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[Very Long Thread]
Hello friends, especially my non-Filipino mutuals! Please take time to read this thread about what's happening here in the Philippines:
#JUNKTERRORBILLL
#VetoTerrorBillNow
#ActivistsNotTerrorists
Hello friends, especially my non-Filipino mutuals! Please take time to read this thread about what's happening here in the Philippines:
#JUNKTERRORBILLL
#VetoTerrorBillNow
#ActivistsNotTerrorists
Now that the entire world is facing a pandemic, the Philippine government is pushing for the implementation of the Anti-Terror Act of 2020. As of today, the number of confirmed cases is 39,099. We are so far away from flattening the curve, and also from knowing the actual number
of cases because there is no mass testing happening. This is despite the trillions of pesos we incurred in debt. So, why is the government pushing for the Anti-Terror Act in the middle of a pandemic? They are scared of dissent, now more than ever. Thousands of citizens lost their
livelihoods during the quaratine period, of which nothing happened. The Filipinos are angry, and rightfully so. With the Anti-Terror Act in place, the government will be granted the power to silence the voice of justice— the voice of the masses. The draft of the Anti-Terror Act
has passed both the House of Representatives and the Senate, and if left unsigned or un-vetoed by the president will lapse into law in 6 days. So, what will happen if the Anti-Terror Act is implemented?
1. The police can make warrantless arrests and detain the arrested for 14 days and can be extended up to 24 days.
Even without the terror bill in place, the Philippine National Police (PNP) has its reputation for illegally detaining civilians.
Even without the terror bill in place, the Philippine National Police (PNP) has its reputation for illegally detaining civilians.
Just a month ago, six jeepney drivers were arrested for allegedly violating lockdown measures. They were protesting the ban on jeepneys while wearing masks and practicing social distancing. They were just few of the many Filipinos who lost their livelihoods due to the lockdown.
Two of them tested positive after being illegally detained. This goes to show how the arrests were never to prevent the transmission of Covid-19, but to stifle dissent and serve as a warning to the critics of the government. https://www.rappler.com/nation/264402-2-piston-jeepney-drivers-positive-coronavirus
Last June 5, eight demonstrators were illegally arrested for violating quaratine guidelines. The cops also entered UP Cebu, which is a violation of the UP-Department of National Defense (DND) Accord which disallows the military and police to conduct operations on campus
without prior approval of the admin. One of the eight who were arrested was just a bystander who was lost amidst the confusion and panic. He was nabbed by simply asking a police officer "What's happening?". The eight were detained without being told what they were arrested for.
During the '20 Pride March in Manila, 20 protesters were illegally arrested for allegedly violating quaratine guidelines. The participants insisted they wore face masks and practiced social distancing. Four officers also hijacked a van from the protestors.
https://www.facebook.com/1798624332/posts/10213952268079662/
https://www.facebook.com/1798624332/posts/10213952268079662/
When asked what their violation was, the officers did not answer. They only told them, "Nasa batas iyan na bawal iyan. (It's in the law that it's prohibited.)". https://www.rappler.com/nation/264919-cops-arrest-individuals-pride-month-protest-manila-june-2020?utm_campaign=Echobox&utm_medium=Social&utm_source=Facebook#Echobox=1593153244
Another tale of quarantine guidelines being violated is of the NCRPO chief, Major General Debold Sinas'. The senior police official celebrated his 55th birthday with more than a handful of other police officers. Despite being an obvious violation, the Palace was quick to defend
the violator. "It's not his fault that people serenaded him on his birthday," Duterte said. https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1278499/duterte-keeps-sinas-its-on-me
Koko Pimentel was also one of the first high profile quaratine violators. The senator was already posing symptoms of Covid-19 when he accompanied his pregnant wife to Makati Medical Hospital. He found out he tested positive while he was in the hospital. https://www.rappler.com/nation/255874-makati-medical-center-denounces-koko-pimentel-protocol-breach-coronavirus-quarantine
Despite the blatant breach of protocol, the Department of Justice did not further probe into the case, asking for compassion during these difficult times. https://www.rappler.com/nation/255879-doj-will-not-investigate-pimentel-coronavirus-quarantine-breach-without-complaint
2. The police will be given the authority to decide whether the intent behind a civilian's actions are terroristic or not.
The government is pushing to give trigger happy cops the power to decide who the terrorists are.
The government is pushing to give trigger happy cops the power to decide who the terrorists are.
TW / POLICE BRUTALITY, VIOLENCE AGAINST PWD
They want to give these cops who shot an Army veteran suffering from PTSD and other mental health issues. The cops in question insisted they felt threatened by the victim who they thought was going to draw a gun from his bag.
They want to give these cops who shot an Army veteran suffering from PTSD and other mental health issues. The cops in question insisted they felt threatened by the victim who they thought was going to draw a gun from his bag.
A witness also states that his bag carried only his IDs and quarantine pass. However, the police revealed a .38 caliber pistol was found in the victim's bag. https://cnnphilippines.com/news/2020/4/24/Winston-Ragos-shooting-police-Daniel-Florendo-case.html?fbclid=IwAR1bC856U7QJPNt4Mf0vUFU5xm_zz7sQA06t0hnsakVrW-AhUVN9_uo--Aw
The gun the victim was allegedly carrying is the same kind recovered from the slain suspects of the Tokhang Operation pre-Covid. https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/news/nation/655287/why-are-38-cal-guns-always-recovered-from-nanlaban-suspects-pnp-chief-answers/story/
June 9, 2020, a columnist named Margarita Valle was mistakenly arrested for "multiple murder with quadruple frustrated murder," destruction of government property, and arson. Valle was only released after a witness confirmed she only looked like the actual suspect.
The government expects Filipinos to just sit back as they give highly incompetent police officers the prerogative to tag a civilian a terrorist. Even without the Anti-Terror Act in action, the PNP tags progressive organizations as terrorists and gets away with it.
3. The Anti-Terror Act will allow the giver to wiretap communications of suspected terrorists.
What more is there to say?
What more is there to say?
Anti-terrorism countermeasures are already in place with the Human Security Act of 2007, but a proponent of the Anti-Terror Act, Senator Bato dela Rosa, a former PNP chief, insists the existing law is not enough to keep terrorists in check. https://www.msn.com/en-ph/news/national/bato-says-he-had-to-free-nabbed-isis-suspect-sans-anti-terror-law/ar-BB15P7pN?li=BBr8RiR
Human rights lawyer Chel Diokno, however, refutes dela Rosa's sentiments. https://www.msn.com/en-ph/news/national/law-enforcers-capacity-resources-vs-terror-lacking-not-human-security-act-%E2%80%94chel-diokno/ar-BB15PysO
For more detailed explanation of the "pros" and the cons of the Anti-Terror Act, watch this:
