The group asserted that the Anti-Terrorism Act, unless struck down by the high court, will be used to crack down on dissent and limit academic freedom in the country’s colleges and universities.
Teddy Casiño of Bayan said the Duterte administration is the “number one human rights violator.”
“With the worsening crisis brought about by the pandemic and the Duterte government’s negligence following the calamities and the weak COVID-19 response, there is no questioning the legitimacy of the workers’ and the people’s protest.”
This is not the first time that a national minority was charged with terrorism.
“The issuance of the IRR has set the stage for the unimpeded implementation of the assailed law; the targeting of activists and critics of the government; the suppression of dissent; and the curtailment of civil and political rights, all in the altar of national security,” the motion read.
With the release of implementing rules and regulations, experts and concerned citizens see the potential of the law of being abused and used against those who simply want to express their opinion on issues affecting the country.
The Anti-Terrorism Act violates international standards on human rights and countering-terrorism with its vague and overboard definitions of “terrorism” as well as the excessive powers it grants to the Executive branch of the government.
“The terror law is added ammunition to the existing arsenal of repressive laws against the Indigenous and Moro people. This is a mockery to the exercise of our fundamental rights”
By DEE AYROSO
With the Terror Law in effect, Sr. Mary John Mananzan of Movement Against Tyranny assures us that it is okay to be afraid but invites us to act for the good of humanity inspite fear. Hosted by JANESS ANN ELLAO Edited by AARON MACARAEG
In their petition, church leaders assailed that the vagueness of the Republic Act No. 11479 or the Anti-Terror Act of 2020 will expose them to “credible threat of prosecution” for their ministries and advocacies.