'Repeal Anti-Terrorism Act,' Cebu protesters urge lawmakers

CEBU CITY, Philippines — Urban poor residents, students, and progressive organizations called for the repeal of the Anti-Terrorism Act as they marked its sixth year of its implementation on Friday, July 3.

Their demonstration took place the Armed Forces of the Philippines Visayas Command Triangle in Lahug, Cebu City.

The continued implementation of the Anti-Terrorism Act and Terrorism Financing Prevention and Suppression Act, protesters claimed, have been used to target activists, people’s organizations, and government critics.

READ: Journalist found guilty of terror financing, gets 18 years in jail

The National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict has likewise been used as a means to target, they said.

The protest, led by Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (BAYAN) Central Visayas, formed part of the National and Global Day of Action Against Terror Laws. Participants said they oppose.

Among those who joined the rally were members of the Cebu Urban Poor Women’s League, human rights groups, youth organizations, the University of the Philippines Cebu University Student Council (UP Cebu USC), Nagkahiusang Kusog sa Estudyante (NKE), and Kabataan Party-list (KPL) Cebu.

‘Beyond the law’

For Cebu Urban Poor Women’s League Chairperson Belinda “Bebe” Allere, the issue goes beyond the law itself. She said, moreover, that urban poor communities continue to struggle with unemployment, rising prices, lack of housing, and what she described as government neglect.

“Una sa tanan grabe jud among kalisud, dugay na kaayo mi nag agwanta sa among mga kalisdanan. Mokaon jud mig gusto na pagkaon nga lami, pero wala mi trabaho unsaon mana!… Nanumpa ang gobyerno nga mohatag sila ug mga trabahoan sa atong katawhan… pero unsay gibuhat sa gobyerno, nangutang, nangangkat ug bugas,” Allere said.

(First of all, we are experiencing extreme hardship. We have endured these struggles for a very long time. We want to eat decent food, but we don’t have jobs—how can we do that? The government promised to provide jobs for the people, but instead, what has it done? It has borrowed money and relied on importing rice.)

READ: ‘Red-tagging’ case of detained journalist Frenchie Mae Cumpio

Call to support farmers

Allere also urged the government to strengthen agriculture, support Filipino farmers, and expand local industries, saying these would help create jobs, improve food security, and reduce dependence on imported rice.

“Hatagan mi niya ug programa nga atong agrikultura iyang palambuon ug suportahan niya ang mga mag-uuma, aron mo mugna produkto ug pagkaon nga dili nata mangangkat ug bugas sa lain nasud… Mohatag siya ug mga trabaho, labi na sa industriya kay kaning atong nasud daghan mina nga gihakot rapud sa mga langyaw nga negosyante,” Allere said.

(The government should implement programs that will develop our agriculture and support our farmers so they can produce enough food and we will no longer have to import rice from other countries. It should also create jobs, especially in industry, because our country has abundant mineral resources that are simply being taken by foreign businesses.)

‘Under surveillance’

She also claimed members of their organization have experienced surveillance, saying military personnel have repeatedly visited their communities.

“Sa pagkakaron among mga miyembro gipang surveillance, naa ang CMO, Civil Military Operation, naa sa mga tugkaran sa mga kumunidad… Among miyembro sa Lapu-Lapu nga 15 ka chapters kay na hurot, kay nahadlok kay ang Air Force naa didto sige ug balik-balik… Karon nia sa Cebu City, mao gihapon… among mga balay ato saka-sakahon, house-to-houson,” she said.

(Right now, our members are being placed under surveillance. Civil Military Operations personnel are present in our communities. In Lapu-Lapu, all 15 of our chapters have dissolved because members became afraid after Air Force personnel repeatedly visited the area. Now here in Cebu City, it’s the same. They go from house to house, visiting our homes.)

Allere urged the government to prioritize housing, employment, agriculture, and higher wages instead of what she described as suppression of those who raise community concerns.

“Akong panawagan sa gobyerno kay una ipatuman niya ang programang pabalay… Mohatag siya ug mga trabaho… Tagaan mig saktong pamalay… ug kanang makabuhi na sweldo. Kanang 540 pesos dako kaayo na syag kulang. Kailangan nga makabuhi na sweldo. Dapat 1,200 pesos”, she said.

(My call to the government is to implement a housing program first. It should provide jobs, ensure that families have decent homes, and guarantee a living wage. A daily wage of P540 is far from enough. Workers need a wage they can truly live on. It should be P1,200.)

Student leaders also joined the protest, saying young people have a role in defending democratic rights.

UP Cebu University Student Council Councilor for Culture, Arts and Development Kenneth Louise Bendol said the rally was intended to help students better understand the country’s current social realities.

“Among rally nahitabo karon kay basically ang pagbatok sa anti-terror law and amoang gipadayag ang katungod nato isip usa ka estudyante ug katungod pud sa katawhan nga mahimong amgo sa tinood na kasinatian sa atong katilingban. Dli lang gani sa sector sa kabatan-onan pero apil pud ang urban poor nga gi explain ug gipalawman ang pagsabot sa kung unsay tinood na sitwasyon nato sa atong nasud karon,” Bendol said.

(Our rally today is basically about opposing the Anti-Terrorism Act. We are also asserting our rights as students and the people’s right to become aware of the realities in our society. This is not only about the youth sector, but also about the urban poor, whose situation helps deepen our understanding of the country’s true condition today.)

‘Illegal detention’

Nagkahiusang Kusog sa Estudyante member Athena Romulo, meanwhile, said the Anti-Terrorism Act has affected activists across the country and cited the case of the “Cebu 8.”

“Exactly six years ago na i-batas ang kaning terror law… under ani na balaod kay kailangan raka ug suspetsya para maka illegally detained ka… Ang perfect example na dool sa kasing-kasing sa mga taga UP Cebu kay ang Cebu 8… gipangdakop sila ug sila ang usa mga biktima aning terror law,” Romulo said.

(Exactly six years ago, this Terror Law was enacted. Under this law, mere suspicion can lead to the illegal detention of activists. A case that is especially close to the UP Cebu community is the Cebu 8. During the pandemic, when public mobilizations were still restricted, eight individuals held a peaceful protest outside the UP Cebu entrance gate. They were arrested and became among those we consider victims of this law.)

‘Fear-provoking’

Asked why repealing the law remains important, Romulo said it discourages people from speaking out despite what she described as their legitimate calls for justice.

“Very much because technically law ni sya para mapahadlok… ang pagbasura ani kay importante kaayo kay mintras wala man jud na haw-as ang atong tinood na kalisdanan. Magpabilin jud nang naay mo resist, naay magdala ug placards ug streamers ug makigbisog ug mag-organisa,” she said.

(This law is essentially meant to intimidate people. Repealing it is very important because our real problems remain unresolved. As long as those problems exist, there will always be people who will resist, carry placards and streamers, continue the struggle, and organize.)

The protest ended with participants renewing their call for the repeal of the Anti-Terrorism Act. They also urged the government to address pressing concerns of ordinary Filipinos, including housing, jobs, food security, and the protection of civil liberties.

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