Makabayan bloc slams railroading of anti-terror bill: A step closer towards Duterte’s dictatorial rule

It looks like everyone suspected of ousting the President or have political ambitions in the future are feeling the heat.

Makabayan bloc who are composed of those militant congressmen in the House of Representatives are against issuing a strong dissent in slamming the proposed Anti-Terrorism bill as it was being passed on the third reading.

In a statement released by the group, they warned about the possible implications of the soon to be signed law, once this is signed by president Rodrigo Duterte, the enforcement could be far worse than those during the time of Martial Law.

From top left: Bayan Muna Rep. Carlos Zarate, Bayan Muna Rep. Ferdinand Gaite and Kabataan Rep. Sarah Elago. From bottom left: Gabriela Rep. Arlene Brosas, ACT-Teachers Rep. France Castro, and Anakpawis Rep. Ariel Casilao.
(photo credit to PNA)

“We, the Makabayan bloc in the House of Representatives denounce in the strongest terms the fast-tracked approval of the new Anti-Terrorism Act,” the statement read.

The group specifically questions the provisions in both Congress-approved legislation under House Bill No. 6875 and Senate Bill No. 1083 that will give the Chief Executive “unprecedented powers to suppress dissent, silence critics and activists, and curtail the fundamental rights and freedoms of all citizens, on the pretext of fighting terrorism.”

“It is one step closer towards Duterte’s dictatorial rule,” the statement read.

Makabayan bloc recalled Mr. Duterte’s past statements, regrading his threat to impose martial law and if the Anti-Terrorism bill is signed into a law it “will grant him powers that transgress the constitutional limits on the exercise of certain martial law powers and run roughshod over fundamental rights and freedoms, including the right to due process and freedom of expression.”

Makabayan bloc pinpoints that the most dangerous provision of the law “grants vast discretionary powers to the Anti-Terrorism Council, composed of Cabinet officials, mostly from the defense and security sectors, that have heretofore been reserved to courts.”

They further claim that the proposed law has the power to designate individuals and groups as terrorist, authorize the warrantless arrests and detention for up to 24 days, freezing of bank accounts and other assets, and conduct sweeping surveillance on private communications.

“The track record of the Duterte administration for gross violations of human rights, extrajudicial killings, intensive military operations against rural communities, including Moro and indigenous people, and weaponization of the law to harass and detain critics, virtually assures that the new anti-terror law will be used and abused by Malacanang against the people.”

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Report from Politiko

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