SIGNED, SEALED, AND DELIVERED: The Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020 or Republic Act No. 11479 is now OFFICIALLY EFFECTIVE.
The Anti-Terrorism Law was signed by Duterte on the third of July 2020 and takes effect on the midnight July 18. Because of the unclear definitions and context of “terrorism,” it is the fear of many that this Act will be used against people who dare to criticize the Philippine government.
DOJ Sec. Menardo Guevarra: "The law will take effect even without the IRR, because the promulgation of the IRR is not a condition for the effectivity of the law."
Despite the widespread controversy and opposition, the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020 is now in effect.
The new Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020 excludes advocacy, protest, dissent, stoppage of work, industrial or mass action, and other similar exercises of civil and political rights as among those considered as terror acts.
Several petitions have already been filed in the Supreme Court against this law.
Diin ng administrasyon, binibigyang ngipin ng batas ang mga awtoridad na tumugis sa mga umanong terorista. Pero ayon naman sa mga nababahalang abugado, mambabatas, at human rights advocates, masyado malawak ang depinisyon ng terorismo sa batas.
Many are collectively saying "Junk the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020!"
SC spokesman Brian Keith Hosaka said the four latest petitions involving Republic Act 11479 or the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020 “have also been consolidated together with the four earlier petitions consolidated last week.”
An eighth petition challenging the constitutionality of the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020 was filed on Monday by the party list group Sanlakas.
Workers from twelve labor centers and unions came together to file a petition against Republic Act 11479 or the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020. They call the law anti-people, anti-worker and kontra-unyon. The group believes the law is proof of the de facto Martial Law in the country.
How the Supreme Court will rule on the petitions filed against the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020 will measure the integrity and independence of the justices, House Assistant Minority Leader, and ACT Teachers Rep. France Castro said.
We vehemently oppose the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020 as it lapses into effectivity on this Midnight. As the Duterte regime continues to weaponize the law to silence the public, we must all come together and exhaust all options to stop it!
This law can be utilized against activists, and honestly, the reason why a large number of people oppose the bill is that we don't trust the state enforces that will be implementing the law - considering their recent activities - murdering soldiers, raping women, and trespassing.
How can you make people trust a rogue institution that systematically prohibits their uniformed men from being accountable? Simple, reform the PNP and dismiss every officer with a criminal complaint.
Leading youth environmentalist Greta Thunberg has expressed her opposition to the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020 which will give more powers to the security forces in the Philippines against terrorist organizations operating the island.
At least 45 American lawmakers have called on the Philippine government to immediately repeal the controversial Anti-Terrorism Act 2020.
Those US congressmen who called on the Ph Congress to repeal our Anti Terrorism Act of 2020 should read their own Anti Terrorism Act of 2001, compare the two laws and examine their heads, then admit to being first rate and world class hypocrites.
These American politicians focused more on PH anti-terror bill but they have no solution nor remedy in order to stop racial discrimination which turns into violence in the US.
Now that the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020 is the law of the land it remains to be seen if it lives up to the hype. The law allows the government to silence the voice of Filipino citizens by setting their own definition of "terrorism." Without a competent military and police force everything will remain the same. Time will tell.
Ross is known as the Pambansang Blogger ng Pilipinas - An Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Professional by profession and a Social Media Evangelist by heart.
