Thursday, July 30, 2020
FREEDOM OF ASSEMBLY.
"In this Decision, the Court goes even one step further in safeguarding liberty by giving local governments a deadline of 30 days within which to designate specific freedom parks as provided under B.P. No. 880. IF, AFTER THAT PERIOD, NO SUCH PARKS ARE SO IDENTIFIED IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 15 OF THE LAW, ALL PUBLIC PARKS AND PLAZAS OF THE MUNICIPALITY OR CITY CONCERNED SHALL IN EFFECT BE DEEMED FREEDOM PARKS; NO PRIOR PERMITS OF WHATEVER KIND SHALL BE REQUIRED TO HOLD AN ASSEMBLY THEREON. The only requirement will be WRITTEN NOTICES TO THE POLICE AND THE MAYOR'S OFFICE to allow proper coordination and orderly activities."
[G.R. NO. 169838 : April 25, 2006]
BAYAN, KARAPATAN, KILUSANG MAGBUBUKID NG PILIPINAS (KMP), GABRIELA, Fr. Jose Dizon, Renato Constantino, Jr., Froyel Yaneza, and Fahima Tajar, Petitioners, v. EDUARDO ERMITA, in his capacity as Executive Secretary, Manila City Mayor LITO ATIENZA, Chief of the Philippine National Police, Gen. ARTURO M. LOMIBAO, NCRPO Chief Maj. Gen. VIDAL QUEROL, and Western Police District Chief Gen. PEDRO BULAONG, Respondents.
[G.R. NO. 169848 : April 25, 2006]
Jess Del Prado, Wilson Fortaleza, Leody de Guzman, Pedro Pinlac, Carmelita Morante, Rasti Delizo, Paul Bangay, Marie Jo Ocampo, Lilia dela Cruz, Cristeta Ramos, Adelaida Ramos, Mary Grace Gonzales, Michael Torres, Rendo Sabusap, Precious Balute, Roxanne Magboo, Ernie Bautista, Joseph de Jesus, Margarita Escober, Djoannalyn Janier, Magdalena Sellote, Manny Quiazon, Ericson Dizon, Nenita Cruzat, Leonardo De los Reyes, Pedrito Fadrigon, Petitioners, v. EDUARDO ERMITA, in his official capacity as The Executive Secretary and in his personal capacity, ANGELO REYES, in his official capacity as Secretary of the Interior and Local Governments, ARTURO LOMIBAO, in his official capacity as the Chief, Philippine National Police, VIDAL QUEROL, in his official capacity as the Chief, National Capital Regional Police Office (NCRPO), PEDRO BULAONG, in his official capacity as the Chief, Manila Police District (MPD) AND ALL OTHER PUBLIC OFFICERS GARCIA, and AND PRIVATE INDIVIDUALS ACTING UNDER THEIR CONTROL, SUPERVISION AND INSTRUCTIONS, Respondents.
[G.R. NO. 169881 : April 25, 2006]
KILUSANG MAYO UNO, represented by its Chairperson ELMER C. LABOG and Secretary General JOEL MAGLUNSOD, NATIONAL FEDERATION OF LABOR UNIONS-KILUSANG MAYO UNO (NAFLU-KMU), represented by its National President, JOSELITO V. USTAREZ, ANTONIO C. PASCUAL, SALVADOR T. CARRANZA, GILDA SUMILANG, FRANCISCO LASTRELLA, and ROQUE M. TAN, Petitioners, v. THE HONORABLE EXECUTIVE SECRETARY, PNP DIRECTOR GENRAL ARTURO LOMIBAO, HONORABLE MAYOR LITO ATIENZA, and PNP MPD CHIEF SUPT. PEDRO BULAONG, Respondents.
Source:
https://www.chanrobles.com/scdecisions/jurisprudence2006/apr2006/gr_169838_2006.php
POWERFUL FALSEHOODS. HOW RODRIGO DUTERTE, THE PRESIDENT OF THE PHILIPPINES, DEPENDS ON ONLINE TROLLS.
REFRESHER, 2018.
"POWERFUL FALSEHOODS.
HOW RODRIGO DUTERTE, THE PRESIDENT OF THE PHILIPPINES, DEPENDS ON ONLINE TROLLS.
By ALAN C. ROBLES
15/04/2018
www.dandc.eu
RODRIGO DUTERTE, the president of the Philippines rode to power on a WAVE OF DISINFORMATION two years ago. He has NOT DELIVERED ON CAMPAIGN PROMISES, apart from one thing. His PHONEY “WAR ON DRUGS ” has claimed some 12,000 LIVES.
Rodrigo Duterte is the best president in the solar system, according to the US National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). He is admired by Queen Elizabeth II who says, all world leaders should consult him. Bill Gates, the tech tycoon, is so impressed by how peaceful the Philippines has become under Duterte that he went to Manila to invest $ 20 billion.
EACH OF THESE STATEMENTS IS a CRUDE LIE. They are among a host of similar FABRICATIONS CIRCULATING ON FACEBOOK. All are PRESENTED AS “NEWS STORIES ”, completed with SPURIOUS HEADLINES, FAKE PHOTOS AND QUOTATIONS IN FRACTURED ENGLISH. They often refer to MISLEADINGLY NAMED WEBSITES, such as aljazeera-tv, bbc101.co.uk, dai1lymail or dw-tv3.
Tens of thousands of FB users like, promote and SHARE THESE LIES, which then wash up, like toxic detritus, on many Filipinos’ screens. There is nothing accidental or random about this flood. It is DELIBERATELY ENGINEERED, ENGINEERED TARGETED AND MAINTAINED with specific goals. The idea is TO MAKE RODRIGO DUTERTE LOOK GOOD, TRASH HIS CRITICS AND CONFUSE THE PEOPLE.
DISINFORMATION is nothing new in politics. “FAKE NEWS ” is really just PROPAGANDA, something that has been around for centuries. But it is now SUPERCHARGED BY SOCIAL-MEDIA PLATFORMS. Joseph Goebbels, the Nazi minister, could only have dreamed of this kind of instant delivery, around-the-clock availability and individual targeting.
Three things facilitate the rapid proliferation of fake news in the Philippines: mobile devices, Facebook and trolls. Today, most Filipinos have smartphones. Low-budget telecom subscriptions allow them to access the internet at any time, and FACEBOOK IS THE MOST POPULAR PLATFORM. The Philippines currently has 101 million inhabitants, 119 MILLIONS MOBILE PHONE SUBSCRIPTIONS and 47 MILLIONS FACEBOOK ACCOUNTS, as the website www.rappler.com reports.
AN UNKNOWN NUMBER OF the FACEBOOK ACCOUNTS BELONGS TO TROLLS – online personas who are the equivalent of stone throwing HOOLIGANS. In the early days of the internet, trolls were random UNPLEASANT INDIVIDUALS who delighted in SPOILING DISCUSSIONS and PROVOKING ANGER. Today, however, PAID AGENTS lead ORGANIZED ARMIES OF TROLLS. Some use BOGUS ACCOUNTS to spread their vitriol; some use AUTOMATED SOFTWARE PROGRAMMES (“BOTS ”).
