CIVIL LIBERTIES OF THE PEOPLE SHOULD NOT BE
SACRIFICED IN THE WAR VS. TERRORISM

Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Nene Q. Pimentel, Jr. (PDP-Laban) today reiterated the need to strengthen safeguards against violations of human rights as an indispensable feature of an Anti-Terrorism Act that will be acceptable to the people and their elected representatives.

The passage of the anti-terror bill is as important, if not less important than the protection of the civil liberties of our people, he said.

Pimentel stressed that the arrest of terror suspects in the United Kingdom does not erase the need for the preservation of the peoples fundamental freedoms.

Unless those freedoms are guaranteed, the danger of our losing them to government terrorists would be as great, if not worse than our losing our lives to fanatical terrorists, he said.

Pimentel also said there should be no quarrel about the enforcement of much stricter security measures at the countrys airports and seaports. But he cautioned against the tendency of security personnel to overdo it.

The important thing is that our security officials do not become paranoid in the midst of the need for security. There is room for common sense and fairness.

He said tightening of security at airports and seaports is necessary for the security of the people.

We just have to bear the additional discomfort so that we may travel in safety.