Crackdown
AN
EXPANSIVE “anti-terrorist” net cast by President Rodrigo Duterte directly threatens citizens’ basic constitutional rights to free expression, a free press, free assembly and organization. Duterte signed Proclamation 374 on Dec. 5, designating the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP), the New People’s Army (NPA) and the National Democratic Front (NDF) as terrorist organizations.
His order cites RA 10168 (Anti-terror financing law), which makes it a crime to support groups labeled terrorist. That law bases its definition of terrorist on another draconian legislation, Republic Act 9372 (the Human Security Act).
Duterte clearly intends to make fu l use of the state’s coercive might to que l an a leged conspiracy to oust him. He has, in several instances, expanded the target zone, threatening so-ca led “front organizations” and other “destabilizers.”
The twin moves present clear dangers to Philippine democracy. The Duterte government’s intolerance to dissent, even legal dissent, endangers artists and media workers and a l citizens exercising their rights to free expression, assembly and organization.
The cavalier use of “terrorist” to refer to dissenters can only hasten the narrowing of Philippine democratic space. This is especially true under a President who sees critics of his autocratic governance as enemies of the state.
It is not hard to foresee government state agents implementing an indiscriminate crackdown against legal personalities, institutions or organizations tagged as supporters of terrorism.
Rallies, humanitarian aid, the performing and visual arts and critical journalism and social media campaigns could very well be deemed “terrorist” by the government.
Duterte has already upped the ante. On Dec. 12, he ordered cops and soldiers to use rubber bullets against the transport group Piston, which is protesting his order to immediately phase out jeepneys.
That same day, Philippine National Police (PNP) arrested Sherwin de Vera, an environmental activist and columnist of the Baguio-based Northern Dispatch newspaper, for the crime of rebellion.
Artists and media workers often need to immerse with various sectors as part of the duty to unearth and expose social truths. Those who interview and engage with suspected “terrorists,” and refuse to divulge the whereabouts of these targets, may be tagged as accomplice to or accessory to terrorism.
Those whose art or reportage are seen as aid to “terrorists” maybe be harassed and detained without warrant for at least three to five days on the mere claim of an “imminent” terrorist attack.
It is easy to imagine that scenario. Police officials gave serious attention to Duterte troll army claims that boatloads of NPA rebels were coming to Manila to attend the Sept. 21 rallies.
Even when evidence against dissenters are weak, they can still be subject to house arrest, the right to travel restricted under the Human Security Act. Under this law, those facing charges are prohibited from using communication equipment – practically blocking one’s practice of the profession.
Artists and their companies and organizations and media firms may also find their assets and funds frozen by the state if they are tagged as accomplices to a terror campaign.
Given Duterte’s penchant for shortcuts, a trait seen long before he rolled out the anti-terror drive, the potential is high for direct attacks on the arts and media. His new policies intend to cultivate fear, silence critics, and punish those refuse to surrender the right to free expression and the press and other civil liberties enshrined in our Bill of Rights.
– LET’S ORGANIZE FOR DEMOCRACY AND INTEGRITY, an arts and media alliance