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‘Activism is not terrorism’

“Activism is not terrorism.

We cannot let this to happen. This is not only intolerable, this is inhuman, unjust, unlawful. Thus we urge everyone to register opposition against the bill which to our firm belief will further re-enforce tyranny and totalitarianism.”

Bishop Jose Colin Bagaforo
Diocese of Kidapawan
National Director, Caritas Philippines

Jo Maline Mamangun

Anne Curtis: #JunkTerrorBill

“After reading the bill, from my understanding, it’s quite broad and vague, leaving room for different interpretations which could potentially take away each person’s basic rights of freedom of speech and acts of even peaceful protests. That is my understanding of it. I ask you to read the bill yourself. Take your stand and use your voice to express how you feel. #JunkTerrorBill”

Anne Curtis
Actor

Jo Maline Mamangun

Miss Universe 2015: #JunkTerrorBill

“I’ve been overwhelmed with emotion lately and I’ve been struggling to put it into words. I may not always have the right words to say but I can’t deny how this makes me feel. One thing I know for sure is I want to keep learning. I want to keep growing. And I want to see and be part of a change. Stop hate, injustice and racism. #JunkTerrorBill”

Pia Wurtzbach
Miss Universe 2015

Jo Maline Mamangun

Miss Universe 2018: #JunkTerrorBill

“There is so much happening in the world and in our nation right now. I know a lot of us want to just tune out because it all gets a bit overwhelming. But please, don’t allow that to be the reason we revert to silence and turn a blind eye. We need to stay engaged because this is where our voices count. So let’s help each other by creating spaces that help us keep each other informed and help us understand what’s going on.

I’ve taken the time to research and digest information and come to my own conclusions. And I implore you all to do the same. I’m not here to influence you to think a certain way, but I hope I can influence you to think for yourself. #JunkTerrorBill”

Catriona Gray
Miss Universe 2018

Jo Maline Mamangun

Tinututulan namin ang Panukalang Batas sa Terorismo

Bakit kaya laging naiisip ng mga opisyales ng ating pamahalaan na ang batas at kaayusan, kapayapaan at seguridad ay napapagtanto lang pag natatamaan ang ating mga karapatan?

Kami, mga mamamahayag, samahan ng mga midya, mga grupo ng lipunang sibil (CSOs), akademya at iba pang nababahalang indibidwal ay talagang tinututulan ang panukalang batas laban sa teror na mabilisang isinagawa ng Kapulungan ng mga Kinatawan sa pamamagitan ng malawakang pagpapatibay sa Panukalang Batas ng Senado Blg. 1083, upang maisagawa na ng kumperensya ng komiteng bicameral at agarang maipasa ito’t maisabatas.

Isang bagay lang ang dapat maging malinaw: Laban kami sa terorismo.

Gayunman, kasingsama man ng Human Security Act of 2007 ang panukalang batas na ito, magiging mas masahol pa ito kung maisasabatas, kaya’t mas angkop pang tawagin itong Panukalang Teror o Terror Bill.

Hindi lamang lilikhain ng panukalang batas na ito ang isang “Konseho Laban sa Pananakot o Anti-Terror Council” na may kapangyarihang magtalaga, sa “maaaring dahilan” lang, sa mga tao o sinupaman bilang mga terorista o grupo ng mga terorista, pinapayagan din nito ang Anti-Money Laundering Council, na kasapi ng ATC, na pigilin ang mga ari-arian ng mga taong ito o grupo, lahat nang walang binibigay na pagkakataon sa kanila upang ipagtanggol ang sarili at ipagkaila ang anumang impormasyon laban sa kanila.

Mas masama pa, pinapayagan ng panukalang batas ang ATC na magkaroon ng kapangyarihang ikulong nang walang hudisyal na mandamyento de aresto ang mga suspek ng hanggang 14 na araw ng kalendaryo, na maaaring pahabain pa ng 10 araw.

Ang mga ito’y maliwanag na paglabag sa iginagarantiya ng Saligang Batas sa nararapat na proseso at naglalaman ng pangungubabaw sa kapangyarihang panghukuman.

Mas matindi pa, palalalain pa ng panukalang batas na ito ang impunidad kung saan karamihan sa ating mga batas at karapatan ay nilalabag na ng mismong mga sumumpang poprotektahan at itataguyod ang mga ito sa pamamagitan ng pagtatanggal ng mga mahihigpit na parusang inilaan upang mahadlangan ang anumang pang-aabuso sa pinakadambuhalang hakbang ng panukalang batas na ito, ang ekstra hudisyal na paghuli at pagkulong sa mga suspek.

Isinasapanganib din ng malubha ng nasabing panukalang batas ang mga prinsipyo ng kalayaan ng pamahayagan at pagpapahayag sa Seksyon 9 na tumutukoy sa krimen ng “pang-uudyok sa terorismo,” na maaaring maisagawa “sa pamamagitan ng mga talumpati, proklamasyon, sulatin, sagisag, balatengga o iba pang mga representasyong tulad niyon” at mapaparusahan ng 12 taon sa kulungan.

