Activity 4 (1)

Submitted by:
Abel, Rejay M. (BAPS3A)
Submitted to:
Ms. Aniza Gadaza
 Greenpeace Philippines

Lea Guerrero

Introduction

History

Membership

Plans, Policy, Goals, and Strategies

Achievements

Conclusion
 Introduction
“When the last tree is cut and the last fish killed, the last river poisoned,
then you will see that you can’t eat money.” – John May

Spending my childhood interacting with the pulchritudinous nature,

appreciating its natural beauty, and waking up to the melodious symphony of
the sea waves, I've always been interested in conserving and defending the
environment. I can claim that I am fortunate enough to have caressed the
cool wind of fresh air, the peacefulness of the sea, and healthy colors found in
the environment because I live in one of the municipalities packed with an
ocean of natural resources and amazing environmental cites. This piques my
curiosity in interest groups that risk their lives for environmental issues, so I
decided to look into Greenpeace Philippines and uncover its true nature as an
earth defender.

The Philippines, a treasure and home to unique natural wonders, boast

a staggering number of islands—roughly 7641. But there are also
environmental problems including pollution. According to Geronimo (2021),
environmental risks to those who protect the environment include floods,
reclamation projects, illicit fishing, pollution, climate change, and reclamation
concerns. As a result of the rising sea levels, various environmental
organizations have emerged, fighting to defend the nation's biodiversity,
flourish to protect the environment, and work to preserve its beauty.

Join me as we examine the identity and fundamental principles of the

interest group, which are rooted to its aims of becoming the environmental
hero and heroine and its purpose, vision, and values.

GET TO KNOW GREENPEACE PHILIPPINES!

History

Greenpeace Philippines is a leading advocate for

environmental problems. One of the main objectives of
Greenpeace Philippines is to protect the natural
environments from dangers including dangerous waste
imports, coal projects, and illegal logging. This volunteer-run
organization not only advocates ecological farming but
also organizes campaigns to combat air, water, and land
pollution. To get more information, I tried reaching out to them via email and
the information provided on their website, but they didn't respond to my
questions. However, their website already provides a thorough and sufficient
way to find out more about the whereabouts of such an important
organization. They are also active participants online, engaging in a variety of
activities to advance their environmental agenda.
 One of the independent helping hands of Greenpeace International is
Greenpeace Philippines. It is an international organization that works to alter
people's attitudes and behaviors, preserve and protect the environment, and
advance peace. As for the mother group's beginnings and development, it
was in 1971 when a number of people voiced their concerns regarding
American nuclear testing off the coast of Alaska.

As part of a shared purpose to create a greener and more peaceful

planet, hundreds more others have subsequently followed the example set by
the first Greenpeace activists' bravery, dedication, and nonviolent protest.
During this year, a small group of activists sailed from Vancouver, Canada, in
an ancient fishing boat, driven by their goal of a green and peaceful future.
The founders of Greenpeace, according to these campaigners, thought a
small group of people could have a big impact. Presently, Greenpeace has 41
presences and 2.8 million supporters globally.

Following the first trip of the flagship Rainbow Warrior to the area for
the "Toxic-Free Asia Tour," and after actively working in the Philippines since
the 1990s, the international organization formally opened an office in Metro
Manila in 2000. This is the beginning of the Philippines being one of the four
regional offices of Greenpeace International. Others can be found in
Malaysia, Thailand, and Indonesia.

Environmental investigations, scientific research, reports, and lobbying

efforts paved their own paths with bold, non-violent direct actions, enabling
the campaigns to contribute to a crucial shift in the mindset of the Philippine
government and corporations as well as to some of the most amazing
victories for the overarching objective of protecting the environment. The
presence of Greenpeace has helped to protect the constitutional rights of
the Filipino people to a stable and healthy environment.

Since its inception on March 1, 2000, this interest group has continuously
worked hand in hand with the communities championing for renewable
energy, combating illegal fishing and campaigning for clean seas, supporting
and amplifying the call for climate justice by the Filipino people, as well as
calling for the elimination of toxic chemicals in the environment. The lives of
millions of Filipinos are currently being improved by Greenpeace Philippines as
the nation works to develop and flourish in the direction of a sustainable
future.

GREENPEACE PHILIPPINES
Membership

“Greenpeace is powered by people.”

This is Greenpeace's membership policy, and the organization welcomes

individuals of any age, gender, or size. They claim that because of people like
us, they are still living. They are 100% financially independent and supported
by people from many backgrounds as they advocate for a more sustainable,
peaceful, and green future. Greenpeace Philippines endorses the idea that
anyone may take up the role of a warrior and participate in environmental
initiatives driven by optimism and a will to overcome impossibilities. We can
proudly state that every day, a billion brave deeds are being performed by
connected people all over the world.

There are numerous methods one can use to participate. Earth is a

vulnerable planet that requires everyone's support to post campaigns on
social media, start your own campaign, and see if you can volunteer or get a
job in an office or on a ship by getting in touch with the Greenpeace office in
the Philippines.

Because everyone is accountable for preserving the environment,

everyone has the capacity to join. We are both the problem and the answer.
Volunteerism, willingness to participate actively in environmental advocacy,
and group activities are all necessary to protect the environment. You are the
first line of defense for the environment, after all. Simple actions like
rethinking, reusing, reducing, and recycling, as well as self-education, water
conservation, selecting sustainability, smart purchasing, solar energy use,
planting trees, and volunteer work, can help us safeguard the environment.
Greenpeace Philippines serves as a platform to remind people that we can all
make the kind of sacrifices that Earth has already made and given to us.

