"To seek truth and call for change
is not terrorism!"
By Kat Ulrike
At first, this note strongly opposes the proposed Antiterrorism act of 2020 that was recently approvrd by the allies of the Duterte administration in congress on its third and final reading.
Just like its counterpart in the Senate which was passed last February, this proposed law is all but made in a time focused on coping this COVID19 pandemic. To think that these lawmakers seemed having the "concern" in fighting against terrorism, this present setting is supposed to be focused on fighting this unseen enemh such as this COVID19 virus and to help the people using every attention, effort, and resource especially as the health system trying to struggle beyond their limits. It is also supposed to be the time for mutual aid as millions of folks lost their jobs, closed businesses, and are hungry for financial assistance as promised by the government. With these realities somehow legislators are supposed to address these than focusing on a bill that's in fact further consolidates interests all in the name of "peace and order" even it impairs constitutional rights.
It is unsurprising for the fact that with the regime hungry for power and facing a greater opposition from the concerned folks and masses alike, this kind of act doesn't just reinforces the existing laws concerning "human security", but may also to pave way to other similar laws whose intent is to push through an orderist agenda that disregards civil rights and liberties, as it brands those who oppose theirs, especially those who voice their legitimate grievances as "terrorists" and therefore subjected to the consequences according to law. Worse, this also to further justify extrajudicial acts as a necessary procedure by the state as what happened before and in this recent "anti-illegal drug operations ". This not just affects the suffering poor, but also those whose concern for the country has made them to seek truth from facts that made them expose and oppose the inconveniences and injustice the system has brought to the folk, be it corruption to those of selling national patrimony.
As of this day apologists would time and again insist the act as "necessary" regardless of its controversial nature. They doesn't matter much about its implications, as the act's very nature gives the folk anxiety and fear from its provisions written being crouched in language that's sweeping, equivocal and thus subjected to misinterpretation and abuse.
From the creation of an "Anti-Terrorism Council with powers to impose arrests, to those of vague definition of the word "terrorist", these and more weakening right to protect one's privacy, the right to due process, fair trial, and safeguards against arrests and detention without warrants. Again, it is unsurprising that even in this pandemic crisis the order, despite making a measure to protect the people, can also be the same law to oppress.
But this proposed act, if implemented as a law, would rather benefit those who profit from exploiting the folk, from the very order itself where scruplous big institutions, corporations afraid of an ever rising people all pushing for better wages, benefits, and better working conditions; of bureaucrats trying to push their agendas at the expense if the laboring folk; and despotic landlords who consistently opposed to land reform and empowerment of rural communities. Those who rallied on the proposed act and its provisions, all in the name of "peace and order" are at first, against to social justice, wealth redistribution, and other genuine but greater economic reforms, they are the ones who will benefit from the Antiterrorism act. What more that as they themselves ever consistent in their repression and injustice, that through and with the state as their extension of their power, hence, they themselves are the terrorists than those who complained if not resisted against their want.
Today, the people are becoming aware of the moves brought by the order through the present administration. They, despite he risks, are trying their best in seeking truth from facts so as to make people aware that the nation still remains vigilant not just in this time of pandemic crisis, but also against those who push forward a repressive, despotic agenda.
And if this seeking truth from facts and pushing forward social change as an act of terrorism, then so be it.