provisions of the HSA. However, this early the opposition against HSA is already growing. Various sectors are apprehensive about the legislation and are calling for the immediate repeal of the HSA. Militant and religious groups are claiming that the HSA could result in the violation of the people's right.
President Arroyo's camp however said that the HSA is designed to capture and punish members of alleged terrorist groups like the Jemaah Islamiyah and Abu Sayyaf; neutralize and contain the threat of terrorism in the country. Yet, despite the assurance people are still skeptic about the effect of the legislation especially on those who are critical of the administration.
R.A no. 9372 could ultimately bite Pres. Arroyo in the ass, the mounting opposition against the HSA could turn into a full-blown crisis for the administration. This is quite possible since the administration is also trying to fend off accusations that it is behind the numerous political killings all over the country. With this new HSA, Ms.Arroyo's administration may have inadvertently stirred a bee's nest. I think that enacting the HSA is not the most intelligent and timely thing that the administration could do.
If Ms. Arroyo wants to stay in power, maybe she should rethink the HSA and start thinking of other means to combat terrorism that will not attract much flak from different sectors. Well, if she really would stand by the HSA then she should prepare herself from the impending poitical crisis that is almost surely to happen..I dont think that Ms. Aroyo is willing to face the very forces that shoved her into power the first time...no one is safe from the Human Security Act... not even the president...
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Yes, the political killings in the Philippines have created a very bad image of the country as well as further demoralized its people.
This HSA is not dissimilar to the Marcos's, Aquino's, Ramos's, and Estrada's strategies of "killing off the enemy" - the CPP-NPA. Only this time, with "terrorism" as the "in-word" among peace advocates, the present administration's moves and actions acquire a "justifying" stance/appearance.
...By the way, Miko, there's only one post (of supposedly 8) that I'm reading from your site (coverage: 2nd installment of blogs). Why so?
That's sad.
Except for Marcos, I believe that the presidents that preceded Arroyo made a better effort in hiding their "killing off the enemy" tactics...they did not draw this much flak from the LEft...unlike Ms. Arroyo...I wonder why is this so...
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