Many people believe Donald Trump was the first populist leader with authoritarian leanings to win high office thanks to fake news. BUT SIX MONTHS BEFORE TRUMP WON THE PRESIDENCY ON NOVEMBER 2016, DUTERTE SUCCESSFULLY RODE ON A TIDE OF ONLINE DISINFORMATION TO POWER. He POLARIZED THE ELECTORATE, TAPPING INTO FEELINGS OF FEAR, HATRED AND RESENTMENT.
CYBER ASSAULT
Reconstructing what happened, scholars and journalists have revealed how DUTERTE ’s STRATEGISTS MOBILIZED TROLLS, MANIPULATED PUBLIC OPINION AND USED STOLEN DATA TO TARGET INDIVIDUALS. They also relied on FOREIGN CONSULTANTS. One of them was possibly ALEXANDER NIX, the infamous former head of CAMBRIDGE ANALYTICA, the company that has been accused of STEALING THE PERSONAL DATA OF ALMOST 90 MILLION FACEBOOK USERS IN SUPPORT OF THE TRUMP CAMPAIGN.
As Hong Kong’s South China Morning Post reports, NIX VISITED MANILA IN 2015 A THE HEAD OF A a CAMBRIDGE ANALYTICA’s PARENT COMPANY, STRATEGIC COMMUNICATION Laboratories (SCL). He told the National Press Club: “The most powerful way to have elections is to have the people themselves campaign for you.” INSTEAD OF RELYING ON SURVEYS, CAMPAIGN STRATEGISTS SHOULD USE DATA TO INFLUENCE PERSONAL BEHAVIOUR. According to Nix, even “FUNDAMENTALLY FLAWED ” CANDIDATES who might otherwise never win could use a strategy that would MAXIMISED THEIR “LIKABLE TRAITS ”.
SCL claims to have successfully given advice to scores of candidates around the world. An SCL webpage, which has since been taken down, stated that ONE CLIENT WAS A PHILIPPINE CANDIDATE WHOM IT ADVISED TO PLAY UP THE CHARACTER OF A TOUGH, NO-NONSENSE LEADER WHO IS HARD ON CRIME. DUTERTE was not named, but the DESCRIPTION FITS HIM. The National Press Club’s president, by the way, has since become Duterte’s undersecretary for communications.
In APRIL 2018, Facebook revealed that CAMBRIDGE ANALYTICA STOLE THE PRIVATE DATA OF MORE THAN ONE MILLION FILIPINO FACEBOOK USERS. What exactly SCL and Cambridge Analytica did in the Philippines remains shadowy. That is true of another foreign group, which has been described as “RUMANIAN ”. A campaign manager of another candidate said he was offered an AUTOMATED SYSTEM that used SPECIAL SOFTWARE to MONITOR SOCIAL-MEDIA ACTIVITY, IDENTIFY ISSUES, MOBILIZE SUPPORTERS, SPREAD CONTENT and even GENERATE THOUSANDS OF FAKE ACCOUNTS. Everything would be managed from a high-tech command centre. That particular candidate turned down the offer but others might have accepted it.
FACEBOOK however, is the multinational corporation that quite OPENLY HELPED DUTERTE. The company TRAINED THE STAFFS of any interested candidates on how best to use the social-media platform. DUTERTE'S STRATEGISTS EAGERLY ACCEPTED THE ADVICE. According to Bloomberg.com, the service was delivered by FACEBOOK’s “GLOBAL GOVERNMENTS AND POLITICS TEAM ”. Headed by Katie Harbath, a former strategist of the US Republican party, this team TAUGHT POLITICAL PARTIES TO SET UP CAMPAIGN PAGES, CREATE CONTENT AND LIVESTREAM EVENTS. It may also have SOLD ADVERTISING SPACE.
Harbath said in an interview in 2016: “What we are trying to do is give users access, making them informed.” That is not how things turned out. DUTERTE ’s STRATEGISTS ORGANIZED SUPPORTERS IN REAL-WORLD AND ONLINE GROUPS THAT PLAYED TWO BASIC ROLES: they pumped out a steady stream of FAKE NEWS AND DISINFORMATION ABOUT DUTERTE AND HIS OPPONENTS, and they HARASSED AND INTIMIDATED ANYONE CRITICS, DUMPING THOUSANDS OF FRENZIED COMMENTS ON ANY FACEBOOK POST THAT DARED TO CRITICIZE THEIR CANDIDATES. The trolls did not necessarily want to convince everyone. INTIMIDATION AND CONFUSION SERVED THEIR PURPOSES TOO.
FACEBOOK has proudly declared that 22 MILLION FILIPINO USERS were ACTIVELY ENGAGED IN THE ELECTION CAMPAIGN. Depressingly, this was not a laudable example of broad-based participation in a democratic process. MUCH OF THE ACTIVISM WAS TOXIC AND JUST SPREAD DISINFORMATION.
A recent STUDY by the NEWTON TECH4DEV NETWORK concludes that the DUTERTE CAMPAIGN DID NOT ONLY USE VOLUNTEERS AND FANS. It also relied on PROFESSIONALS FROM ADVERTISING AND PUBLIC RELATIONS. The Newton study adds: “UNDER DUTERTE'S PRESIDENCY, ‘TROLLS ’, OR ‘DUTERTARDS ’ AS HIS FANATIC FOLLOWERS HAVE BEEN DUBBED, ARE SEEN TO HAVE DEBASED POLITICAL DISCOURSE AND SILENCED DISSIDENTS IN THEIR VOCIFEROUS SHARING OF FAKE NEWS AND AMPLIFICATION OF HATE SPEECH.”
Proudly calling themselves “cyberwarriors”, the TROLL HORDES PUSHED THE SAME UNREALISTIC NARRATIVE DURING THE CAMPAIGN. According to it, the COUNTRY’s EXISTENCE WAS THREATENED BY A DRAMATIC DRUG CRISIS, AND ONLY DUTERTE COULD SAVE THE NATION. Neither national nor international statistics provided ANY EVIDENCE for such a drug crisis.
Duterte was 70 years old at that time and known as a FOUL-MOUTHED EX-MAYOR OF DAVAO CITY WITH LINKS TO DEATH SQUADS. But ON FACEBOOK he was PAINTED as a DIAMOND IN THE ROUGH, a REFORMER WHO WOULD FIGHT DRUG SYNDICATES as well as the established ELITES, including business OLIGARCHS, POLITICIANS and the MAINSTREAM MEDIA.
Two years after he won the elections by a PLURALITY of not quite 40 % of the votes, DUTERTE HAS NOT FULFILLED HIS CAMPAIGN PROMISES. His main political initiative is an attempt to RAM THROUGH A NEW CONSTITUTION THAT WOULD PERPETUATE HIS POWER (see my essay in D+C/E+Z e-Paper 2017/02, p. 31). The entrenched ELITES are still very much entrenched. The main beneficiaries of his regime so far seem to have been HIS CRONIES – among them the FAMILY OF THE LATE FERDINAND MARCO'S, a former DICTATOR.
