GOV'T AGENCIES HEED GLORIA'S MARCHING ORDERS

THE Department of Justice (DOJ) and three other government agencies
yesterday identified kidnapping, smuggling and drug trafficking as "priority
crimes" and agreed to reduce their prosecution period to just one year,
Justice Undersecretary Manuel Teehankee announced yesterday.

In the House of Representatives, administration lawmakers moved to
strengthen President Macapagal-Arroyo's call for a renewed and determined
campaign against criminality and terrorism.

The House leadership said they would give top priority to its version of the
anti-terrorism bill while two congressmen filed a measure that would
classify smuggling as "economic sabotage" which would carry the maximum
penalty of life imprisonment.

Meanwhile, Teehankee said the DOJ, National Bureau of Investigation (NBI),
Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Bureau of Customs (BOC) agreed to
lessen the prosecution period of priority crimes following the President's
call for an all-out war against criminality and terrorism in her State of
the Nation Address (SONA) to Congress on Monday.

As priority crimes, he explained, they agreed to reduce the prosecution
period thus: Limit to 30 days the preliminary investigation, charge the
suspects in court within 48 hours and have the case tried and promulgated in
one year or less.

"This is in response to the President's call to wage war against criminals
and terrorists by seeking to lessen the prosecution period," he said.

Usually, Teehankee noted, such cases would drag on for years as he urged
Congress approval of the anti-terrorism bill which contains provisions "that
would help us prosecute them swiftly."

In Congress, Ilocos Norte Rep. Imee Marcos said their version of the
anti-terrorism bill is now being refined by a technical working group in the
House committee on justice.

Marcos assured the technical committee needs only two to three more meetings
to report out the measure for plenary debates.

The bill precisely aims to arm the country's law enforcement agencies with
tools and training to counter terrorism, which includes amendments to
certain laws that would make it difficult for terrorists to operate here,
she said.

"While there is no sure way to prevent determined terrorists from attacking
a country, the government can only take steps to make it harder for them to
undertake such attacks and to limit potential damages," Marcos added.

Justice committee chair Rep. Marcelino Libanan (Eastern Samar), while
assuring that the bill was good as approved, also cited the need to be
careful, particularly on the human rights repercussions.

Bulacan Rep. Willie Villarama and Surigao del Sur Rep. Prospero Pichay also
filed a separate bill that would classify smuggling as "economic sabotage."

"Smuggling must now be considered as a form of economic sabotage because of
its effects on the economy," Villarama said.

He noted that smuggling occurs in all fronts, ranging from the importation
of luxury cars, rice, canned goods and clothing to drugs.

The bill, which would impose life imprisonment as maximum penalty, is to be
tackled by the House committees on justice and trade.