Anti Terrorism Law Philippines Text

It notes that the United States has detained terrorism suspects for more than 14 days. “And you keep a few of them in Guantánamo, don`t you? How much longer? ” he asks. You can also copy and paste the following text into an e-mail message. But lawyer Colmenares argues that for the Duterte government, “terrorism is any form of dissent.” Countries like Egypt and Turkey have shown how populist-led governments like Duterte are using antiterism laws to violate civil liberties and consolidate power, according to sobel of the Carnegie Endowment. The new law, which replaces the 2007 Human Security Act, criminalizes a new ambiguous offence: incitement to terrorism “through speeches, proclamations, writings, emblems, banners or other representations … without participating directly in the terrorism commission.” Section 29 empowers law enforcement agencies to arrest and detain any person suspected of a terrorist offence without a warrant and for fourteen to twenty-four days, including persons charged with incitement. But other governments around the world do not have to be helpless bystanders to the erosion of Philippine democracy. The law will automatically go into effect on July 9, unless Duterte blocks it. Before that crucial date, governments must pressure Duterte to reject the anti-terrorism law itself. When it comes into force on July 9, a constitutional trial will await legislation from the country`s most influential lawyers` organization.

At this point, other governments must monitor and support these legal challenges to ensure they receive a legitimate hearing. As the Philippines moves closer and closer to the rule of law, world leaders working on the pandemic must raise their voices and remain vigilant to save Philippine democracy. More than 1,000 students and human rights activists gathered on the UP Diliman campus on June 12, 2020, coinciding with the 122nd Independence Day of Spanish Colonial Rule, dubbed the “Grand Mañanita.” [81] They called on the government to “reject” the bill, fearing that it would restrict fundamental human rights and freedom of speech and expression. The rally took place despite the government`s ban on mass gatherings in general community quarantine in Metro Manila and other parts of the country due to the pandemic. Protesters were seen wearing masks and practicing social distancing. [82] [83] Similar protests were organized by activists in various cities such as Baguio, Legazpi, and Cebu City. Protests have also taken place at other universities such as De La Salle University in Manila. [83] Activist Mae Paner was also present at the event, disguised as Metro Manila Police Chief Debold Sinas, who faced controversy over her May 8, 2020 birthday party, which police called “Mananita.” [81] [84] After the failed coup in 2016, Turkish authorities used the bills to arrest journalists and critics en masse. In 2016, Turkey arrested 136 journalists, 135 of whom were accused of terrorism.

And 2019 was the first year since 2016 that Turkey was not the worst prison guard for journalists in the world, but only because it shut down more than a hundred media outlets to separate them from the platform. Many human rights activists were arrested in 2017, 2018 and 2019. After a court acquitted a civil rights protester of terrorism charges last February, he was arrested again hours later. According to the Turkish government in July 2019, nearly 70,000 people in Turkey have been tried for terrorism and more than 150,000 have been investigated for terrorism – including 119 journalists and many of them activists. The government says it needs the anti-terrorism law to fight the uprisings. National Security Advisor Hermogenes Esperon defends the provision, telling NPR that by law, “activism is not terrorism.” (Manila) – The Philippine government is about to enact an anti-terrorism law that will eliminate essential legal safeguards and allow the government to take abusive action against groups and individuals labeled terrorists, Human Rights Watch said today. The 2020 anti-terrorism bill has passed both the House of Representatives and the Senate, and President Rodrigo Duterte is expected to sign the bill quickly. The bill uses an overly broad definition of terrorism that can detain suspects apprehended without a warrant for weeks before appearing before a judge.

A special body, composed mainly of officials appointed by the president, would give the power to enforce the law. “The anti-terrorism law is an impending human rights catastrophe,” said Phil Robertson, deputy Asia director at Human Rights Watch. “The law will open the door to arbitrary arrests and long prison sentences for people or representatives of organizations who displeased the president.” In a letter to Congress on June 1, 2020, Duterte confirmed that passage of the anti-terrorism law was urgent, shortening further debate on the legislation and prompting the House of Representatives to quickly pass a version of the bill passed in its entirety by the Senate. The measure would replace the existing Human Security Act of 2007. The bill creates a new Counter-Terrorism Council (ATC), composed of executive-appointed members, that would allow the authorities to arrest people they designate as “terrorists” without a court order and detain them without charge for up to 24 days before they are to be subject to judicial authority. Under the current law, terrorism suspects must be brought before a judge within three days. Human Rights Watch estimates that anyone in police custody must appear before a judge within 48 hours. Under the bill, persons convicted on the basis of broader definitions of the term “terrorism” risk life imprisonment without the possibility of parole. Both an individual and a group commit terrorism when they “engage in actions aimed at causing death or serious bodily harm to a person or endangering the life of a person” or “causing significant damage to public property” to “create an atmosphere or spread a message of fear.” Although the definition also includes targets often associated with terrorism, such as . B attempt to “seriously destabilize or destroy the basic social, economic or political structures of the country”, it does not require such an intention.

Under this broad definition, fighting in a bar could technically qualify as an act of terrorism, Human Rights Watch said. The bill also criminalizes “inciting others” to commit acts of terrorism “through speeches, proclamations, writings, emblems, banners or other representations that serve the same purpose.” The law, which does not define incitement, poses a threat to media freedom and freedom of expression by providing an indefinite basis for the continuation of statements. .