On the other hand, Duterte did promise to fill Manila Bay with the corpses of ten thousands of criminals and drug addicts. Indeed, the so-called WAR ON DRUGS that he launched after taking office in June 2016, “has claimed an estimated 12,000 LIVES OF PRIMARILY POOR URBAN DWELLERS, INCLUDING CHILDREN ”, according to HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH. The KILLERS apparently belong to DEATH SQUADS AND THE POLICE FORCE. Because of the many EXTRAJUDICIAL KILLINGS, President Duterte is now at RISK OF BEING TRIED BY THE INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL COURT ONE DAY. Nonetheless, his popularity rating remains high, HIS TROLLS CONTINUED TO INFEST FACEBOOK, and the FACEBOOK DISINFORMATION MACHINERY CONTINUES TO CHURN OUT CONTENT.
There has been some pushback. Belatedly, the SENATE HAS HELD A SERIES OF HEARINGS ON FAKE NEWS, BUT NOTHING HAS COME OUT OF IT. WIKIPEDIA'S has published a LIST OF FILIPINO FAKE-NEWS WEBSITES. Mainstream media, which chose to ignore the deluge of disinformation on Facebook, have slowly been reporting on fake news. Last year, VERA FILES, an investigative reporting group in Manila, ANALYSED 16 WEEKS OF FAKE NEWS ACTIVITY and found the CONTENT CLEARLY FAVORED two people: DUTERTE and Ferdinand MARCO'S JR.., son of the late, murderous deposed dictator.
Author:
ALAN C. ROBLES is a FREE-LANCE JOURNALISTS based in MANILA.
twitter.com/hotmanila."
Read -
https://www.dandc.eu/en/article/how-rodrigo-duterte-president-philippines-depends-online-trolls
"POWERFUL FALSEHOODS.
HOW RODRIGO DUTERTE, THE PRESIDENT OF THE PHILIPPINES, DEPENDS ON ONLINE TROLLS.
By ALAN C. ROBLES
15/04/2018
www.dandc.eu
RODRIGO DUTERTE, the president of the Philippines rode to power on a WAVE OF DISINFORMATION two years ago. He has NOT DELIVERED ON CAMPAIGN PROMISES, apart from one thing. His PHONEY “WAR ON DRUGS ” has claimed some 12,000 LIVES.
Rodrigo Duterte is the best president in the solar system, according to the US National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). He is admired by Queen Elizabeth II who says, all world leaders should consult him. Bill Gates, the tech tycoon, is so impressed by how peaceful the Philippines has become under Duterte that he went to Manila to invest $ 20 billion.
EACH OF THESE STATEMENTS IS a CRUDE LIE. They are among a host of similar FABRICATIONS CIRCULATING ON FACEBOOK. All are PRESENTED AS “NEWS STORIES ”, completed with SPURIOUS HEADLINES, FAKE PHOTOS AND QUOTATIONS IN FRACTURED ENGLISH. They often refer to MISLEADINGLY NAMED WEBSITES, such as aljazeera-tv, bbc101.co.uk, dai1lymail or dw-tv3.
Tens of thousands of FB users like, promote and SHARE THESE LIES, which then wash up, like toxic detritus, on many Filipinos’ screens. There is nothing accidental or random about this flood. It is DELIBERATELY ENGINEERED, ENGINEERED TARGETED AND MAINTAINED with specific goals. The idea is TO MAKE RODRIGO DUTERTE LOOK GOOD, TRASH HIS CRITICS AND CONFUSE THE PEOPLE.
DISINFORMATION is nothing new in politics. “FAKE NEWS ” is really just PROPAGANDA, something that has been around for centuries. But it is now SUPERCHARGED BY SOCIAL-MEDIA PLATFORMS. Joseph Goebbels, the Nazi minister, could only have dreamed of this kind of instant delivery, around-the-clock availability and individual targeting.
Three things facilitate the rapid proliferation of fake news in the Philippines: mobile devices, Facebook and trolls. Today, most Filipinos have smartphones. Low-budget telecom subscriptions allow them to access the internet at any time, and FACEBOOK IS THE MOST POPULAR PLATFORM. The Philippines currently has 101 million inhabitants, 119 MILLIONS MOBILE PHONE SUBSCRIPTIONS and 47 MILLIONS FACEBOOK ACCOUNTS, as the website www.rappler.com reports.
AN UNKNOWN NUMBER OF the FACEBOOK ACCOUNTS BELONGS TO TROLLS – online personas who are the equivalent of stone throwing HOOLIGANS. In the early days of the internet, trolls were random UNPLEASANT INDIVIDUALS who delighted in SPOILING DISCUSSIONS and PROVOKING ANGER. Today, however, PAID AGENTS lead ORGANIZED ARMIES OF TROLLS. Some use BOGUS ACCOUNTS to spread their vitriol; some use AUTOMATED SOFTWARE PROGRAMMES (“BOTS ”).
Many people believe Donald Trump was the first populist leader with authoritarian leanings to win high office thanks to fake news. BUT SIX MONTHS BEFORE TRUMP WON THE PRESIDENCY ON NOVEMBER 2016, DUTERTE SUCCESSFULLY RODE ON A TIDE OF ONLINE DISINFORMATION TO POWER. He POLARIZED THE ELECTORATE, TAPPING INTO FEELINGS OF FEAR, HATRED AND RESENTMENT.
CYBER ASSAULT
Reconstructing what happened, scholars and journalists have revealed how DUTERTE ’s STRATEGISTS MOBILIZED TROLLS, MANIPULATED PUBLIC OPINION AND USED STOLEN DATA TO TARGET INDIVIDUALS. They also relied on FOREIGN CONSULTANTS. One of them was possibly ALEXANDER NIX, the infamous former head of CAMBRIDGE ANALYTICA, the company that has been accused of STEALING THE PERSONAL DATA OF ALMOST 90 MILLION FACEBOOK USERS IN SUPPORT OF THE TRUMP CAMPAIGN.
As Hong Kong’s South China Morning Post reports, NIX VISITED MANILA IN 2015 A THE HEAD OF A a CAMBRIDGE ANALYTICA’s PARENT COMPANY, STRATEGIC COMMUNICATION Laboratories (SCL). He told the National Press Club: “The most powerful way to have elections is to have the people themselves campaign for you.” INSTEAD OF RELYING ON SURVEYS, CAMPAIGN STRATEGISTS SHOULD USE DATA TO INFLUENCE PERSONAL BEHAVIOUR. According to Nix, even “FUNDAMENTALLY FLAWED ” CANDIDATES who might otherwise never win could use a strategy that would MAXIMISED THEIR “LIKABLE TRAITS ”.
