Two days before end of the lockdown in Metro Manila, touted the longest in the world, the House Committee on Public Order and Safety (HCPOS) and the House Committee on National Defense and Security approved the substitute bill for Human Security Act, now the Anti-Terrorism Bill.
The Senate approved their version just a week before COVID-19 local transmission was confirmed in the country and two weeks before the lockdown and differs a lot from the counterpart House proposed bills.
Reactions to the approval of the anti-terrorism bill, amended Human Security Act in Senate
However, the House seemed bent to hastily pass the legislation similar to the Senate version.
“We have to approve today a bill that is similar to the Senate bill to avoid the necessity to convene a bicameral conference committee,” said HCPOS chair Masbate Rep. Narciso Bravo Jr.
Many tried to share quick facts about the proposed bill, in as much urgency as it is being railroaded amid the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown–and to share just how grievous that this is being railroaded during the pandemic and lockdown.
To some who doesn’t know about the bill.. this might give you an idea .. that’s why we are against to it.. 1 example is they can Arrest you without WARRANT OF ARREST .. pic.twitter.com/GcuZzSilWL
— Julius C. De Jesus ?? ? ? (@ANSAAYAATEA) May 29, 2020
To allow the Anti-Terrorism Bill to pass is to forsake our human rights. The bill would allow:
1. Tagging of individuals
2. WARRANTLESS ARREST WITH NO LIABILITY
3. Surveillance & wiretapping
4. Groundless imprisonment#JunkTerrorBill pic.twitter.com/QBcDW6SvSX— m⁷ || #OustDuterte (@PERSONUGHGOOD) May 29, 2020
Why we must #JunkTerrorBill?
– Vague definition of “terrorism"
– It allow military personnel to place individuals under surveillance
– Compel telcos to divulge calls and messages of "suspected" people (wiretapping)
– Arrest people w/o warrant, & detain them up to 14 days— . (@maykamaykaba) May 29, 2020
Instead of recognizing it as titled, netizens called it ‘terror bill’ instead due the many ways it curtails fundamental and constitutional rights of the people. #JunkTerrorBill became a trending topic on Twitter.
#JunkTerrorBill This provides a 60 to 90 day-wire tapping period, and warrantless arrest, detention up to 30 days of suspected terrorists. It has no safeguards for the protection of human rights, redress of grievances. This can be weaponized to silence critics, suppress dissent.
— Sarah Elago (@sarahelago) May 29, 2020
With the passing of the Anti-Terror Bill in the House of Representatives earlier today, it won't be helped that there will be a spike in cases similar to what happened to Dr Bobby dela Paz. #JunkTerrorBill#ActivistNotTerrorist pic.twitter.com/75gstbuqi7
— Philippine Medical Students' Association (@PMSANational) May 29, 2020
im sure many filipinos have seen all the stupid shit the govt has pulled during this pandemic ALONE. military authority, abs cbn shutdown, and now the terror bill. if you're still turning a blind-eye and keeping your mouth shut then fuck you #junkterrorbill
— juice (@tchuuya) May 29, 2020
Filozens, Filo oomfs where are u? I need the same energy we all had for BLM.
We're basically under a de facto martial law. Dis hasbeen going on foryrs. Violence, EJK, IP murders, shutting down the media & now terror bill. We cant let this happen!#JunkTerrorBill#OUSTDUTERTENOW pic.twitter.com/2p12cyTq4D
— lovi ♡ #OUSTDUTERTE (@lovelytenwin) May 29, 2020
if minors are allowed to be arrested then why aren't we allowed to choose who gets to lead us?#JunkTerrorBill #OUSTDUTERTENOW
— ًian 生 (@hanflrts) May 29, 2020
"wag kang matakot kung di ka terorista"
none of us are safe from this. this government will twist your words. they have k!lled thousands of innocent people WHAT MAKES YOU THINK YOU WON'T BE ONE OF THEM??? SPEAK OUT ABOUT THIS!!!#JunkTerrorBill #OUSTDUTERTENOW
— ryu?⁷ ? txt ga (@mirrormazed) May 29, 2020
THIS GOVT WILL BE FREE TO DEFINE WHAT COUNTS AS TERRORISM. THIS GIVES THEM THE POWER TO CRIMINALIZE BEHAVIORS. TO PLANT AND MANIPULATE CASES. TO ATTACK AND SILENCE ANYONE WHO DARE CHALLENGE THEIR FASCIST INTERESTS #JUNKTERRORBILL #OUSTDUTERTENOW
— adriana (@adrianaroni_) May 29, 2020
Some compared this with state repression or brutality in other countries amid the pandemic.
police brutality in all three of these situation as the people which are fighting for their rights, their freedom and their lives. ALL COPS ARE CORRUPTED. In the US, Philippines and Hong Kong#BlackLivesMater #StandwithHK #JunkTerrorBill pic.twitter.com/yqDwJKFzxD
— ethan⁵? STAND WITH HK | BLM (@txteethan) May 29, 2020
USA and Philippines in 2020 competing for the Worst Nation in the World title. #BlackLivesMatter #JunkTerrorBill pic.twitter.com/mzQ2PXbuAa
— kenj ? (@kenjneliastreet) May 29, 2020
Some also looked back on the earlier approval of the Senate version of the anti-terrorism bill.
remember their names. these are the people who practically took away our freedom. we are a democratic country and it should stay that way. #JunkTerrorBill pic.twitter.com/5o4wo9VWtO
— ً (@oibanai) May 29, 2020
i see no difference #JunkTerrorBill pic.twitter.com/nmH7HwPt1s
— atty kathleen #JunkTerrorBill (@kathtarantado) May 29, 2020
The Senate voted 19-2 and approved on third and final reading the measure the consolidated measures to amend and effectively repeal Human Security Act (HSA) of 2007, what proponents of the amendments call a ‘weak law against terrorism’, and replace it with the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020 on February 26.
Duterte administration pushed for anti-terror bill
The administration of President Rodrigo Duterte has been pushing for the amendments of HSA. Key officials in his Cabinet such as the secretaries of Interior and Local Government Eduardo Año and National Defense Delfin Lorenzana and National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon – former top officials of the Armed Forces of the Philippines – have been vocal in their support for amending HSA.
In October 2019, Esperon said another martial law of the then-almost two-year old Martial Law in Mindanao is no longer needed if Congress will be able to pass measures to amend HSA. The HSA gave law enforcement and judicial authorities the legal instruments to combat terror threats in the country, but was seen as a weak law by the supporters and proponents to amending the law.
Esperon described the current law as not “user-friendly.” The amended HSA could become a better tool for them in their anti-terrorism and their anti-insurgency campaign, for which the current moves to amend the law appeared to be directed, than Martial Law. Esperon said that even Martial Law in Mindanao has limitations, as they had to get Congress approval for that.