Gayunman, ang probisyong ito’y madali pang lagyan ng anumang malawak na aplikasyon tulad nito at ginamit na ng mga nakaraang administrasyon ang mga umiiral na pagkakasalang pang-uudyok sa sedisyon at rebelyon upang durugin ang malayang pagpapahayag at takutin ang mga kritiko.

Ang epekto, ang pag-ulat ng mga tao at grupong itinuturing na terorista, o kahit na pag-uulit lang ng sinabi nila, ay maaari nang mangahulugang pang-uudyok sa terorismo.

Bagamat lahat tayo’y sumasang-ayong mahalaga ang paglaban sa terorismo at kailangan ng pakikilahok at kooperasyon ng bawat isa, pinaninindigan naming ang nasabing panukalang batas ay lantad sa pang-aabuso ng mga despotikong gobyerno upang isagawa ang terorismo laban sa mga kritiko at sa mamamayan sa pangkalahatan.

Kung pagninilayan ang isang batas na lalaban sa terorismo, pinakamahalagang dapat isaalang-alang ay ang paggalang at pagtatanggol sa karapatang pantao. #

(Salin sa Filipino mula sa orihinal na Ingles ni Greg Bituin Jr.)

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We Reject the Terror Bill

Why do our government officials always think law and order, peace and security can be realized only at the expense of our rights?

We, journalists, media organizations, civil society groups, academics and other concerned individuals unequivocally reject the anti-terror bill that the House of Representatives railroaded through the wholesale adoption of Senate Bill No. 1083, to do away with the bicameral committee conference hasten its passage and enactment into law.

Let us be clear about one thing: We are against terrorism.

However, bad as the Human Security Act of 2007 is, this bill, should it become law, would be much worse, so much that it would be more apt to call it the Terror Bill.

Not only does this proposed law grant an “Anti-Terror Council” the power to designate, on mere probable cause, persons or entities as terrorists or terrorist groups, it also allows the Anti-Money Laundering Council, an ATC member, to freeze the assets of these persons or groups, all without granting them the opportunity to defend themselves and refute any information against them.

Worse, the proposed law would also allow the ATC to authorize the detention without judicial warrant of arrest of suspects for up to 14 calendar days, extendible by another 10 days.

These clearly violate the Constitution’s guarantee to due process and constitutes a usurpation of judicial power.

Worse, this bill would worsen the impunity with which many of our laws and rights are violated by the very ones sworn to protect and uphold these by doing away with the stiff penalties intended to prevent any abuse of this legislation’s most draconian measure, the extrajudicial arrest and detention of suspects.

The bill also poses mortal danger to the principles of freedom of the press and of expression in Section 9 defining the crime of “inciting to terrorism,” which can be committed “by means of speeches, proclamations, writings, emblems, banners or other representations of the same” and is punishable by 12 years in prison.

This provision is, however, prone to broad application much like this and previous administrations have used the existing offenses of inciting to sedition and rebellion to quell free speech and intimidate critics.
In effect, reportage on persons and groups deemed terrorist, or even merely repeating what they say, could be interpreted as committing inciting to terrorism.

While we all agree that the fight against terrorism is important and needs the participation and cooperation of everyone, we maintain that the proposed law is open to abuse by despotic governments to visit terror against critics and the people in general.

If a law to fight terrorism is to be contemplated, let the respect and defense of human rights be the paramount consideration. #

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Initiated by the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines, this joint statement is being signed by thousands of individuals and organizations.

Defiance greets passage of Duterte’s Anti-Terror Bill

Progressive groups, activists, and human rights advocates held an indignation rally at the University of the Philippines and House of Representatives last Wednesday, June 4, as the Philippine Congress passed President Rodrigo Duterte-certified anti-terrorism bill.

After the government imposed a lockdown over much of the country, the protesters defiantly held one of the first rallies to denounce the bill they fear would violate the people’s civil and political rights instead of going after real terrorists.

Among the provisions of the proposed law the protesters oppose is the allowance of warrantless arrests, extended imprisonment without charges and a vague definition of terrorism that may lead to arrests of government critics. (Video by Jek Alcaraz, Sanafe Marcelo, & Joseph Cuevas/Kodao, Music by Levy Abad)

‘It is imperative that the Anti-Terrorism Bill be fervently resisted’

“Recent events have shown that the greater threat comes from a government ignorant, even outright dismissive, of the constitutional limits of its own authority and the importance and value of the rights and liberties of its people.

It is, therefore, imperative that attempts to pass the Anti-Terrorism Bill be fervently resisted, not only to protect those voices critical of the government, but also to protect everyone else who wishes to speak freely about matters of public interests and concern, without censorship or fear of punishment, without someone looking over our shoulder or stalking us, mostly without our knowing it.”

Atty. Ephraim B. Cortez
Secretary General,
National Union of Peoples’ Lawyers

Carlo Francisco

Gutierrez: #JunkTerrorBill

“I asked in a poll yesterday if you’ve heard of the Anti-terrorism Bill in the Philippines and about half haven’t. So as a small community here, I would love to share with you what I’ve gathered from other sources. We can help each other understand the things going on around us and look out for each other and our future in the process. #JunkTerrorBill”

Jo Maline Mamangun