Everyone can attest that the environment has shown humans nothing
but compassion and care. The inhabitants in it as well as the one itself must
function. Even though it invites everyone, the group's leaders and registered
members are not as numerous as its potential members. The Philippines has
more than 112 million Filipinos, however just 0.013% of them are registered as
volunteers for an interest organization. This may be because there are other
interest groups that are also fighting for the preservation and protection of
our environment. Additionally, several of its members are experts with solid
credentials in environmental projects and actions. They are highly educated
individuals who have won multiple awards for protecting the environment.
 The actual members of Greenpeace Philippines are volunteers. These are people
who, without seeking financial compensation for their efforts, have freely and
voluntarily pledged to defend and further the campaign's principles and work in the
area. These people include activists, interns, online activists, and members of regional
groups. Volunteer opportunities are available with Greenpeace Southeast Asia, of
which the Philippines is a part, for anyone who are interested in helping in the office
and occasionally on the field. The office has a variety of volunteer options depending
on staff and resource availability. You must register and receive campaign updates,
including with information on forthcoming volunteer events, from the Greenpeace
office that is closest to you in order to participate.
About 15,000 registered volunteers from all over the nation and the world assist
the organization by painting posters, planning local marches, distributing banners, and
occupying oil rigs. One must contact the organization if they want additional
information about the volunteer program and how to get more involved. To know the
most recent volunteer updates from Greenpeace, one must register, fill out the
required information, and create an account page. Among the necessary information
are the email address, first name, and last name.

Greenpeace Southeast Asia Philippines' current Country

Director is Lea Guerrero. She is regarded as the group's leader and
spokesperson. She has established herself as a true earth warrior
before stepping foot in Greenpeace's environment. As the director
of the Asia-Pacific Climate and Clean Energy Campaign, Guerrero
oversaw the planning, execution, and coordination of the Global
Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives' climate and clean energy
campaign in the area, with a particular emphasis on stopping trash
incineration projects.
In order to ensure consistent and top-notch public profiling of the
organization and its actions across the area, she also oversaw the execution of
Greenpeace Southeast Asia's communications strategies in accordance with
approved campaign, fundraising, and organizational objectives. In relation to this, it
also cleared the way for the creation of knowledge-sharing platforms for best
practice guidelines inside the communications department's operations. In a
nutshell, she is a highly decorated environmentalist. She created the campaign
strategy for 2012 as well as the three-year plan for Greenpeace Philippines' regional
and energy campaign for the years 2012 to 2014.
She was able to coordinate the work of 11 country offices in South, East,
and Southeast Asia's communications focal points, and she led the creation and
execution of the group's digital strategies as well as the region's specific projects.
She also created and implemented IUCN Asia's social media strategy.

Typically, Greenpeace has seven members worldwide. It guarantees

adherence to internationally recognized good governance and financial
management standards and serves as the organization's integrity guarantee. They
had the responsibility for selecting and managing the executive directors, as well as
approving the budget and the audited accounts.
 The current board chair is Ayesha Imam, a consultant
and campaigner for human rights and sustainable development.
In the areas of women's rights, gender-sensitive research and
programming, democracy, sustainable development,
organizational support and training, and women's rights, she has
worked with and for a variety of organizations, including women's
rights and other Civil Society Organizations. She has also worked
for official aid and UN agencies. She is in charge of the other
members, which also include the director of land, water, and
climate justice, the CEO of Clean Technology Hub, the director of
global coal and air pollution, and the senior project officer.

There is also a group known as the Greenpeace Strategy and

Management Team, whose primary responsibilities are around operations,
planning, and achieving even greater excellence in several areas. On a wide
range of high level strategic concerns, including the strategic development of
the global network, significant program resources, international standards
and assessments, and international program coordination, they are regarded
as the advisor.

Board members are also a component of the actual membership of

the interest group, which is now chaired by Elizabeth Gilchrist (2021-2024), a civil
rights and legal services attorney who is a progressive political activist who has
spent her career working with cutting-edge NGOs. Others are Kad Smith (2021-
2024), Ellen Dorsey (2021-2024), Austin Thompson (2020-2023), and Melvin
Galloway (2022-2025). (2021-2024). The whole Greenpeace Fund, Inc. Board
Members are autonomous, voting board members. No one is allowed to hold
the position of director for more than three terms in a row or nine years in a
row. Such former service as a director shall not be taken into consideration if a
person's service as a director is terminated for a period of at least one year,
and not considered as "consecutive" service for purpose.

Despite being open to all Filipinos and others, and not placing
restrictions on who can join and support their causes, this group's actual
membership is lower than its potential membership. But let's not lose sight of
the fact that Earth is the source of all life; if we take care of it, it will continue
to support our prosperity; if not, it will bring destruction to all of us. It only
remains for you to act on what you already know to be true about right and
wrong, as well as about what is good and evil.
Plans, Policy, Goals, and Strategies
"Be part of the greenpeace community" is embodied by Greenpeace
Philippines. In light of this, the group feels that everyone should have an
opportunity to voice their opinions in the hope that they may come to an
agreement to rescue the earth. The group, which is also a non-profit, looks for
a method to reach a solution that will allow everyone to go together
collectively toward a better future. Additionally, debates and discussions are
encouraged in order to generate additional ideas because the group values
having the chance to hear fresh perspectives and creative solutions to
environmental problems as well as having more individuals participate.

Greenpeace Philippines has community standards and rules that are

in line with its basic principles and missions as a group, while having "limitless"
membership. The group requests that everyone who intends to participate in
the discussions, particularly those taking place on their website, exercise
responsibility. Particularly, it is necessary to adhere to straightforward rules.
These include:

1. Tell the truth

2. Honesty. Someone needs to be upfront about who they are and their
motivations. If you have a conflict of interest, you are paid for your
opinions, and you represent corporate or governmental interests.
3. Be civil and respectful. Everyone must adhere to the "no discrimination"
guideline, refrain from making personal attacks, using vulgar language,
making libelous claims, or inciting violence.
4. Give everyone the chance to participate
5. Stay focused on the topics; and
6. Talk, and don’t sell. Greenpeace Philippines is a secure place for discussions
about significant environmental issues; as such, one should refrain from
mass marketing and commercial activity because of their zero-tolerance
attitude for spam.
“Our planet is under threat.” Greenpeace Philippines intends to
convey this message to everyone in the nation and beyond the world. Given
this, Greenpeace Philippines continues to advocate for a world that is
peaceful and sustainable for coming generations. Greenpeace promotes
effective change for the better. They are always working to preserve the
natural world while keeping it calm. In general, the group looks into, exposes,
and challenges environmental exploitation by governments and businesses
across the nation. They support environmentally conscious and morally sound
solutions that are innovative, technical, and heartfelt.
 Greenpeace’s mission revolves around three core plans-solutions,
change, and action. Their work is mostly focused on creating a green and
tranquil planet. The major goal of the Filipino earth warriors is to create a
planet that is ecologically sound and capable of supporting life in all its
diversity. It attempts to achieve its objective of ensuring that the earth can
provide for and foster life in all spectrums. Campaigns from Greenpeace are
directed toward achieving this goal.

Their mission, values, transparency, and accountability are all

subsumed under their major core values, which are related to this.
Greenpeace wants to (Mission) protect biodiversity in all of its forms, prevent
pollution and abuse of the earth's ocean, land, air, and fresh water, end all
nuclear threats, and promote peace, global disarmament, and non-violence.
This mission is driven by the desire to ensure that the planet can sustain life in
all of its diversity. On the other hand, they are sticking with the Values such as;
(1) personal responsibility and nonviolence (based on conscience, responsible
for their deeds, accepting personal accountability, and devoted to peace.), (2)
independence (not accept funding from companies, governments, or political
parties instead relying on private donations and grants from foundations), (3)
having no permanent friends and foes (Greenpeace Philippines is willing to
collaborate with you to accomplish these goals if your government or
business is ready to do so. If not, they will return, thus the most important
thing is not words but deeds.), (4) promoting solutions (Create, investigate, and
advance practical actions that will lead to a world that is green and peaceful
for everyone).

The core mission of openness and accountability is to actively

pursue transparency and public accountability in its methods for soliciting
donations, conducting fundraising events, and managing finances. In fact,
Greenpeace Philippines is a platform for global civil society organizations and
movements called Accountable Now. They work hard to be open,
accommodating to stakeholders, and intent on making an effect. The
Accountability Commitments were also signed and accepted by Greenpeace
Philippines, which similarly aims to respect human rights, be autonomous, and
conduct its business in an ethical and professional manner. Our economic,
environmental, and social performance are publicly reported each year by
Greenpeace using the Reporting Framework they now control.

Moreover, their plans work under three main areas, sustainability,

community, and society. Under sustainability, people have a goal of changing
how they view the world and their place in it. Greenpeace believes that in
order for the oceans and forests to be protected and allowed to develop,
there needs to be a movement away from consumption and toward sharing
and cooperation. They contend that a new narrative is required, one that
prioritizes the sustainability of all life on Earth over the avarice of a select few.
As to community, they believed that the strength of many people acting
together to effect change surpasses the passivity and apathy of a small
number. Greenpeace wants to help individuals discover their actual strength
by fostering movements where they can give their finest contributions. On the
other hand, society imagines a Philippines where no one is terrified, where
every Filipino's fundamental needs are supplied, and where the government
safeguards the rights and safety of the populace rather than fostering the
greed of a select few.
 As to community, they believed that the strength of many people
acting together to effect change surpasses the passivity and apathy of a
small number. Greenpeace wants to help individuals discover their actual
strength by fostering movements where they can give their finest
contributions. On the other hand, society imagines a Philippines where no one
is terrified, where every Filipino's fundamental needs are supplied, and where
the government safeguards the rights and safety of the populace rather
than fostering the greed of a select few.

All of these are implemented through their techniques, which include

running for office, using social media, forums, various initiatives, and—most
importantly—volunteering. They support democracy and activity. The Love
Local Campaign is one of their most well-known promotions. Even though the
pandemic made everyone's problems more apparent, Greenpeace
Philippines, particularly the local young, artists, and small businesses, have
done so much for their communities. They have caught a glimpse of the
better environment and better norm they strive for through their small
projects and partnerships with other industries. The campaigns for protected
bike lanes, community pantries, and the Tumindig online movement, which
motivated so many Filipinos to get involved in practical solutions, are a few
examples of ideas that have earlier this year snowballed to a broad
movement of citizens and micro, small, and medium enterprises. Other efforts
include #IlogPasigLahin, reconnect with food, break free from plastic, support
sustainable energy, safeguard the oceans, and outlaw imported trash.

In addition to holding campaigns, they also take donations, and any

amount of ongoing support, no matter how small, will be greatly appreciated
in helping to safeguard the planet we all share. The funds received will be
utilized to assist local, sustainable enterprises and practices that can help
alter our particular places, as well as tree planting initiatives and other
relevant events like forums and press conferences to increase awareness.

However, their primary tactic for carrying out their plans and achieving
their goals and missions is to volunteer. Greenpeace Philippines makes sure
that they adhere to the principles and policies of their parent organization.
The group also upholds the tenet of Greenpeace Southeast Asia, according
to which the success of our shared effort to rescue the environment depends
on public support. More individuals need to be actively involved in their work,
according to them. Greenpeace also appreciates the skills and time of
volunteers. As previously said, Greenpeace Philippines is dedicated to the
essential tenets of volunteerism, including freedom of choice in employment,
charitable goals, community benefit, and unpaid labour.

There are several categories of Greenpeace volunteers, to continue.

