The topic #JunkTerrorLaw trended on Twitter with keywords #OustDuterte and “ACTIVISM IS NOT TERRORISM” after the House of Representatives committee on public order and safety approved the substitute version of the Human Security Act.
The bill hands the power to the government to define what constitutes terrorism, who is to be considered terrorists, and its penalties.
Netizens are particularly railing against the administration’s decision, calling it as another excuse for the government to silence the public. An attack on human rights, freedom, and overall democracy of the country.
Read More: Here's an update on #MassTestingNowPH
What's in the Philippines' New Anti-Terrorism Law?
Here are the activities that can be interpreted as "terrorism" under the new bill:
1. Damage or alleged damage to gov't property;
2. Assault or attempted assault;
3. Purchase or carrying a knife or anything that can be used as a weapon;
4. Meet-ups, suspicion of plotting against gov't;
5. Donating or helping relief drives that aren't government/state-recognized;
6. Participating in a rally or any movement that can cause a "serious risk to public safety";
7. Posting, writing, sharing, and/or retweeting posts (even memes) related to "terrorist activities"; Punishable by 12 years in jail to life imprisonment; warrantless arrest minimum 24 days; wiretapping and/or state surveillance."
SINO ANG TERORISTA?— Kabataan Partylist (@KabataanPL) May 29, 2020
Alamin kung sino-sino ang maaaring basta na lang pagbintangang terorista at kilalanin ang mga totoong terorista't berdugong bubuo sa Anti-Terrorism Council na mambibintang at magtatakda kunsino ang mga terorista.#JunkTerrorBill #StoptheAttacks #ResistAsOne pic.twitter.com/yq6CPgsvBc
Here are some of the reactions online:
In the middle of a pandemic, the government still chooses to compromise our freedom by taking away our rights to speak out against the government's incompetence.— rafael #BlackLivesMatter #JunkTerrorBill (@raphaelululu) May 29, 2020
If this does not hint of a de facto martial law to you, then please educate yourself and speak up!#JunkTerrorBill
MAKE IT TREND. WALANG BUHAY KUNG WALANG KALAYAAN. #JunkTerrorBill— patti (@SiPattitay) May 29, 2020
Maybe di ka affected by this law today, or bukas, or next month, or next year, or even the rest of your life. However, trust and believe that when democracy dies—when laws are specifically made to infringe on people's rights—damay damay tayong lahat.#JunkTerrorBill#ResistAsOne— Regi #ResistAsOne (@orbitching) May 29, 2020
for more perspectives: simple academics get redtagged (branded as communists/terrorists) for using their education to prove the gov't is Not It. anti-terrorism bill targets terrorists, but are they really? #JunkTerrorBill— zar @ ACNH (@zlakbo) May 29, 2020
if this bill gets approved, any criticism against the govt will be considered as terrorism and we should NOT BE OKAY WITH THAT. what is democracy if they take away our freedom of speech?#JunkTerrorBill— mae & (@gotvelvetingz) May 29, 2020
THESE ARE THE PEOPLE WHO VOTES YES. REMEMBER THEIR NAMES!!— ً (@artsdejun) May 29, 2020
Angara, Binay, Cayetano, Dela Rosa, Poe, Marcos, Lapid, Villanueva, Villar, Pacquiao, Gatchalian, Go, Gordon, Lacson, Revilla, Tolentino, Drilon, Zubiri and Sotto.
Only Sen. Kiko and Sen. Risa voted No. #JunkTerrorBill
Others will say "Kung wala kang masamang balak or wala ka namang ginagawang masama wala kang dapat ikatakot." BUT sobrang vague nung definition nila ng terrorist, yung simpleng pagpapakita lang ng dissent against the government ay maituturing na terrorist ka.#JunkTerrorBill— . (@maykamaykaba) May 29, 2020
Under the current administration, the Philippine government has been targeting activists through propaganda, crackdowns, violence. Activism is not terrorism and it’s time the government accepts that.
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