Chicago Fil-Am Activists Discuss the Anti-Terror Law
Anakbayan Chicago, protestor with a sign at Anti-Terror Law action
On July 3, Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte signed the Anti-Terror Act into law. This act has garnered international attention as the law replaces the Human Security Act of 2007 and extends the definition of ‘terrorism’ in the Philippines.
The Anti-Terror Council, comprised of members of President Duterte’s cabinet and one other government official, has the ability to detain anyone on the grounds that they have incited terrorism. The law emphasizes ‘intention’ in the characterization of a terrorist act which is defined in vague terms within the law. Suspects of a terrorist act can be detained without a warrant of arrest for up to 14 days and that can be extended by 10 more days.
Anakbayan is a national democratic organization for Filipinx youth and students that fights for democracy and liberation in the Philippines. The organization has recently been supporting campaigns such as Junk the Anti-Terror Law and a campaign to pass the Philippines Human Rights Act. In addition, they have been holding fundraisers to raise money for disaster relief, political prisoners, and those impacted by the start of the pandemic.
Janessa Huntilla, a member of Anakbayan’s Chicago chapter, spoke about the government’s limited response to struggling communities in the Philippines amidst the pandemic and the eruption of the Taal volcano.
“It shows their priorities are not to take care of people who are most vulnerable, which are farmers and workers,” said Huntilla. “But to target the people and we see that and how they are prioritizing the bill right now.”
Huntilla addressed that unemployment in the Philippines has reached an unprecedented high since the coronavirus. According to data from the National Statistics Office of the Philippines, 7.3 million people are now unemployed in the Philippines. This is in comparison to 2.4 million people unemployed in the first quarter of 2020.
Anakbayan Chicago, Anti-Terror Law protestors demonstrating on ground
The Anti-Terror Bill adds to the fear felt by many Filipinos and is openly denounced by international organizations such as Amnesty International.
Amnesty International’s Asia-Pacific Regional Director, Nicholas Bequelin, spoke out against the bill.
“The approval of this law grants the government excessive and unchecked powers,” said Bequelin. “Legislation aimed at ‘countering terrorism’ must ensure respect for international human rights and humanitarian law and protect basic liberties.”
Huntilla reiterates that the law attempts to determine a person’s intent to commit a terror act.
“It’s up to the council to determine what the intent is but how can you actually see or know someone’s intent,” Huntilla said. “That’s not something that has a material basis.”
As a member of Anakbayan Chicago, Huntilla has seen support from the Filipinx-American community in relation to the law.
“I think a lot of Filipinos in the diaspora are just being very politicized in this country and making connections to what’s happening in the Philippines, too,” said Huntilla.
Anakbayan Chicago, protestors raising hands at Anti-Terror Law action
Another Philippines Student Association in Chicago advocates for the increased awareness of the government’s actions in the Philippines. The organization was established by two active members of Anakbayan who wanted to create a space for the Filipinx community at the university. The group opted to remain anonymous due to the ambiguity of the law and out of fear that the act of speaking out in this article could be labeled as terrorism. The organization would like to note that their only intent is to raise awareness and spread information.
The president of the student organization described the organization’s mission to create an inclusive community for Filipinx students.
“Our mission is not only limited to connecting members to each other but also connecting them to our shared heritage,” said the PSA president.
She discussed the discouragement of free speech as a result of the law as proven by the closure of the largest broadcast network in the Philippines, ABS-CBN, and the arrest of dissenters of the government such as Maria Ressa.
“As a Filipinx-American, I find it very worrisome that peaceful Filipinx critics in the Philippines and abroad are being red-tagged, unjustly detained and arrested solely because they are trying to express their discontent towards action, or lack thereof, of the administration,” she said.
The PSA president said she wants the organization to continue to use education in order to advocate for Filipinx communities.
“The first step of this advocacy is by trying to keep our members informed with updated facts from credible sources and sharing teach-in events organized by Filipinx groups in the midwest. From this, they can decide for themselves on what they should do with the information given. Our hope is for them to potentially mobilize themselves and engage in the movement through whatever means they have and to the extent they are comfortable in.”