These people include activists, interns, online activists, and members of
regional groups. According to their group's definition, activists are people who
actively participate in the campaigns. In order to ensure that their standards
for such operations are met, they must support and uphold Greenpeace's
commitment to nonviolent direct action. They must also commit to a training
program. While Cyberactivists are people who take part in web-based
campaign activities, activists also engage in activities including boats, climbing,
research, and logistics labor. They will represent the online presence of
Greenpeace Philippines and act as our communication channel with the
online community.
 The next group is interns, who provide unpaid office support to the
campaign team. For the opportunity to work with Greenpeace, they must
produce the same volume and caliber of work as paid employees. Additionally,
they can work as research assistants in offices doing media work, public
outreach, and work on particular campaign problems. Members of local
groups, on the other hand, are those who are a part of an officially registered
Greenpeace local group. Greenpeace Local Groups will be acknowledged for
their role as a conduit for campaigns and as a place for volunteers to gather
who are unable to participate in office-based activities due to practical space
and time constraints.
Prospective volunteers must thoroughly fill out a volunteer
application form and submit it along with a photo and a copy of their
identification. Their data will be stored in a database and utilized solely for
organizational needs. Additionally, orientations and trainings are held. In the
Philippines, regular volunteer orientation meetings will be scheduled according
to a calendar. The introductory meeting will include information on the history
of Greenpeace, its key principles, its activities, and volunteering for
environmental causes. Supervisors of volunteers are also in charge of making
sure that volunteers can take part in training sessions.

Achievements
Greenpeace has had both successes and setbacks. The most well-
known incident involving this organisation up to this point was when Nobel
laureates criticized Greenpeace for its anti-GM campaign. According to a 2016
article by Presse, 108 Nobel laureates who are still alive have signed an open
letter criticizing Greenpeace for its anti-genetically modified agricultural
advocacy. In a letter to Greenpeace, the United Nations and many states
claimed that the environmental organization had exaggerated the dangers,
advantages, and effects of genetically modified food plants. Patrick Moore, a
former member, also questioned Greenpeace's argument against nuclear
power, saying that it was false. Fortunately, Greenpeace Philippines wasn't
drawn to any particularly interesting negative issues. Yet they frequently
appear in news stories on national environmental policy and problems. It was a
courageous step to ask Rodrigo Duterte, the former president, to declare a
climate emergency.

Greenpeace Philippines is known for upholding peace, integrity, and

performance-driven performance by utilizing the power of the people.
Greenpeace has achieved success via its campaigns in defending the nation
from ecological deterioration and acting as a beacon of awareness and
action for environmental preservation and sustainable development. Key
achievements of Greenpeace Philippines' successful campaigns in the nation
include blocking the entry of radioactive shipments and hazardous waste
imports, fighting destructive logging, opposing polluting technologies like
incinerators and coal power plants, and promoting sustainable agriculture and
renewable energy as well as necessary solutions to pressing environmental
issues.

Since the organization's founding in 2000, environmental

investigations, scientific research, reports, and lobbying initiatives marked by
dramatic non-violent direct actions have fueled campaigns to change the
attitudes of government and corporations and assisted the organization in
winning significant victories in volunteer-driven campaigns to protect the
environment.
The leaders and participants in the interest group acknowledged that without
the zeal and dedication of our individual donors, supporters, volunteers, and a
wide variety of allies from grassroots movements and international NGOs, who
have shared their vision of positive change for a better earth, we will not
succeed in our goals.

The Clean Air Act and the Ecological Waste Management Act
are two of Greenpeace Philippines' most lauded successes, particularly in the
nation's policymaking surrounding environmental issues. The Philippine Clean
Air Act of 1999, also known as Republic Act No. 8749, which includes a
historically first national prohibition against garbage incineration, was passed
with Greenpeace's help. The Clean Air Act calls for the development of a
national program for the control of air pollution with a primary emphasis on
prevention, support for mass media communication to raise public awareness,
and active participation in the planning and monitoring of air quality.

Vehicle makers, assemblers, E

and importers can obtain a Certificate
of Conformity from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources,
attesting that their cars adhere to the law's strict standards for pollution
awareness and avoidance. The provisions of this law also apply to Ozone
Depleting Substances (ODS), which significantly reduce or otherwise alter the
ozone layer, as well as to Persistent Organic Pollutants, which are toxic or
poisonous substances that can harm both human and animal health as well
as the ecosystem. These pollutants are organic compounds that persist in the
environment, bioaccumulate, and resist photolysis. It is, in essence, a
comprehensive policy and program for managing air quality that strives to
establish and sustain healthy living conditions for Filipinos.

On the other hand, The Ecological Waste Management Act of 2000,

also known as Republic Act No. 9003, is a law that establishes an ecological
solid waste management program, establishes the institutional mechanisms
and incentives required, declares some actions to be unlawful and imposes
penalties, appropriates funds as a result, among other things. This Act makes
provisions for effective solid waste management, waste volume reduction,
environmentally friendly disposal, composting, recycling, reuse, recovery, and
green charcoal process, as well as for the collection, treatment, and disposal
of solid waste in environmentally sound solid waste management facilities,
where it will be possible to dispose of solid waste in accordance with proper
segregation, collection, transport, storage, treatment, and disposal
procedures. The statute also addresses the need to prevent groundwater
pollution.

National research and development activities for better methods

of managing solid waste and conserving resources shall be encouraged and
supported under this Act. This law is regarded as a required institutional
foundation for policymaking and mandates local governments to implement
integrated solid waste management plans based on the 3Rs of reduce, reuse,
and recycle in order to cut waste by 25%. One of the most pressing
environmental problems in the Philippines is solid waste management. In 2010,
it was estimated that 10 million tons of garbage were produced annually, and
by 2020, that number is expected to increase by 40%. Greenpeace Philippines
successfully advocated for the passage of the Philippine Ecological Waste
Management Act, which requires the application of front-end techniques,
such as garbage reduction, separation, and recycling, to address the nation's
waste crisis.
 Greenpeace Philippines recently claimed on October 28, 2022, that
following successful campaigns on several platforms, it had persuaded Filipino
leaders and legislators to demand climate justice, particularly in Visayas. At
the 27th Conference of Parties of the UN Framework Convention on Climate
Change and in upcoming climate negotiations, Philippine mayors and
legislators will join frontline communities affected by the climate catastrophe
from different sections of the nation in calling for climate justice.