SCL claims to have successfully given advice to scores of candidates around the world. An SCL webpage, which has since been taken down, stated that ONE CLIENT WAS A PHILIPPINE CANDIDATE WHOM IT ADVISED TO PLAY UP THE CHARACTER OF A TOUGH, NO-NONSENSE LEADER WHO IS HARD ON CRIME. DUTERTE was not named, but the DESCRIPTION FITS HIM. The National Press Club’s president, by the way, has since become Duterte’s undersecretary for communications.
In APRIL 2018, Facebook revealed that CAMBRIDGE ANALYTICA STOLE THE PRIVATE DATA OF MORE THAN ONE MILLION FILIPINO FACEBOOK USERS. What exactly SCL and Cambridge Analytica did in the Philippines remains shadowy. That is true of another foreign group, which has been described as “RUMANIAN ”. A campaign manager of another candidate said he was offered an AUTOMATED SYSTEM that used SPECIAL SOFTWARE to MONITOR SOCIAL-MEDIA ACTIVITY, IDENTIFY ISSUES, MOBILIZE SUPPORTERS, SPREAD CONTENT and even GENERATE THOUSANDS OF FAKE ACCOUNTS. Everything would be managed from a high-tech command centre. That particular candidate turned down the offer but others might have accepted it.
FACEBOOK however, is the multinational corporation that quite OPENLY HELPED DUTERTE. The company TRAINED THE STAFFS of any interested candidates on how best to use the social-media platform. DUTERTE'S STRATEGISTS EAGERLY ACCEPTED THE ADVICE. According to Bloomberg.com, the service was delivered by FACEBOOK’s “GLOBAL GOVERNMENTS AND POLITICS TEAM ”. Headed by Katie Harbath, a former strategist of the US Republican party, this team TAUGHT POLITICAL PARTIES TO SET UP CAMPAIGN PAGES, CREATE CONTENT AND LIVESTREAM EVENTS. It may also have SOLD ADVERTISING SPACE.
Harbath said in an interview in 2016: “What we are trying to do is give users access, making them informed.” That is not how things turned out. DUTERTE ’s STRATEGISTS ORGANIZED SUPPORTERS IN REAL-WORLD AND ONLINE GROUPS THAT PLAYED TWO BASIC ROLES: they pumped out a steady stream of FAKE NEWS AND DISINFORMATION ABOUT DUTERTE AND HIS OPPONENTS, and they HARASSED AND INTIMIDATED ANYONE CRITICS, DUMPING THOUSANDS OF FRENZIED COMMENTS ON ANY FACEBOOK POST THAT DARED TO CRITICIZE THEIR CANDIDATES. The trolls did not necessarily want to convince everyone. INTIMIDATION AND CONFUSION SERVED THEIR PURPOSES TOO.
FACEBOOK has proudly declared that 22 MILLION FILIPINO USERS were ACTIVELY ENGAGED IN THE ELECTION CAMPAIGN. Depressingly, this was not a laudable example of broad-based participation in a democratic process. MUCH OF THE ACTIVISM WAS TOXIC AND JUST SPREAD DISINFORMATION.
A recent STUDY by the NEWTON TECH4DEV NETWORK concludes that the DUTERTE CAMPAIGN DID NOT ONLY USE VOLUNTEERS AND FANS. It also relied on PROFESSIONALS FROM ADVERTISING AND PUBLIC RELATIONS. The Newton study adds: “UNDER DUTERTE'S PRESIDENCY, ‘TROLLS ’, OR ‘DUTERTARDS ’ AS HIS FANATIC FOLLOWERS HAVE BEEN DUBBED, ARE SEEN TO HAVE DEBASED POLITICAL DISCOURSE AND SILENCED DISSIDENTS IN THEIR VOCIFEROUS SHARING OF FAKE NEWS AND AMPLIFICATION OF HATE SPEECH.”
Proudly calling themselves “cyberwarriors”, the TROLL HORDES PUSHED THE SAME UNREALISTIC NARRATIVE DURING THE CAMPAIGN. According to it, the COUNTRY’s EXISTENCE WAS THREATENED BY A DRAMATIC DRUG CRISIS, AND ONLY DUTERTE COULD SAVE THE NATION. Neither national nor international statistics provided ANY EVIDENCE for such a drug crisis.
Duterte was 70 years old at that time and known as a FOUL-MOUTHED EX-MAYOR OF DAVAO CITY WITH LINKS TO DEATH SQUADS. But ON FACEBOOK he was PAINTED as a DIAMOND IN THE ROUGH, a REFORMER WHO WOULD FIGHT DRUG SYNDICATES as well as the established ELITES, including business OLIGARCHS, POLITICIANS and the MAINSTREAM MEDIA.
Two years after he won the elections by a PLURALITY of not quite 40 % of the votes, DUTERTE HAS NOT FULFILLED HIS CAMPAIGN PROMISES. His main political initiative is an attempt to RAM THROUGH A NEW CONSTITUTION THAT WOULD PERPETUATE HIS POWER (see my essay in D+C/E+Z e-Paper 2017/02, p. 31). The entrenched ELITES are still very much entrenched. The main beneficiaries of his regime so far seem to have been HIS CRONIES – among them the FAMILY OF THE LATE FERDINAND MARCO'S, a former DICTATOR.
On the other hand, Duterte did promise to fill Manila Bay with the corpses of ten thousands of criminals and drug addicts. Indeed, the so-called WAR ON DRUGS that he launched after taking office in June 2016, “has claimed an estimated 12,000 LIVES OF PRIMARILY POOR URBAN DWELLERS, INCLUDING CHILDREN ”, according to HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH. The KILLERS apparently belong to DEATH SQUADS AND THE POLICE FORCE. Because of the many EXTRAJUDICIAL KILLINGS, President Duterte is now at RISK OF BEING TRIED BY THE INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL COURT ONE DAY. Nonetheless, his popularity rating remains high, HIS TROLLS CONTINUED TO INFEST FACEBOOK, and the FACEBOOK DISINFORMATION MACHINERY CONTINUES TO CHURN OUT CONTENT.
There has been some pushback. Belatedly, the SENATE HAS HELD A SERIES OF HEARINGS ON FAKE NEWS, BUT NOTHING HAS COME OUT OF IT. WIKIPEDIA'S has published a LIST OF FILIPINO FAKE-NEWS WEBSITES. Mainstream media, which chose to ignore the deluge of disinformation on Facebook, have slowly been reporting on fake news. Last year, VERA FILES, an investigative reporting group in Manila, ANALYSED 16 WEEKS OF FAKE NEWS ACTIVITY and found the CONTENT CLEARLY FAVORED two people: DUTERTE and Ferdinand MARCO'S JR.., son of the late, murderous deposed dictator.
Author:
ALAN C. ROBLES is a FREE-LANCE JOURNALISTS based in MANILA.
twitter.com/hotmanila."
