Pacquiao now open to revising – even abolishing – anti-terror law

Senator Manny Pacquiao. Contributed photo

MANILA, Philippines — Senator Manny Pacquiao is now open to amending – even abolishing – the Anti-Terrorism Act after voting to pass the controversial law.

Pacquiao, who is running for president in the May elections, told a forum organized by the Citizens Alliance for Peace that the law should not be abused to violate the rights of Filipinos.

“Kung ako, amyendahan itong batas na ito na hindi magamit para abusuhin ang karapatan ng bawat Pilipino. Mahirap ‘yung aalisin ‘yung karapatan ng bawat Pilipino,” he said.

(For me, we should amend the law so that it would not be used to abuse the rights of the Filipinos.)

“Tayong tao, lilimitahan ‘yung karapatan natin, abusuhin ‘yung karapatan natin mahirap ‘yun kaya sa tingin ko kung hindi maamyendahan ito, iabolish ito, basta naabuso ang mga Pilipino,” he added.

(For us humans, to limit our rights, abuse our rights is difficult that’s why I think if this law is not amended, abolish it.)

The Republic Act 11479 or Anti-Terrorism Act was signed into law on July 3, 2020, and took effect on July 18. It was the subject of 37 petitions before the Supreme Court, making it the most contentious law to date.

Petitioners argued that the Anti-Terrorism Act challenges at least 15 fundamental rights under the 1987 Constitution: 1. freedom of speech and expression; 2. freedom of religion; 3. freedom of assembly; 4. freedom of association; 5. freedom of the press; 6. the due process of law; 7. freedom from unreasonable searches and seizures; 8. right to privacy; 9. right to travel; 10. right to bail; 11. presumption of innocence; 12. freedom of information; 13. right against ex post facto laws and bills of attainder; 14. right against torture and incommunicado detention; and 15. academic freedom.

In December 2021, the Supreme Court declared two portions of the anti-terror law unconstitutional.

“’Yun pong terror law, kung naabuso po, bakit payagan natin? Amyendahan natin para ‘di maabuso. Kung naabuso ang karapatan, bakit natin papayagan?,” Pacquiao said.

(If the terror law is being abused, why should we allow it? Let’s amend it so that it would not be abused. If rights are being abused, why should we allow it?)

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