Does the HSA penalize law enforcers and government officials who misuse the law?
A. Yes. Section 50 provides that any person accused of terrorism who is later acquitted by the court shall be entitled to the payment of P500,000 in damages for every day that he or she has been detained or deprived of liberty or arrested without a warrant as a result of such an accusation. The amount of damages shall be automatically charged against the appropriations of the police agency or the Anti-Terrorism Council that brought or sanctioned the filing of the charges against the accused. The payment of damages must be released within 15 days from the date of the acquittal. In addition, the award of damages shall be without prejudice to the filing of criminal or administrative charges against those responsible for the unproven charge.
