JOSE ANGELO L.

TAYO-ONG

1ST YEAR COLLEGE

My stand about the anti-terrorism Issue in the Philippines

Terrorism is commonly understood to refer to acts of violence against individuals

committed in the pursuit of political or ideological purposes. While the international

community has yet to develop a comprehensive definition of terrorism, current

declarations, resolutions, and universal "sectoral" treaties related to certain parts of it

specify such acts and crucial components. "In 1994, the General Assembly declared in

its resolution 49/60 that terrorism includes "violent actions intended or determined for the

purpose of causing terror to the general public, to a group of persons, or to specific

persons for political purposes," and that such acts "are unjustifiable in all situations,

irresponsible in all circumstances."

The Duterte government's Anti-Terror Law of 2020, or RA 11479, went into effect at

midnight on July 18th. Under this ostensibly national security law, Duterte would establish

an Anti-Terrorism Committee that would make warrantless arrests, freeze suspects'

assets, and monitor suspects. Furthermore, due to the legislation's unclear definition of

"terrorism," the council will have the right to judge who is a terrorist. Because of the law's

broad breadth, Filipinos can conceivably use it anywhere in the world.

Via this statute, Duterte's authority is bolstered by this act, which absorbs the

responsibilities assigned to the judicial and legislative branches of government. On social

media, charges of sedition are being brought against ordinary people who oppose the
Duterte administration. Duterte has stated that law-abiding citizens should not be

concerned if they are not jihadists, but Duterte's political apparatus has enhanced its vigor

by raising what the state regards as "terror" via caustic targeting of opponents online.

The Commission on Human Rights has expressed concern about the challenges of

monitoring the Philippines' ongoing extrajudicial executions, particularly when dealing

with the epidemic in a militaristic approach. There were 107 concerns regarding arrests

and prison earlier this month, and 55 regarding extrajudicial deaths. Authorities will also

conduct house-to-house screenings for anyone who show signs of COVID-19, and those

who are found to have the virus will be moved to government-run isolation centers.

Government authorities cited Philippine legislation, alleging that people who do not

comply can be fined or imprisoned. Filipinos seeking refuge from the pandemic in their

own homes are terrified by the state's euphemistically named "Oplan Kalinga," which

translates to "treatment plan."

Bullying has spread to a larger scale, with the government targeting newspapers. The

Manila Regional Trial Court recently declared journalist Maria Ressa guilty of cyber-libel,

in what opponents said was a politically biased verdict. On July 10, 70 members of the

Philippine Congress voted "no" to ABS-bid CBN's to renew its media franchise,

underscoring the Duterte regime's growing power. Our seniors recollect the closure of

ABS-CBN under Marcos' dictatorship. Because of the evidence of official collusion, media

surveillance is far more extensive this time. Since then, the Philippines has ranked as the

world's fifth most dangerous country for journalists. The future is not looking bright in a

situation that mixes impunity with complicity.

We have seen the targeting of those who stand up for civil liberties and human rights

throughout Duterte's presidency, especially in the last few months. The recent arrests of

activists, including those who took part in the Global Pride March, and Senator Bong Go's

deployment of the National Bureau of Investigation to investigate the Senator's social

media criticisms are concerning indicators that point to possible violations of the Anti-

Terrorism Legislation. The actions of the Duterte administration have demonstrated that

if you support a free press, criticize the government in any form, or defend the human

rights of others, you are considered as a regime opponent.

To sum up, such measures threaten Filipinos and strive to silence them into submission,

to speak specifically to those of us who may have citizenship outside of the Philippines.

If we are in a position to do so, now is the time to be vocal about our opposition to these

assaults on freedom and civil rights. Our outspoken resistance will only help to accentuate

and encourage their sacrifices. We'll do it by organizing in our communities and taking

risks to speak up and educate ourselves and one another. As citizens of our country, we

must fight for our independence and promote peace around the world.