Conclusion
The Philippines Commission on Human Rights' report on the National
Inquiry on Climate Change was only recently made public. This was used to
show that the climate issue affects our fundamental rights to life, health,
food, shelter, and other things, and that corporate polluters must be held
accountable for both the harm they have caused and for concealing
important information about their damaging actions.

Additionally, we have seen and felt the effects of climate change

during the past few years. We cannot dispute the fact that things are
becoming worse. Several catastrophic storms, typhoons, and even
earthquakes have previously struck our area, causing billions of dollars' worth
of agricultural damage as well as the loss of homes, valuables, and even lives.
Actually, the newest World Risk Index, which evaluated the risks associated
with extreme weather events and the consequences of the climate
catastrophe, placed the Philippines at the top of the list of disaster risk
hotspots. In addition, experts predict that extreme weather events will
become more common and significantly more destructive as climate change
progresses.

Such occasions include a call to action for our national government

and other nations to address the core causes of the climate disaster and hold
the greatest polluters accountable for their important role in the issue. Being
a member of or simply supporting organizations like Greenpeace Philippines
can go a long way toward preserving the environment. We must urge the
decision-makers and participants in the international climate discussions to
pay attention to the demands of our people and hold these destructive
businesses responsible for the harm they have caused to vulnerable
communities in the Philippines and around the world.

Greenpeace Philippines is one organization we can support and get

involved with. We need more policies to be implemented quickly and more
individuals to take up arms for environmental conservation. As Miss Earth 2017,
Karen Ibasco once stated, “The real problem in this world is not climate
change. The real problem is us because of our ignorance and apathy. What
we have to do is start changing our ways, to start recalibrating our minds, and
redirecting our steps. Because together, as a global community our micro
efforts will have a macro effect to help save our home, our planet, and save
the earth.” After all protect and prevent is better than repent and repair.
Activity 4 (2)

Submitted by:
Abel, Rejay M. (BAPS3A)
Submitted to:
Ms. Aniza Gadaza
2. Using newspapers or magazines, collect some current examples of
group involvement in the policy process. Analyze your chosen
example in terms of the policymaking arena in which group activity
was focused, strategies used by the group to affect policy, and the
degree to which the group was successful in achieving its policy
goals. Discuss whether or not your findings support the
interpretation.
 “Philippine Human Rights Groups Dismayed After Supreme Court
Rules Parts of Anti-Terror Law Constitutional.”

Human rights organizations have raised their concern about the

Republic Act No. 11749, also known as the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020, which
went into force on July 18, 2020 after being signed into law.

Friday; July 3, 2020- marks the birth of “a human rights disaster in

the making” as stated by the Deputy Director of Human Rights Watch’s Asia
Division, Phil Robertson. Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020 or Republic Act No. 11479 is a
law which seeks to prevent, prohibit, and penalize terrorism which repealed
the “Human Security Act of 2020”. Venzon (2020) asserted that it broadens the
definition of terrorism to include acts that have the intent to kill or seriously
hurt someone, cause significant harm to a government facility, private
property, or critical infrastructures, intimidate the public, sow fear among
them, or seriously undermine or destroy the political, economic, or social
systems.

Anyone found guilty will be sentenced to life in prison without the

possibility of release. The act's creator and proponents claim that it aims to
end terrorism in the Philippines, a problem that the nation has been facing for
a decade. The siege of the southern city of Marawi by Islamic State-affiliated
militants in 2017, the suicide bombings in 2019, and, according to spokesperson
Harry Roque, the attack on communist rebels by Islamic militants in late May
2020 that prompted an evacuation in the country's south and uprooted over
6, 000 people, are some of the most recent terrorist activities. Even though the
goal seems admirable, compelling, and admirable, the assertion that this
action will cause more harm than good is still intact.

The Philippines' Republic Act No. 11479 is now in effect, but it was the
focus of controversy and discussion even before it was passed. A number of
petitions seeking to overturn specific elements of the Anti-Terrorism Law were
submitted to the Philippine Supreme Court less than a week after President
Duterte signed the legislation. Apparently, the Supreme Court will begin
hearing arguments about the aforementioned measure on February 2, 2021,
together with the petitioners.

In the news article mentioned above, it is discussed how human

rights organizations in the Philippines have expressed their shock and shock at
the Supreme Court's decision to uphold the majority of the Anti-Terror Law's
provisions, which they believe endangers the democracy of the nation and
violates human rights. In the aforementioned article, Cristina Palabay
(Secretary General of KARAPATAN), a prominent human rights activist and
petitioner against the law, explained how the much-anticipated decision is
both a partial victory and a major letdown because it only serves to intensify
the atmosphere of fear that currently permeates the nation. She voiced out
her thoughts by saying that “We fear that this decision upholding the large
degree, the draconian provisions of the law and character of the law will spur
more human rights violations and more violations against the exercise of civil
liberties.”

This report highlighted how the Philippines has been dealing with
terrorism in various regions of the nation, particularly from the south, which
officials claim has been the hub for both domestic and foreign terrorist
activity. Following the Supreme Court's verdict on the contentious law, human
rights organizations appeared to lose just before December 10 was observed
as International Human Rights Day. They maintained that it is a serious insult
and that it has only served to exacerbate the suffering that human rights
organizations have been going through under the Duterte administration.
 They added that the decision has serious repercussions, particularly
for respectable activists who continue to protect human rights. According to
the Defense of Human Rights and Dignity Movement, the law is the country's
grim reaper for freedom of expression and association because it is a
component of the authoritarian infrastructure used by the current
administration.

