Makabayan bloc eyes repeal of anti-terror law

FILE PHOTO Protestors gather at the Resist Terror Law rally on Tuesday, July 7, 2020, which coincided with the 128th anniversary of the Katipunan, at the University of the Philippines in Diliman, Quezon City. INQUIRER PHOTO / GRIG C. MONTEGRANDE

MANILA, Philippines — The Makabayan bloc has filed a bill seeking the repeal of the anti-terror law, saying its broad definition could lead to abuse and misuse of power on citizens and the media.

Kabataan Rep. Raoul Manuel, Gabriela Rep. Arlene Brosas, and ACT Teachers Rep. France Castro said that the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020 or the Republic Act 11479 contradicts the human rights treaties and agreements entered into by the country.

“Two years into the Terror Law’s enactment since July 3, 2020, Kabataan views mounting cases of state agents weaponizing the law to threaten and imprison innocent civilians on top of producing dubious terror-tagging proscription lists as vindication of initial fears of petitioners and many Filipino citizens. Congress should take action immediately,” Kabataan said in a Facebook post on Sunday.

The opposition lawmakers also claimed that the measure authorizes state authorities to punish mere “intent” and not just “criminal act,” or acting on mere suspicion in criminalizing dissent.

Under the bill, the Anti-Terrorism Council’s power to designate a person or a group as a terrorist can result in “terrorist tagging” and arbitrary detention, citing the deaths of activists Zara Alvarez and Randy Echanis who were tagged as terrorists.

It also said that the law poses a “chilling effect” to media and civil groups, which act as instruments that keep the government in check-in times of “abuse of power.”

“After the Supreme Court has already declared parts of the Anti-Terror Law unconstitutional due to being overbroad and violative of the freedom of expression, it is high time for Congress to do its part to ensure that this bill will not have the capability to harm any other person in this country,” the explanatory note reads.

READ: It’s final: Only 2 portions of Anti-Terror Law are unconstitutional

The SC, in a resolution last April, denied with finality the bid to reverse its December 2021 ruling dismissing the more than 30 petitions against the Act.

Earlier, the National Telecommunications Commission ordered blocking websites, including those of independent media, found to be affiliated with terrorist organizations.

With the order, Department of Justice Undersecretary Adrian Sugay cited Rule 6.4 of the Anti-Terrorism Act that pertains to the authority of the Anti-Money Laundering Council to freeze the assets of individuals, groups of persons, organizations, or associations designated as terrorists. – Xander Dave Ceballos, INQUIRER.net intern

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