Read -
https://www.dandc.eu/en/article/how-rodrigo-duterte-president-philippines-depends-online-trolls
Duterte's anti-terror law - "The dissenting voices were strong but they remained unheeded. None of the serious concerns that they expressed about this legislative measure seemed to be of any consequence to them. Alas, the political pressure from above seemed to weigh more heavily on our legislators than the voices from below. It only made more evident the blurring of lines between legislative and the executive branches of our government."
See -
https://cbcpnews.net/cbcpnews/a-pastoral-letter-and-a-call-to-prayer/?fbclid=IwAR0hvE7-3xd3xkP5TOgwACDzQAYDTeMABTZIQIglhmKsW1PpUgJOuI5UGIw
"x x x.
A Pastoral Letter and a Call to Prayer
Sow for yourselves justice, reap in mercy. Break up for yourselves a new field, for it is time to seek the Lord, till he comes and rains justice upon you.
Hosea 10:12
Dear Fellow Filipinos,
A few days ago, we received a letter from His Eminence, Charles Cardinal Maung Bo, Archbishop of Yangon, Myanmar and President of the Federation of Asian Bishops’ Conferences. It was an ardent request for prayers for Hongkong, on account of the signing into law of a new National Security Act. He explained in his letter how this new law poses a threat to the basic freedoms and human rights of the people of Hongkong, and how it potentially undermines especially their freedom of expression.
Apparently, the Chinese government assures the people of Hongkong that they have nothing to be afraid of, as long as “they don’t get involved in any activity that threatens national security.” Why does this sound eerily familiar to us Filipinos? Because we are in a similar situation. And so, while we responded with an assurance to His Eminence, Cardinal Bo, that we would join him in praying for the people of Hongkong, we also asked him to pray for the Philippines and explained why we are as seriously in need of prayers as the people of Hongkong. Like them, we are also alarmed about the recent signing into law of the Anti-Terror Act of 2020.
We are still in disbelief about the manner in which the contentious Anti-Terror Bill was fast-tracked and approved in both Houses of Congress while the whole country’s attention was focused on the Covid-19 pandemic. They did not even seem to care that many of the people they represent were against it—lawyers’ associations, the academe, the business sector, labor groups, youth organizations, NGO’s, political movements, faith-based communities, and even the Bangsamoro government.
The dissenting voices were strong but they remained unheeded. None of the serious concerns that they expressed about this legislative measure seemed to be of any consequence to them. Alas, the political pressure from above seemed to weigh more heavily on our legislators than the voices from below. It only made more evident the blurring of lines between legislative and the executive branches of our government.
In particular, the legal experts and constitutionalists in our country are seriously concerned that this newly signed law has many elements that are “oppressive and inconsistent with our Constitution.” They have pointed out convincingly how this new law poses a “serious threat to the fundamental freedoms of all peaceful Filipinos.”
And yet, the people in government and their allies have dismissed these fears as unfounded. The assurance that they give sounds strangely parallel to that which the Chinese government gave to the people of Hongkong: “Activism is not terrorism. You have no reason to be afraid if you are not terrorists.” We know full well that it is one thing to be actually involved in a crime and another thing to be merely suspected or accused of committing a crime.
Have we not heard of people active in social advocacies who are accused of being communists? Have we forgotten the bishops, priests and religious who were included among those falsely charged by the Philippine National Police with crimes of sedition and inciting to sedition? Are we not aware of the thousands of people who have been killed in police operations on the basis of mere suspicion of involvement in criminality and illegal drugs? Have we not followed the news about Senator Leila de Lima who continues to languish in jail, also on the basis of mere allegations? Have we not heard of media personalities being harassed by a multitude of criminal charges? Have we not felt the chilling effect of the closure of the country’s biggest broadcast network, the ABS-CBN, after being denied renewal of its franchise? Is it not evident to us how this pattern of intimidation creates an atmosphere detrimental to the freedom of expression in our country?
In the midst of this bleak political landscape, we draw consolation from the groups of lawyers and ordinary citizens that have filed petitions before the Supreme Court, questioning the constitutionality of the newly signed law. Will the highest level of our Judiciary assert its independence, or will they, too, succumb to political pressure?
The return of “warrantless detentions” through this new law cannot but remind us of the initial moves in 1972 that eventually led to the fall of democracy and the rise of a dictatorial regime that terrorized the country for fourteen years. It all began when an elected president also legalized the “ASSOs” (arrest, search and seizure orders). It was from there that we gradually sank into the mire of authoritarian rule. Knowing how, in just the recent past, the law has been used too many times as a weapon to suppress legitimate dissent and opposition, we cannot but share in the apprehensions expressed by the lawyers and ordinary citizens that filed the petition against the said infamous law before the Supreme Court.
While a semblance of democracy is still in place and our democratic institutions somehow continue to function, we are already like the proverbial frog swimming in a pot of slowly boiling water. We draw encouragement from the belief that in various government agencies we still have many people of good will whose hearts are in the right places, and who remain objective and independent minded. We have nothing but admiration for these public servants in all branches of government who do only as conscience dictates and do not allow themselves to be intimidated or prevented by political pressure from performing their constitutionally mandated duties. We can only wish that there would be more of them. They are an important element to the strengthening of our government institutions, and are an essential key to a stable and functional democratic system.
Allow us then to end this letter by inviting you to pray with us,
“Be with us O Lord our God, as we continue to face the ravages of the Covid-19
pandemic, as well as the recent political developments that have deeply divided
our country. You know how desperately we need to be united in order to fight a
common unseen enemy that has caused a lot of sufferings and uncertainties,
widespread infections, an overwhelmed health care system, loss of jobs, hunger,
immense losses in business, and loss of lives.
We pray for our public servants, our people in government, especially those
among them who remain upright and continue to be motivated by a genuine
sense of duty and love for country. Protect them, Lord, and give them the
courage to stand their ground on the side of truth and justice.
May the crisis brought about by the pandemic bring about conversion and a
change of heart in all of us. May it teach us to rise above personal and political
loyalties and make us redirect all our efforts towards the common good. May we
be guided by your Spirit to respond with mercy and compassion for the poor, the
disadvantaged and the most vulnerable sectors of our society. For we know that
what we do for the least of our brothers and sisters we do for you. AMEN.”
For the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines:
Most Rev. Pablo Virgilio S. David, D.D.
Bishop of Kalookan
Acting President, CBCP
16 July 2020, Feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel
x x x."
https://cbcpnews.net/cbcpnews/a-pastoral-letter-and-a-call-to-prayer/?fbclid=IwAR0hvE7-3xd3xkP5TOgwACDzQAYDTeMABTZIQIglhmKsW1PpUgJOuI5UGIw
"x x x.
A Pastoral Letter and a Call to Prayer
Sow for yourselves justice, reap in mercy. Break up for yourselves a new field, for it is time to seek the Lord, till he comes and rains justice upon you.
Hosea 10:12
Dear Fellow Filipinos,
A few days ago, we received a letter from His Eminence, Charles Cardinal Maung Bo, Archbishop of Yangon, Myanmar and President of the Federation of Asian Bishops’ Conferences. It was an ardent request for prayers for Hongkong, on account of the signing into law of a new National Security Act. He explained in his letter how this new law poses a threat to the basic freedoms and human rights of the people of Hongkong, and how it potentially undermines especially their freedom of expression.