Many activists in the Philippines were given authority primarily by

interest groups and the country's political parties. They will benefit from the
announcement of the Anti-Terror Law and from making it completely invalid.
The Anti-Terrorism Law primarily targets activists who may be suspected of
trying to commit acts of terrorism that would result in upsetting casualties for
the community. According to the Constitution, no law may be made that
restricts someone's right to free speech, expression, or access to the press, or
their ability to peacefully gather and petition the government for a remedy
to their complaints (Sec. VI Art. III). However, undoubtedly, the Anti-Terrorism
Law restricts the ability of the populace to demand societal reform.
Additionally, this law raises concerns for the safety of everyone who looks to
be a victim of red-tagging, in which individuals are detained and arrested
without sufficient justification if they are just suspected of supporting
terrorism.

After the court's ruling, many human rights groups stated that they
would still contest the law because new bills to change it would be introduced
in the new Congress following the elections. The aforementioned article
highlights human rights groups, but what are these groups specifically?

Over a hundred political prisoners were housed in Philippine cells as

of the time of writing, according to other news sources and statistics. Even
during interrogations, torture and other harsh treatment occur in many
institutions. Over land disputes, many people have vanished, and civilians have
been slain.More than 12,000 to 30,000 people have been killed in the drug war,
according to World Report 2022. From 2016 to 2021, according to data
provided by the government, more than 6190 people were killed during police
operations.

For their persistent delays, lack of transparency, and unwillingness

to include the national Commission on Human Rights in their reviews, the
Justice Department's investigations have drawn criticism. Since the
government of the Philippines is not doing much to listen to and magnify the
concerns of those whose human rights are being violated, human rights
organizations have been formed to advocate for an improvement in the
country's human rights status.

The KARAPATAN is one of the well-known human rights organizations

mentioned in the news story above. KARAPATAN, meaning "right" in English, is a
coalition of people, organizations, and organisations fighting to advance and
defend human rights in the Philippines. Since the days of Marcos' Martial Law
dictatorship, the organization's founders and members have been at the
vanguard of the fight for human rights in the Philippines. It was established by
its member organizations in 1995 as a result of the old umbrella organization's
failure to meet the needs of both the organizations it was meant to
represent and its members. KARAPATAN was created to serve the
requirements of the organizations that make up its membership, and it has
forged incredibly tight ties with them.
There are seven main principles which KARAPATAN upholds. They believe that:
1. Human rights should be respected in all its dimensions-civil and political,
economic, social, and cultural.
2. Basic rights to life, humane treatment, and die process should be
preserved at all times.
3. The people have the right to be free from all forms of oppression and
exploitation.
4. A repressive state which serves the interests of a few oppressors and
exploiters are the worse violator of human rights.
5. The context for promoting human rights is provided by the Filipino people's
fight for social and national emancipation.
6. Human rights advocacy must be biased for the interest of the oppressed
classes, sectors, and groups.
7. The fight for basic social services by the poor, the workers for national
industrialization and decent living and working conditions, the women
against exploitation and discrimination, the peasants for access to land,
the workers for decent living and working conditions, and the youth for
access to education and other opportunities for growth and development
all involve human rights advocacy.

Amnesty International Philippines serves as another illustration of a

human rights group. More than 10 million people worldwide are involved in the
Amnesty International movement because they view injustice as personal.
They are advocating for a society in which everyone has access to human
rights. They are motivated by the adage, "Better light a candle than curse the
darkness," and by conducting thorough research and tenacious advocacy,
they contribute to the battle against human rights abuses all across the
world. They prosecute those who torture, alter repressive legislation, and
release those who have been imprisoned solely for expressing their opinions.

Moreover, Amnesty International fights for human rights in the

Philippines through its office in Manila by doing research, advocating for
causes, lobbying for legislation, and organizing campaigns. They advocate for
the passage of anti-torture legislation, ratification of the Optional Protocol to
the Convention Against Torture, reproductive health policy, the repeal of the
death penalty, juvenile justice reform, and the passage of legislation to end
violence against women.

Other human rights groups also include Asian Federation Against

Disappearances, Philippine Alliance of Human Rights Advocates, Philippine
Human Rights Information Center, Women’s Legal and Human Rights Bureau,
Philippine Task Force for Indigenous People’s Rights, Campaign for Human
Rights Philippines, PREDA Foundation, Free Legal Assistance Group, and more
which all champions for human rights causes.

Analyzing the news article, both KARAPATAN and Amnesty

International, and other share the common group activity focus- connected in
the executive, but much centers in legislative and judiciary.

It follows that such operations of these interest groups also target

the executive branch of government since human rights organizations
criticize and attempt to persuade the President, who is the head of the
executive branch of the country, to approve laws that do not violate human
rights. Just as one illustration, consider the violent drug war in the Philippines,
which is the main initiative of the Duterte government and is wreaking havoc
on human rights. Because to the drug war, international organizations like
Amnesty International, the EU, and UNHRC are concerned about the human
rights situation. Due to this dimension rule of law is not fully achieved because
of the violations and failure to respect civil liberties, protect human rights and
obey international law.
 As a result, the detractors, particularly human rights groups, began
to question the Executive Branch chief's judgment. Additionally, Nicholas
Bequelin, regional director of Amnesty International, claimed that the Anti-
Terrorism Act "under Duterte's presidency, even the mildest government critics
can be labeled as terrorist," and that Duterte has "effectively crafted a new
weapon to brand and hound any perceived enemies of the state." A law with
such a broad definition of terrorism will only make attacks on human rights
advocates even worse in the current climate of impunity.

This was his response to the news that Philippine President Rodrigo
Duterte had signed the Anti-Terrorism Act into law. The group views this as a
poor move on the part of the head of the executive, who is responsible for
upholding the promotion of the public good, a goal that, in their opinion, the
aforementioned law fails to accomplish. The President is given the executive
power under Article VII Section 1 of the Philippine Constitution of 1987, and one
of the so-called inherent powers that the executive power is supposed to
"execute" is the previously mentioned police power, which is the power to
advance the common good by restricting and regulating the use of liberty
and property.

