BY THE NATIONAL UNION OF PEOPLE’S LAWYERS – PANAY CHAPTER and PANAY ALLIANCE-KARAPATAN
THE “WEAPONIZATION” of the law or employing it as an instrument of oppression against citizens, has never been systematically practiced by the government as in the present.
At a time when the Filipino nation and people suffer from a worsening crisis of diminished incomes and livelihood, increasing costs of basic commodities and utilities, floods and other calamities, the State tightens its control over the citizenry even more. Despite repeated calls for solving the real roots of conflict in society, it continues to wield the iron fist against those who oppose its unsound and unjust policies and express their sentiments and seek redress.
Standing out among laws being used to clamp on legitimate dissent is the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020. Not just a record holder with 37 petitions filed in the Supreme Court to scrap it, it created a monster of the Anti- Terrorism Council with the powers of judge, jury and executioner against targeted personas.
In June this year, the ATC designated as “terrorists” six persons in the Cordillera region, among them staunch activists who consistently advocated for human rights and the rights of indigenous people but were branded as terrorists and their organizations labeled as “communist fronts”.
To be designated as a “terrorist” makes one vulnerable to the harsh penalties of the Anti-Terrorism Act and to the real danger of extrajudicial killing. Fear lingers among activists and advocates around the country of being the next to be conferred such a dreadful designation.
Aside from the “Terror Act”, the State has made use of whatever law in record to conveniently do away with its perceived enemies, from illegal possession of firearms and explosives to murder, and even the unlikely trafficking in children. Numerous victims of trumped-up charges languish in prisons for many years, as in the case of Sen. Leila de Lima, only to be dismissed after the very slow court process grinds to conclusion.
Now comes the National Security Policy (2023-2028) of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. Its provision stating “The Government shall strengthen its action against the legal fronts of the CPP-NPA-NDF to stop recruitment, cut financial sources, and debunk their propaganda” only magnifies the ominous threats looming against well- meaning activists and advocates.
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A Forum-Discussion on the political situation, the weaponization of the law and the necessity of protection for Human Rights Defenders will be held on Sept. 16, 2023. (Venue to be announced)
It will come up with some insights on the overall situation confronting Filipinos at present and focus on the weaponization of law as destructive to the lives, well-being, rights and freedoms of citizens.
We hope to come up with recommendations and responses on how to put up and strengthen possible structural defenses such as legislations for the protection of human rights defenders – the advocates and activists who become hapless victims of this intentional and malicious abuse of the law.
Through this forum, we could strengthen the advocacy for the people’s rights and freedoms by making a firm stand against violations especially those perpetrated by government instrumentalities./PN
