Philippine congress committee okays anti-terror law

MANILA, Feb 8 (Reuters) A joint committee of the Philippine Congress adopted a watered down anti-terrorism law today that provides for detention of suspects without charge, and prescribes up to 40 years imprisonment for anyone convicted.

President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo said she was waiting ''pen in hand, at my desk'' to sign the Human Security Act, which has been languishing in Congress for years.

The Philippines, fighting Muslim insurgents with ties to regional terror network Jemaah Islamiah, has been criticised by its closest security ally, the United States, for having insufficient laws to eal with terrorism suspects.

Under the new law, authorities can hold anyone without charge for three days, instead of 15 as proposed earlier.

The Senate which approved the modified law yesterday also prescribed that the law could not be applied two months before and one month after elections.

The Senate said anyone who was wrongfully detained as a terrorism suspect would have to be paid 500,000 pesos per day spent in custody as compensation.

Left-wing groups have said the law could be used by the government to intimidate political opponents.

A joint committee of the Senate and the House of Representatives adopted the law today. The move came just before both legislatures adjourned ahead of congressional elections in May.

''Now that we have more legal teeth in this fight, we shall continue to sharpen the intelligence and operational capabilities of the armed forces and the police, modernise and further professionalise them,'' Arroyo said in a statement.

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