Moving on, as already stated, human rights groups focus on the

activities of the legislative and judiciary. Through the authority granted to the
Philippine Congress, the legislative branch is empowered to enact, amend, and
abolish laws. The provisions of Article VI of the 1987 Philippine Constitution
provide it authority. On the other hand, the Philippine Constitution of 1987's
Article VIII contains a clause that defines the role of the judiciary. The judicial
power shall be vested in the Supreme Court and any other lower courts
constituted by law, according to section. The courts of justice are required by
their judicial authority to resolve actual disputes involving legally enforceable
and demandable rights as well as to assess whether any branch or agency of
the government has engaged in a serious abuse of discretion that amounts
to a lack of or excess of jurisdiction.

Bills and legislation are being passed as human rights organizations

fight to create new laws and challenge the ones that already exist. They are
really focusing on the legislative branch when it comes to the realm of policy
making. In general, laws are rules that apply to everyone who lives in a
community. They are crucial to safeguarding our rights as citizens and
preserving our general safety from violations by other people, groups, and
even the government. It serves as a standard for what is acceptable in
society. Conflicts between social groups and communities would exist without
it.

They are crucial for upholding human rights. Laws represent

important social ideals like justice, respect, equality, and decency. They are a
crucial means of defense for all of us, especially for those who might
experience abuse, neglect, exclusion, or rights violations, which is the core goal
of human rights organizations. This is further demonstrated by the news item,
which seeks to expose and criticize the relevant shortcomings of the
aforementioned statute that restricts human rights.
 They hold the view that when the law is ruled unconstitutional, it will
largely benefit the people or citizens because democracy places sovereignty
in the people and all government power flows from them. No one shall be
deprived of life, liberty, or property without due process of law, and no person
shall be denied the equal protection of the laws, according to the Philippine
constitution (Sec.1 Art. III). Furthermore, serving and protecting the people is the
primary responsibility of the government.

A premature terror-tagging could label political actions, mass

mobilizations, and significant protests of progressive organizations as terrorist
acts due to an overly wide definition of terrorism, especially given the
economic and political repercussions. The aforementioned makes it illegal to
advocate for causes and to organize in support of those causes. Our right to
free speech, our ability to organize, and our academic freedom may all be
considered terrorist acts.

The aforementioned act also grants law enforcement a great deal

of authority, so there will be no question about misuse that would surpass the
specified measures that the law enforcement must do in accordance with the
authority granted to it. The constitution further states that people have the
right to be secure in their person, home, papers, and possessions against
arbitrary searches and seizures of any kind and for any reason. Additionally,
the constitution states that no search warrant or warrant of arrest shall be
issued except upon probable cause to be personally determined by the judge
after examination under oath or affirmation of the complainant and any
witnesses he may produce, and specifically describing (Sec. II Art. III).

This shows how the law protects citizens' rights on person, housing,
papers, and property from arbitrary searches and seizures while also including
protection for everyone, sealed mail and packages, and the legality of search
warrants. The individual immediately affected by an unreasonable arrest or
search by the government or its agencies may use this right or waive it. Before
a person has been legally detained or arrested, the right against
unreasonable searches and seizures must be safeguarded by a valid search
warrant or arrest warrant. The exceptions apply in instances of legal arrests
and seizures.

These are only a few of their justifications for the law. Humanitarian
groups added that because of this, our nation urgently needs a law that
would protect the populace. But didn't we already have a legislation covering
these things? Why create another and make it more difficult? The nation
needs laws that will safeguard its citizens, not ones that could be used against
them or violate their rights. After all, the purpose of laws is to maintain and
safeguard the rights of individuals.

On the lens of the judicial branch, Through petitions they have

passed, human rights groups try to persuade the Supreme Court to rule the
statute unconstitutional Human rights groups assert that the Anti-terrorism
Act of 2020 should be declared unconstitutional because, we are not yet
ready, it badly needs revisions due to its vagueness, and it will cause more
trouble to us. Moreover, given that Sec. 29 of the R.A. obscures Filipino citizens'
rights, it is possible that this part of the Constitution would be repealed by the
Anti-Terrorism Act. According to Section 11479, a person who is suspected of
committing any of the crimes listed and punishable under specific Sections (4,
5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12 of the aforementioned Act) shall deliver said suspected
person to the proper judicial authority within fourteen (14) calendar days,
counting from the time the said suspected person has been apprehended,
without incurring any criminal liability for the delay in delivering detained
persons to the proper judicial authorities.
 Since their rights would have been insufficient and partially
influenced by the Anti-terrorism Act, the tension that this law caused disturbs
the populace and human rights organisations. Consequently, finding this law
unconstitutional would grant the populace a state where freedom is
flawlessly upheld in all respects.

According to humanitarian groups, declaring the anti-terror law

unconstitutional would allow supporters to freely express their own opinions in
public as long as they refrain from committing crimes or acts of terrorism and
do not recruit others to support actual terrorists. Since we live in a democracy,
we have the civil right to scrutinise and reject any legislation that infringes on
our rights. We must speak up since we have a voice. Freedom of speech is a
fundamental human right and the cornerstone of democracy, according to
Deeyah Khan. Any limitation on the right to free expression is a limitation on
democracy.

Moving on, the 1987 Philippine Constitution's Section 6, letter c,

Article IX, which specifies that a free and open party system shall be
permitted to evolve according to the people's free choice, provides for the
existence of a multi-party system in the Philippines. However, several political
parties in the Philippines have experienced red-tagging since they were
reportedly supporting the New People's Army, which has been designated as
the state's adversary.

The group chairman Danilo Ramos cited the case of Aeta farmers
Japer Gurung and Junior Ramos in September last year who were imprisoned
and accused of terrorism as an example of the hasty accusations in the
petition filed by Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (Peasant Movement of the
Philippines) to the Supreme Court. They argued against the militarization of
their neighbourhood and later charged the military with fire. The farmers
detained said that the police violently tortured them for six days before
making them reveal they were NPA members. The Philippines' political parties
will benefit from the declaration of RA No. 11479.