Apparently, the Chinese government assures the people of Hongkong that they have nothing to be afraid of, as long as “they don’t get involved in any activity that threatens national security.” Why does this sound eerily familiar to us Filipinos? Because we are in a similar situation. And so, while we responded with an assurance to His Eminence, Cardinal Bo, that we would join him in praying for the people of Hongkong, we also asked him to pray for the Philippines and explained why we are as seriously in need of prayers as the people of Hongkong. Like them, we are also alarmed about the recent signing into law of the Anti-Terror Act of 2020.
We are still in disbelief about the manner in which the contentious Anti-Terror Bill was fast-tracked and approved in both Houses of Congress while the whole country’s attention was focused on the Covid-19 pandemic. They did not even seem to care that many of the people they represent were against it—lawyers’ associations, the academe, the business sector, labor groups, youth organizations, NGO’s, political movements, faith-based communities, and even the Bangsamoro government.
The dissenting voices were strong but they remained unheeded. None of the serious concerns that they expressed about this legislative measure seemed to be of any consequence to them. Alas, the political pressure from above seemed to weigh more heavily on our legislators than the voices from below. It only made more evident the blurring of lines between legislative and the executive branches of our government.
In particular, the legal experts and constitutionalists in our country are seriously concerned that this newly signed law has many elements that are “oppressive and inconsistent with our Constitution.” They have pointed out convincingly how this new law poses a “serious threat to the fundamental freedoms of all peaceful Filipinos.”
And yet, the people in government and their allies have dismissed these fears as unfounded. The assurance that they give sounds strangely parallel to that which the Chinese government gave to the people of Hongkong: “Activism is not terrorism. You have no reason to be afraid if you are not terrorists.” We know full well that it is one thing to be actually involved in a crime and another thing to be merely suspected or accused of committing a crime.
Have we not heard of people active in social advocacies who are accused of being communists? Have we forgotten the bishops, priests and religious who were included among those falsely charged by the Philippine National Police with crimes of sedition and inciting to sedition? Are we not aware of the thousands of people who have been killed in police operations on the basis of mere suspicion of involvement in criminality and illegal drugs? Have we not followed the news about Senator Leila de Lima who continues to languish in jail, also on the basis of mere allegations? Have we not heard of media personalities being harassed by a multitude of criminal charges? Have we not felt the chilling effect of the closure of the country’s biggest broadcast network, the ABS-CBN, after being denied renewal of its franchise? Is it not evident to us how this pattern of intimidation creates an atmosphere detrimental to the freedom of expression in our country?
In the midst of this bleak political landscape, we draw consolation from the groups of lawyers and ordinary citizens that have filed petitions before the Supreme Court, questioning the constitutionality of the newly signed law. Will the highest level of our Judiciary assert its independence, or will they, too, succumb to political pressure?
The return of “warrantless detentions” through this new law cannot but remind us of the initial moves in 1972 that eventually led to the fall of democracy and the rise of a dictatorial regime that terrorized the country for fourteen years. It all began when an elected president also legalized the “ASSOs” (arrest, search and seizure orders). It was from there that we gradually sank into the mire of authoritarian rule. Knowing how, in just the recent past, the law has been used too many times as a weapon to suppress legitimate dissent and opposition, we cannot but share in the apprehensions expressed by the lawyers and ordinary citizens that filed the petition against the said infamous law before the Supreme Court.
While a semblance of democracy is still in place and our democratic institutions somehow continue to function, we are already like the proverbial frog swimming in a pot of slowly boiling water. We draw encouragement from the belief that in various government agencies we still have many people of good will whose hearts are in the right places, and who remain objective and independent minded. We have nothing but admiration for these public servants in all branches of government who do only as conscience dictates and do not allow themselves to be intimidated or prevented by political pressure from performing their constitutionally mandated duties. We can only wish that there would be more of them. They are an important element to the strengthening of our government institutions, and are an essential key to a stable and functional democratic system.
Allow us then to end this letter by inviting you to pray with us,
“Be with us O Lord our God, as we continue to face the ravages of the Covid-19
pandemic, as well as the recent political developments that have deeply divided
our country. You know how desperately we need to be united in order to fight a
common unseen enemy that has caused a lot of sufferings and uncertainties,
widespread infections, an overwhelmed health care system, loss of jobs, hunger,
immense losses in business, and loss of lives.
We pray for our public servants, our people in government, especially those
among them who remain upright and continue to be motivated by a genuine
sense of duty and love for country. Protect them, Lord, and give them the
courage to stand their ground on the side of truth and justice.
May the crisis brought about by the pandemic bring about conversion and a
change of heart in all of us. May it teach us to rise above personal and political
loyalties and make us redirect all our efforts towards the common good. May we
be guided by your Spirit to respond with mercy and compassion for the poor, the
disadvantaged and the most vulnerable sectors of our society. For we know that
what we do for the least of our brothers and sisters we do for you. AMEN.”
For the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines:
Most Rev. Pablo Virgilio S. David, D.D.
Bishop of Kalookan
Acting President, CBCP
16 July 2020, Feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel
x x x."
"THE CHURCH FINDS A NEW VOICE."
EDITORIAL
PHILIPPINE DAILY INQUIRER
JULY 26, 2020
"Xxx.
In response, MANILA AUXILIARY BISHOP BRODERICK PABILLO dared the Palace official to file charges against Church leaders, asking: “DON'T WE HAVE A RIGHT TO SPEAK SA MGA KAILANGAN NG PAMAHALAAN? DAHIL BA KAMI AY SIMBAHAN HINDI NA KAMI PUWEDENG MAGSALITA?”
FR. JEROME SECILLANO, CBCP SPOKESPERSON, clarified that “SEPARATION BETWEEN CHURCH AND STATE ” IS ACTUALLY DIRECTED AT THE STATE, A PROHIBITION AGAINST THE GOVERNMENT FAVORING ONE CHURCH OVER OTHERS BY ESTABLISHING A STATE RELIGION OR BY ALLOCATING PUBLIC FUNDS TO FAVOR ONE CHURCH.
CHRISTIAN MONSOD, one of the framers of the 1987 Constitution, stated that “PRIESTS AND BISHOPS, AS CITIZENS OF THE COUNTRY, HAVE THE RIGHT TO FREEDOM OF SPEECH.” Father Secillano added that the principle “DOESN'T ACTUALLY BAR CHURCH LEADERS FROM EXPRESSING THEIR POLITICAL OPINIONS.” Besides, he added, “IF THE CHURCH DOES NOT ANYMORE SPEAK ABOUT ALL THESE MATTERS AND THEREFORE ARE WRONGS BEING COMMITTED LEFT AND RIGHT, THEN WE CEASE TO EXIST AS A CHURCH.”
