7 July 2020
Various leaders of civil society organizations, faith-based institutions, and humanitarian and development networks read their statement calling to junk the newly enacted Anti-Terror Law or Republic Act 11479.
“Sa totoo lang, ang Anti-Terror Law ay hindi panglaban sa terorista. Ito ay pampanakot sa mga tao na nakakaranas ng kapalpakan ng pamahalaan,” The Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Manila, Bishop Broderick Pabillo said in a statement during a virtual presser church groups and CSOs on Tuesday, July 7, 2020.
The Bishop added that the law can easily be misused against groups and people who are legitimately expressing dissent and at the same time those who are indiscriminately helping vulnerable groups who are in need.
“The fear that this law is creating and the potential harm it poses on people who are helping because there have already been cases on the ground of legitimate organizations being tagged even before this law was enacted is very detrimental to the work of CSOs,” Philippine Misereor Partnership Incorporated (PMPI) legal counsel Mario Maderazo added.
The lawyer added that our laws must emphasize the primacy of our fundamental rights.
“Nanawagan na i-veto ang bill upang mas mapagusapan kasi ito ay minadaling ipasa nang walang malawakang konsultasyon sa mamamayan (we called for the bill to be vetoed but they were railroading it without wider public consultation),” the Bishop Pabillo added.
Bishop said in his statement that that we needed to address the social issues, poverty, joblessness, transportation issues, and lack of access to basic social services, which are part of the root causes of terrorism.
“The anti-terror law does not address these issues,” Bishop added.
Meanwhile a national network of faith-based organizations, the Philippine Misereor Partnership, Inc. (PMPI) questions the priority of the administration.
“On the same day that the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in the country breached the 40,000-mark, President Rodrigo Duterte signed the controversial Anti-Terror Bill into law without much regard to the clamor of people for a dialogue and to veto the bill,” Yolanda Esguerra said.
A representative from the Caucus of Development NGO Networks (CODE-NGO) expressed their networks’ support in actions to repeal this “draconian” law.
“We need concrete steps that uphold the bayanihan spirit, not a law endangers human rights and civil liberties,” Sandino Soliman of CODE-NGO said in this statement.
The Humanitarian Imperative
Meanwhile Citizen Disaster Response Center, a 35-year old humanitarian organization has also expressed that the law is not compatible with the Humanitarian Imperative.
“The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet has recently raised her concern on the R.A. 11479, stating that “the law could has a chilling effect on human rights and humanitarian work, hindering support to vulnerable and marginalized communities,” Kim Leduna, CDRC’s Executive Director said.
She added that even Section 13 of the RA 11479 gives “broad powers to the implementers of the law in selecting which groups can provide aid without incurring penal liability, and which ones will be burdened by being arbitrarily implicated or vilified or discriminated.”
“This provision goes against the humanitarian imperative and independence of aid providers. Humanitarian Imperative refers to the right to receive and offer humanitarian needs,” Leduna added.
Refer to the Philippine Constitution
The lead convener of the Disaster Risk Reduction Network-Philippines (DRRNetPhils) in a statement encouraged the policy-makers to not forget to look at Philippine Constitution as guide in crafting the laws.
“Development work is anchored on the 1987 Constitution of the Republic of the Philippines, where our rights as Filipino people are promoted and upheld to enjoy “independence and democracy under the rule of law and a regime of truth, justice, freedom, love, equality, and peace,” Ms. Loreine De La Cruz said.
De la Cruz, who is also the Executive Director of the Center for Disaster Preparedness (CDP), added that It is not uncommon that many of the DRRNetPhils member organizations duly recognized by the state experience harassment, discrimination, and red-tagging in rural areas riddled with conflict.
“What we do not need are policies and laws that will only authorize further abuses, sow fear and terror that are already realities on the ground,” she added.
Refer to the Philippine Constitution
The networks including the humanitarian, development and advocacy arm of the Catholic Church expressed support in filing petitions to question the constitutionality of the new law.
National Secretariat for Social Action (NASSA)/Caritas Philippines through Jing Henderson in a statement said that they will actively campaign to ensure that this battle goes to the top court and be repealed.
“We have received overwhelming support from our dioceses, parishes, and other religious institutions to join us in our call to protect our democracy,” Henderson said. “As part of a broader civil society movement that advocates for upholding our bill of rights contained in the fundamental law of the land, as well as laws protecting the rights of the vulnerable groups, we oppose this measure because its vagueness and over-broadness is prone to abuse and can be used to suppress dissent and our activism,” Esguerra added.