Several political parties have been accused of wrongdoing, but

there is insufficient evidence to support these claims. In particular, the Bayan
Muna Partylist, Anakbayan Partylist, Kabataan Partylist, Gabriela Partylist,
etc., have endured years of accusations. However, with the repeal of the anti-
terrorism law, they would be completely exonerated of all charges and have
the audacity to advocate for the common good. This worries interest groups
like humanitarian groups about being labelled as terrorists and state enemies.

The Anti-Terror Bill's advantages are disregarded because of all

the reasons why we should toss it and declare it unconstitutional. There
should be no terror labelling, no abuse of authority, no violation of the
Philippine Constitution, no violation of our right to privacy, no harassment, no
restriction on press freedom so that we can organise in support of our causes,
and lastly, no restriction on our right to freedom of expression and no violation
of human rights. The people and the nation would profit if this were the case.

Humanitarian groups advocate for the judicial branch's human

choices to have the authority to resolve disputes regarding legally
demandable and enforceable rights. To ascertain if there has been a serious
abuse of discretion amounting to a lack or excess of jurisdiction on the part
and instrumentality of the government, they attempt to collaborate with the
branch.
 These justifications are also regarded as human rights groups’
startegies for influencing policy. Through their own news stories, websites,
social media accounts, and even press conferences, they openly express their
ideas, reactions, and remarks regarding these regulations. Amnesty
International Philippines, for instance, mobilizes millions of supporters
worldwide to advocate for the changes they support and to defend activists
on the front lines by sharing the compelling experiences of the individuals
they work with.

On their website, they also post news and editorial pieces in which
they convey the most recent developments as well as their views on these
policies. They use them whenever and wherever abuses occur, as well as
conducting investigations to uncover facts, numbers, data, and so on to
support their charges.

Amnesty International Philippines also works to influence

governments and other influential entities like businesses. ensuring that they
honor international law and their commitments. They think that in order for
human rights change to occur, the facts must come first. Their professionals
conduct reliable, double-checked research on government abuses of human
rights. Amnesty International Philippines also engages in advocacy and
lobbying, using their research to persuade and pressure organizations,
businesses, and decision-makers to act morally.

On the other hand, KARAPATAN makes use of network building

and alliance work, advocacy and campaigning, service programs,
documentation and research, and education and training. They want to
increase people's understanding of their rights, give them the tools to fight for
and defend those rights, and encourage them to get involved in human rights
advocacy and campaigning through education and training. Campaigning
and advocacy entail building a solid public position and base of support for
human rights issues and worries. Campaigning and information-sharing
initiatives are included.

Additionally, advocating for the protection and advancement

of human rights is included. For the welfare and legal requirements of political
prisoners, torture victims, relatives of the missing, victims of extrajudicial
murders, displaced people, and others, it mobilizes various resources through
the Services Program.

The program also includes the creation of Quick Reaction

Teams, which react right away to instances of human rights violations like
arrests, kidnappings, displacements, demolitions, violence on picket lines, and
others, as well as the holding of Fact-Finding Missions to look into and compile
data on various human rights violations.

The next step in documenting and study is information

gathering about specific instances of human rights abuses as well as the
overall state of human rights in the nation. All human rights violations cases
are kept in a database maintained by KARAPATAN. This database serves as a
library of case files that contain court records and other evidence that can
be submitted to various government agencies, the joint monitoring committee,
and international human rights organizations. It is crucial in the conclusion of
the bi-annual analysis of the country's human rights condition and other
connected issues. It also sends urgent action warnings.
 They encourage organizations, groups, and individuals to get
involved in KARAPATAN's activities and programs and in human rights
problems as part of their networking and alliance-building efforts. Additionally,
relationships are formed in this way with real multi-sectoral coalitions and
grassroots organizations. It functions as an alliance and coordinates the
programs of the numerous human rights groups that are members of it.

Given that the Supreme Court supported the Anti-Terrorism

Act, it is clear that the groups' efforts to stop the law were unsuccessful.
However, we can still claim that human rights groups were successful in their
efforts to influence because their arguments were taken into account, heard,
and known, which sparked and opened up discussion not only between and
among the legislators and leaders but also the entire Filipino and global
community. Because they battled for it, we may still declare that they have
achieved their policy goal. The battle is still ongoing, as they have stated.

One could argue that the results and my interpretation of the

news article above are ironic given that human rights organizations were
unable to persuade the government, particularly the Supreme Court, to reject
the Anti-Terrorism Act. Once more, the battle has not yet been won. As long as
these organizations continue to fight for the causes they support by keeping
and adhering to their core ideals, anything is still possible. After all, being
successful is not just measured through winning, but it is also about learning. In
human rights groups’ case they were able to educate the Filipino people, not
just about the drawbacks of the said law, but most importantly, the realities of
the Philippines with the issues needed to be addressed like our justice system.
At the end of the day, winning is not always a victory and losing is not always
a defeat; sometimes you favored and sometimes you learn.

A
AMMN
NEES
STTY
Y IINNT
TEER
RNNA
ATTI
IOON
NAAL
L
PPH
HIIL
LIIP
PPPI
INNE
ESS

H
HUUMMAANN
R
RIIGGHHTTSS

K
KAAR
RAAP
PAAT
TAAN
N
REFERENCES:

Amnesty International Philippines

https://www.amnesty.org.ph
Esguerra, A. (2021, December 9) Philippine Human Rights
Groups Dismayed After Supreme Court Rules Parts of
Anti-Terror Law Constitutional. VOA
https://www.voanews.com/a/philippine-human-rights-
groups-dismayed-after-supreme-court-rules-parts-of-anti-
terror-law-constitutional/6346624.html
Geronimo, J. (2021, December 25) Floods, reclamations,
illegal fishing among 2021’s biggest environment stories
https://www.rappler.com/newsbreak/iq/review-2021
Greenpeace Philippines
https://www.greenpeace.org/philippines/
KARAPATAN https://www.karapatan.org/about
Official Gazette https://www.officialgazette.gov.ph