The CBCP STATEMENT, SIGNED BY BISHOP PABLO VIRGILIO DAVID OF KALOOKAN who is ACTING PRESIDENT of the bishops’ conference, observed that “while a semblance of democracy is still in place and our democratic institutions somehow continue to function, WE ARE ALREADY LIKE THE PROVERBIAL FROG SWIMMING IN A POT OF SLOWLY BOILING WATER.”
The seemingly newfound outspoken ways of the Catholic hierarchy have found a SYMPATHETIC EAR AND SUPPORTIVE VOICE FROM THE LEADERSHIP OF OTHER FAITHS GROUPS, and the show of solidarity is striking. “IT IS THE MORAL DUTY AND PROPHETIC TASK OF EVERY CHRISTIAN, ESPECIALLY CHURCH LEADERS, TO ANNOUNCE AND DENOUNCE THE ILLS OF SOCIETY,” said BISHOP REUEL NORMAN O. MARITZA, GENERAL SECRETARY of the NATIONAL COUNCIL OF CHURCHES IN THE PHILIPPINES, which is composed of “MAINLINE ” PROTESTANT CHURCHES in the country.
The fact that at the helm of the two most prominent Catholic institutions are well-known progressive clerics—Bishops Pabillo and David—should explain the GROWING RESOLVE AND FORTHRIGHTNESS IN THE CHURCH’s VOICE. Both have long been denouncing GOVERNMENT REPRESSION, especially the WAR ON DRUGS that has resulted in the killings of thousands of suspects. Malacañang, in complaining about the CBCP’s supposed breach of the Church-State divide, also conveniently forgets that THE PRESIDENT HIMSELF HAD PUBLICLY DISPARAGED CORE CATHOLIC BELIEFS, INCITED VIOLENCE AGAINST BISHOPS, AND TRAFFICKED IN MALIGN GOSSIP AGAINST CARDINAL LUIS ANTONIO TABLE.
Perhaps it’s just a matter of timing, with PUBLIC ANGER COMING TO A HEAD AGAINST THE GOVERNMENT’s HARSH METHODS AND MISPLACED PRIORITIES in the face of the country’s most serious public HEALTH CRISIS, which has also metamorphosed into the gravest ECONOMIC REVERSAL in decades. In any event, it’s a welcome development that, it is hoped, EMBOLDENS THE FAITHFUL AND ALL CONSCIENTIOUS CITIZENS alike to think, TO REFLECT, and then TO ACT to realize their most fervent dreams for the country."
EDITORIAL
PHILIPPINE DAILY INQUIRER
JULY 26, 2020
"Xxx.
In response, MANILA AUXILIARY BISHOP BRODERICK PABILLO dared the Palace official to file charges against Church leaders, asking: “DON'T WE HAVE A RIGHT TO SPEAK SA MGA KAILANGAN NG PAMAHALAAN? DAHIL BA KAMI AY SIMBAHAN HINDI NA KAMI PUWEDENG MAGSALITA?”
FR. JEROME SECILLANO, CBCP SPOKESPERSON, clarified that “SEPARATION BETWEEN CHURCH AND STATE ” IS ACTUALLY DIRECTED AT THE STATE, A PROHIBITION AGAINST THE GOVERNMENT FAVORING ONE CHURCH OVER OTHERS BY ESTABLISHING A STATE RELIGION OR BY ALLOCATING PUBLIC FUNDS TO FAVOR ONE CHURCH.
CHRISTIAN MONSOD, one of the framers of the 1987 Constitution, stated that “PRIESTS AND BISHOPS, AS CITIZENS OF THE COUNTRY, HAVE THE RIGHT TO FREEDOM OF SPEECH.” Father Secillano added that the principle “DOESN'T ACTUALLY BAR CHURCH LEADERS FROM EXPRESSING THEIR POLITICAL OPINIONS.” Besides, he added, “IF THE CHURCH DOES NOT ANYMORE SPEAK ABOUT ALL THESE MATTERS AND THEREFORE ARE WRONGS BEING COMMITTED LEFT AND RIGHT, THEN WE CEASE TO EXIST AS A CHURCH.”
The CBCP STATEMENT, SIGNED BY BISHOP PABLO VIRGILIO DAVID OF KALOOKAN who is ACTING PRESIDENT of the bishops’ conference, observed that “while a semblance of democracy is still in place and our democratic institutions somehow continue to function, WE ARE ALREADY LIKE THE PROVERBIAL FROG SWIMMING IN A POT OF SLOWLY BOILING WATER.”
The seemingly newfound outspoken ways of the Catholic hierarchy have found a SYMPATHETIC EAR AND SUPPORTIVE VOICE FROM THE LEADERSHIP OF OTHER FAITHS GROUPS, and the show of solidarity is striking. “IT IS THE MORAL DUTY AND PROPHETIC TASK OF EVERY CHRISTIAN, ESPECIALLY CHURCH LEADERS, TO ANNOUNCE AND DENOUNCE THE ILLS OF SOCIETY,” said BISHOP REUEL NORMAN O. MARITZA, GENERAL SECRETARY of the NATIONAL COUNCIL OF CHURCHES IN THE PHILIPPINES, which is composed of “MAINLINE ” PROTESTANT CHURCHES in the country.
The fact that at the helm of the two most prominent Catholic institutions are well-known progressive clerics—Bishops Pabillo and David—should explain the GROWING RESOLVE AND FORTHRIGHTNESS IN THE CHURCH’s VOICE. Both have long been denouncing GOVERNMENT REPRESSION, especially the WAR ON DRUGS that has resulted in the killings of thousands of suspects. Malacañang, in complaining about the CBCP’s supposed breach of the Church-State divide, also conveniently forgets that THE PRESIDENT HIMSELF HAD PUBLICLY DISPARAGED CORE CATHOLIC BELIEFS, INCITED VIOLENCE AGAINST BISHOPS, AND TRAFFICKED IN MALIGN GOSSIP AGAINST CARDINAL LUIS ANTONIO TABLE.
Perhaps it’s just a matter of timing, with PUBLIC ANGER COMING TO A HEAD AGAINST THE GOVERNMENT’s HARSH METHODS AND MISPLACED PRIORITIES in the face of the country’s most serious public HEALTH CRISIS, which has also metamorphosed into the gravest ECONOMIC REVERSAL in decades. In any event, it’s a welcome development that, it is hoped, EMBOLDENS THE FAITHFUL AND ALL CONSCIENTIOUS CITIZENS alike to think, TO REFLECT, and then TO ACT to realize their most fervent dreams for the country."
Sunday, June 28, 2020
STATEMENT of the ARCHDIOCESE OF MANILA AGAINST the ANTI-TERRORISM ACT OF 2020
"There are six things that the Lord hates, seven that are an abomination to him: haughty eyes, a LYING TONGUE, and hands that SHED INNOCENT BLOOD, a heart that devises WICKED PLANS, feet that make haste to run to evil, a FALSE WITNESS who breathes out lies, and one who SOWS DISCORD among brothers’’. (Proverbs 6:16-19)
We, the CLERGY OF THE ARCHDIOCESE OF MANILA, are against any form of terror or lawlessness and we condemn those engaged in these activities that are meant to destroy lives, properties and the peace we all deserve to experience. We believe that it is the duty of the government to ensure the safety and security of each citizen.
