- House Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano has said that anti-terrorism bill would not target activists
House Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano recently took his stand for the controversial anti-terrorism bill being pushed by the government.
The bill which seeks to amend the Human Security Act of 2007 was approved by the House of Representatives committee on public order and safety earlier in the first week of June. President Rodrigo Duterte is now expected to sign the bill into law.
On Friday, Cayetano explained that activists would not be targeted by the bill as he said that activism is not considered an act of terrorism. He also urged critics to fully understand the proposed Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020.
“I agree 100 percent… activism is not terrorism,” he said during the final session before Congress went on break.
Cayetano further explained that terrorism “shall not include advocacy, protest, dissent, stoppage of work, industrial or mass action, and other similar exercises of civil and political rights, which are not intended to cause death or serious physical harm to a person, to endanger a person’s life, or to create a serious risk to public safety.”
He added that those who protest against the government are not considered terrorists under the amended law.
“But let me make another thing clear… terrorism is not activism,” said Cayetano.
“In the same way that we should not persecute or go after activism in the guise that they are terrorists, activists, do not allow terrorists to hide within your ranks.”
The bill also has an expanded definition of “terrorism” and introduces a new crime of “inciting to commit terrorism” which led others to think that it would impose stern measures against government critics.
On that same day Cayetano made his announcement,news about the arresting of several activists who peacefully protested against the passing of the Anti-terrorism bill broke out.
This was decried by celebrities like Pia Magalona, Chai Fonacier, Lloyd Cadena, Antoinette Jadaone, and K Brosas who were further convinced that the Anti-Terror Bill should be junked.
“Oh the buffoonery!! #JUNKTERRORBILLNOW” Magalona tweeted.
Oh the buffoonery!! #JUNKTERRORBILLNOW https://t.co/F0fOy1OSVp
— Pia Magalona ⁷ (@piamagalona) June 5, 2020
Fonacier who vented her anger through social media said, “Is this true?! IS THIS TRUE?
“DOES TWITTER NOT HAVE A BIGGER FONT SIZE FOR ALL THE ANGER I AM FEELING RIGHT NOW?! I HOPE YOU ALL ROT IN HELL FUCK YOU FUCK YOU FUCK YOU.”
https://twitter.com/bansheerabidcat/status/1268795612989804544?s=19
Cadena commented, “Pero Kung Mañanita Birthday Party keri?!Nakakaloka!!”
https://twitter.com/LloydCadena/status/1268766341571338240?s=19
“Akala ko ba walang dapat ikatakot sa Anti-Terrorism Bill?” the director wrote.
Akala ko ba walang dapat ikatakot sa Anti-Terrorism Bill? https://t.co/rjhZ94cbND
— Toñet (@tonetjadaone) June 5, 2020
“Omg!!! Ayan ngaaaaaa!! Haaaaay!!” Brosas cried out.
Omg!!! Ayan na ngaaaaaaa!! Haaaaay!! #JUNKTERROBILLNOW
https://t.co/q6TCOqaRYT
— carmela brosas (@kbrosas) June 5, 2020
Aside from them, top Kapamilya celebrities Liza Soberano, Nadine Lustre, and Kathryn Bernardo were among the celebrities who voiced out their opposition to the anti-terrorism bill. International singer Taylor Swift also used her influence to urge her followers to junk the anti-terrorism bill in the country.
