JUNK THE ANTI-TERRORISM BILL AND UPHOLD HUMAN RIGHTS!

JUNK THE ANTI-TERRORISM BILL AND UPHOLD HUMAN RIGHTS!

Started
May 29, 2020
Signatures: 940,142Next Goal: 1,000,000
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Why this petition matters

Started by Defend UPLB

DEFEND UPLB SAYS JUNK THE ANTI-TERRORISM BILL AND UPHOLD HUMAN RIGHTS!

What is the Anti Terrorism Bill, what shall take in effect from the said bill, and how are we affected?

1) It has an over-broad definition of Terrorism! 

 There is an over-broad definition of “terrorism” which could blatantly tag political activities, mass mobilizations, and major protests of progressive formations as ‘terrorist acts’ through a hasty 'terror-tagging', particular with its economic and political consequences. It criminalizes advocacies and our right to organize in belief of our advocacies. Our Academic Freedom, Right to Organize, and Freedom of Expression can be labeled as Terrorism. It has allowed the conspiracy to commit terrorism which is defined by the Anti-Terrorism Council  only consisting government officials. It is punishable for a lifetime of imprisonment without the benefit of parole.

2. Silencing of Dissent!

 The Anti-Terrorism bill silences its critiques who threaten to (1) destabilize the state’s credibility on serving the people and; (2) expose the state’s insincerity to serve and protect the welfare of its people. Under this law, press freedom is a terrorist act.

3. It violates the Philippine constitution.

Even the Anti-Terrorism Bill permits the warrantless arrests just from "suspicion from committing terrorism". Under this law, the security and presumption of innocence of the suspects until proven guilty are endangered.

4) It is a clear violation of our right to privacy.

The said bill authorizes putting said "suspects" under intensive surveillance. Law enforcement agencies or military personnel as permitted by the Court of Appeals may "secretly wiretap, overhear and listen to, intercept, screen, read, surveil, record or collect, with the use of any mode, form, kind or type of electronic, mechanical or other equipment or device or technology now known or may hereafter be known ro science or with the use of any other suitable ways and means for the above purposes, any private communications, conversation, discussion/s, data, information, messages in whatever form, kind or nature, spoken or written words...”

The Anti-Terrorism bill is a clear and direct attack against our academic freedom, right to organize, and freedom of expression to air out our grievances towards the inefficiencies and deficiencies of the government's mandate to serve its people through government services.This positions the government to silence the any dissenter or organizer and given the rich history of harassment of law enforcement agencies and military personnel, harassment and terror-tagging has been a step further for even more killings and silencing. The railroading is a manifestation of the priorities of the Administration. When the time calls for a health-based response to the pandemic with respect for human rights especially in the calls for mass testing capacities, contact-tracing, wide socio-economic effort and respect to human rights, this is the response of the government.

These turbulent times call for the widest unity among individuals and communities in order to deny such a policy that can and will trample our human rights. 

WHAT CAN WE DO? LET'S UNITE AND SIGN THE PETITION! JUNK THE ANTI-TERRORISM BILL AND UPHOLD HUMAN RIGHTS!

This petition is campaigned by Defend UPLB, an alliance of all student councils, allied institutions, and member-organizations based in UPLB in forwarding Academic Freedom, Civil Liberties and Human Rights. Currently, it is in need of volunteers to forward even more mass campaigns! Fill up through this link to join and be a defender of academic freedom and human rights!

(https://forms.gle/wZ2VkzX5AExPnuL1A 

Defend UPLB is also inviting you to support the junking of the Anti-Terrorism Bill by changing your profile picture with this profile picture frame! You may do so through this link:

https://www.facebook.com/DefendUPLB/photos/a.110777900488562/154933856072966/?type=3&theater

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Signatures: 940,142Next Goal: 1,000,000
Support now
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