However, after prayerful discernment, diligent study, critical analysis, and prudent discussion of the nature and implications of the ANTI-TERRORISM ACT OF 2020, we strongly OPPOSE the passage of House Bill 6875 and Senate Bill 1083 and humbly urge President Rodrigo R. Duterte to heed the plea of different concerned groups calling for the Bill’s rejection.
Moreover, allowing the passage of a Bill that has VAGUE, AMORPHOUS AND DELETERIOUS PROVISIONS will only do more harm than good to our people.
1. The Bill very clearly and concretely derogates from some established legal principles that are aimed at protecting our FUNDAMENTAL HUMAN RIGHTS. One’s freedom of expression, rights to privacy, property, ownership and freedom of movement are not anymore guaranteed under this Bill as it ALLOWS SPYING, CONFISCATION of properties and DETENTION BEYOND THE LEGALLY ALLOWABLE TIME.
So, while our rights have been extremely limited, this Bill GIVES DRACONIAN POWERS TO STATE AGENTS, which, as history will tell us, are almost ALWAYS ABUSED AND MIS-USED.
2. We can all argue that we should not fear specially if we are not guilty of anything that violates the laws of our land. But we have reason to fear because of the Bill’s AMBIGUOUS AND EXPANSIVE PROVISIONS leaving them OPEN TO ARBITRARY AND WHIMSICAL INTERPRETATIONS which can advertently MAKE US ALL VULNERABLE. Even LEGITIMATE DISSENT or criticisms, which are signs of a healthy and working DEMOCRACY, may be misconstrued as INCITING TO COMMIT A TERROR ACT. Weaponizing this measure TO SILENCE CRITICS and detractors will give this government a free- pass even for its inefficiency, ineptness and abuses.
3. The proponents of this measure should not trivialize the concerns of those opposed to it. We are concerned not simply because of what they alleged as ‘’trust issues’’. Even if we presume full regularity in the implementation or enforcement of this measure, it is the measure itself that poses grave concerns.
So, while we agree that the government is responsible for the protection of its citizens from any form of harm or terror, it shall do so within the bounds of existing democratic principles and processes. THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD NOT MAKE AS AN EXCUSE THE UPHOLDING OF NATIONAL SECURITY WHILE UNDERMINING HUMAN RIGHTS AND CIVIL LIBERTIES. TO DO SO MAKES THE GOVERNMENT TERRORIST AGAINST ITS OWN PEOPLE.
Guided by the CATECHISM of the Catholic Church (CCC), we are duty-bound to oppose such measure as it is CONTRARY TO THE DEMANDS OF THE MORAL ORDER, to the FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS OF MAN and to the TEACHINGS OF THE GOSPEL (CCC 2242).
O Lord, you hear the desire of the afflicted; you will strengthen their heart; you will incline your ear to do JUSTICE TO THE FATHERLESS AND THE OPPRESSED, so that man who is of the earth may strike terror no more. (Psalm 10:17-18)
Signed:
CLERGY of the ARCHDIOCESE OF MANILA June 25, 2020
"There are six things that the Lord hates, seven that are an abomination to him: haughty eyes, a LYING TONGUE, and hands that SHED INNOCENT BLOOD, a heart that devises WICKED PLANS, feet that make haste to run to evil, a FALSE WITNESS who breathes out lies, and one who SOWS DISCORD among brothers’’. (Proverbs 6:16-19)
We, the CLERGY OF THE ARCHDIOCESE OF MANILA, are against any form of terror or lawlessness and we condemn those engaged in these activities that are meant to destroy lives, properties and the peace we all deserve to experience. We believe that it is the duty of the government to ensure the safety and security of each citizen.
However, after prayerful discernment, diligent study, critical analysis, and prudent discussion of the nature and implications of the ANTI-TERRORISM ACT OF 2020, we strongly OPPOSE the passage of House Bill 6875 and Senate Bill 1083 and humbly urge President Rodrigo R. Duterte to heed the plea of different concerned groups calling for the Bill’s rejection.
Moreover, allowing the passage of a Bill that has VAGUE, AMORPHOUS AND DELETERIOUS PROVISIONS will only do more harm than good to our people.
1. The Bill very clearly and concretely derogates from some established legal principles that are aimed at protecting our FUNDAMENTAL HUMAN RIGHTS. One’s freedom of expression, rights to privacy, property, ownership and freedom of movement are not anymore guaranteed under this Bill as it ALLOWS SPYING, CONFISCATION of properties and DETENTION BEYOND THE LEGALLY ALLOWABLE TIME.
So, while our rights have been extremely limited, this Bill GIVES DRACONIAN POWERS TO STATE AGENTS, which, as history will tell us, are almost ALWAYS ABUSED AND MIS-USED.
2. We can all argue that we should not fear specially if we are not guilty of anything that violates the laws of our land. But we have reason to fear because of the Bill’s AMBIGUOUS AND EXPANSIVE PROVISIONS leaving them OPEN TO ARBITRARY AND WHIMSICAL INTERPRETATIONS which can advertently MAKE US ALL VULNERABLE. Even LEGITIMATE DISSENT or criticisms, which are signs of a healthy and working DEMOCRACY, may be misconstrued as INCITING TO COMMIT A TERROR ACT. Weaponizing this measure TO SILENCE CRITICS and detractors will give this government a free- pass even for its inefficiency, ineptness and abuses.
3. The proponents of this measure should not trivialize the concerns of those opposed to it. We are concerned not simply because of what they alleged as ‘’trust issues’’. Even if we presume full regularity in the implementation or enforcement of this measure, it is the measure itself that poses grave concerns.
So, while we agree that the government is responsible for the protection of its citizens from any form of harm or terror, it shall do so within the bounds of existing democratic principles and processes. THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD NOT MAKE AS AN EXCUSE THE UPHOLDING OF NATIONAL SECURITY WHILE UNDERMINING HUMAN RIGHTS AND CIVIL LIBERTIES. TO DO SO MAKES THE GOVERNMENT TERRORIST AGAINST ITS OWN PEOPLE.
Guided by the CATECHISM of the Catholic Church (CCC), we are duty-bound to oppose such measure as it is CONTRARY TO THE DEMANDS OF THE MORAL ORDER, to the FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS OF MAN and to the TEACHINGS OF THE GOSPEL (CCC 2242).
O Lord, you hear the desire of the afflicted; you will strengthen their heart; you will incline your ear to do JUSTICE TO THE FATHERLESS AND THE OPPRESSED, so that man who is of the earth may strike terror no more. (Psalm 10:17-18)
Signed:
CLERGY of the ARCHDIOCESE OF MANILA June 25, 2020
Tuesday, June 9, 2020
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