APCHRP Statement on Anti-Terrorism Council demonstrates anew how the Terror Law can be weaponized against government critics
Barely two weeks after the unjust use of the Anti-Terrorism Act against three human rights defenders in Southern Tagalog, the Anti-Terrorism Council (ATC) demonstrated anew how the “terror law” can be used to reduce the legitimate struggle of the Filipino people as mere terrorism and justify its anti-communist witch hunt against progressive individuals.
In a press statement released last July 10, 2023, the Office of the President’s Anti-Terrorism Council approved ATC Resolution No. 41, designating six individuals as “terrorists” for being alleged members of the Communist Party of the Philippines – New People’s Army (CPP-NPA). Sarah Abellon Alikes, Jennifer Awingan, Windel Balag-ey Bolinget, Stephen Ambucay Tauli, Jovencio Sannadan Tangbawan, and May Rodriguez Vargas-Casilao were named and identified by the ATC based on supposed “verified and validated information” with regard to their violations of the Anti-Terrorism Act, particularly Sections 4, 6, 10, and 12 which generally pertain to the planning, recruitment, provision of material support, and commission of terrorism.
The probable cause presented by the Anti-Terrorism Council to designate these individuals were based on “reasonable suspicion” that led them to believe that the designation meets the requirements set by the Council. Without provision of material and substantial evidence to the public to merit their claim, the ATC’s suspicion is convenient enough to prosecute the aforementioned individuals. Consequently, their terrorist designation will permit the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) to investigate and freeze their assets and properties in accordance with RA No. 10168 or the Terrorism Financing Prevention and Suppression Act of 2012.
Earlier this year, four of the newly-designated individuals who were members and leaders of the Cordillera People’s Alliance (CPA) similarly faced outright political persecutions from the state. The four CPA members were among the seven Northern Luzon activists who were charged with bogus cases of rebellion, which were recently dismissed a few months ago. Sarah Abellon and the other five individuals now add up to the 32 individuals tagged by the ATC as terrorist individuals affiliated with CPP-NPA.
Despite the state’s series of repetitive red-tagging and filing of trumped-up cases against these individuals, the courts continuously dismiss the charges due to lack of evidence. The recent arbitrary designation by the Anti-Terrorism Council appears to be its desperate attempt to target critics after the state’s consistent flawed narratives against them in courts. The malicious use of the law and the illogical judgment used by the ATC is a systematic move to target Marcos Jr.’s critics who are persistent in advocating pro-people causes that are against his ill interests.
The Asia Pacific Coalition for Human Rights in the Philippines denounces the recent designation by the Anti-Terrorism Council and the tyrannical use of our laws to suppress and legally hold critics at gunpoint. These terrorist-tagging schemes are not only prelude to filing of more cases without evidence, but they also serve as one step away from the proliferation of extra-judicial killings. The coalition urges the government to immediately retract ATC Resolution No. 41 and the unjust terrorist designation of the six individuals. We enjoin all human rights advocates to further strengthen our call to junk the Anti-Terrorism Act, through which real state terrorists legitimize their actions against the Filipino people.
For Reference: Sister Patricia Fox, APCHRP Spokesperson
