Junk Duterte’s Terror Law

The Kilusang Magbububukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) today expressed full support to the petitions filed before the Supreme Court (SC) that questions the constitutionality and seeks for a Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) for the implementation of the unpopular Anti-Terrorism Law or RA 11479 that was signed by President Duterte last July 3.

The first petition was filed by the Calleja Law Firm led by Atty. Howard Calleja, and the De La Salle brothers led by Brother Armin Luistro. Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman filed the second petition, followed by the petition filed by the group of Atty. Mel Sta. Maria, dean of the Far Eastern University College of Law. Makabayan bloc led by Atty. Neri Colmenares will file a fourth SC petition against the Anti-Terrorism Act today.

More legal luminaries are expected to file more petitions against this Draconian law that was unabashedly passed and signed by the Duterte administration at a crucial period while the country is reeling from the serious socio-economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“These petitions are concrete proof of the extreme unpopularity and unconstitutionality of the Anti-Terrorism Act. Not even the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of the Act can correct the excesses and deficiencies of the measure. Some of which include the following: the authorization of arbitrary detention without charges for an unreasonable length of time in violation of an individual’s fundamental rights, granting state forces the right to determine what is terrorism, allowing of arrests without judicial warrants and detention without filing of charges in court for 14 days extendible to 24 days, surveillance including wiretapping, and mamy more perilous provisions that will undermine people’s civil and democratic rights.

KMP will be among the petitioners in an upcoming petition against the Anti-Terror Law to be filed by progressive organizations.

“This ‘monstrous law’ as described by many will be met with strong opposition from all sectors and institutions – legal, academe, Church, socio-civic and even in the international legal and civic sphere,” says KMP chairperson Danilo Ramos.

KMP and its chapters nationwide will continue to mount a range of protests and opposition to the Anti-Terror Law. ###