Philippines: Kabataan Partylist – Supreme Court affirmation of Terror Law cements state terror for future generations beyond Duterte regime (26.04.2022)

Kabataan Partylist condemns the Supreme Court’s denial with finality of the motions for reconsideration of its December 7, 2021 decision affirming the constitutionality of most parts of the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020.

The high court cites that there is no substantial issues and arguments raised by petitioners. This is a disappointment given observable intensifying redtagging and terrorist-labelling that has led to more human rights violations and even massacres in the past months including the Bloody Sunday massacre in 2021 and the New Bataan 5 massacre in 2022 nearly one year apart from each other.

Worse, among victims of attacks were actual petitioners against the Terror Law including Atty. Angelo Karl ‘AK’ Guillen who was stabbed by a screwdriver and Chad Booc, a volunteer Lumad teacher and Computer Science graduate of UP Diliman killed along with his companions while in a community visit in Mindanao. Are not mounting dead bodies a substantial issue?

Even amid the 2022 electoral campaign period, opposition candidates, supporters and bystanders alike are deprived of free speech with threats of actual violence from redtagging and terrorist-labelling by state forces. Clearly, voiding some provisions of the Terror Law is not enough. A revised Terror Law does not mean that the rabid and bloody track record of state forces attacking innocent civilians in the name of counterinsurgency or on behalf of the sitting regime will suddenly change for the better.

President Duterte may step down but what is definite is that the Supreme Court in this decision is set to prolong his bloody legacy of brutal rule far into the future. The Terror Law needs to be scrapped altogether as we pursue a peace based on human rights and social justice. The youth fight will back for the freedom of newer generations and our nation until this draconian law and all political remnants of fascist dictatorship are striken down into the trash bin of history.

Kabataan Partylist

April 26, 2022

Philippines: Office of the President – Statement – Participation of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte in the ASEAN-China Special Summit to Commemorate the 30th Anniversary of Dialogue Relations (22.11.2021)

Phillippines: National Security Council (NSC) – The Barangay Development Program liberates communities from the shackles of fear, hopelessness and desperation (20.09.2021)

Phillippines: National Security Council (NSC) – The NTF-ELCAC’s Initiative to develop Barangay’s shold not be held in Abeyance in favour of Politicking (12.09.2021)

Philippines: President Rodrigo Roa Duterte letter to the Chinese President Xi Jinping (09.06.2021)

Philippines: Statement by Amb. Albert Del Rosario – Accountability in China’s Seizure of Scarborough Shoal from the Philippines (14.05.2021)

Philippines: NTF-WPS Sustains Patrols and Monitors continued Illegal Incursions by Foreign Vessels in the West Philippine Sea (12.05.2021)

Opinion: Is Duterte under a spell from Beijing?

The Philippines President Rodrigo Roa Duterte seems to be tricked, fooled or be caught by Chinese authorities. The Filipino President seems to be in-debt and own the Chinese a huge load of favours. Since, his pride and his stances towards is so peaceful. This coming from a man who has no trouble tarnishing, addressing people in brutal manner and even striking hard at his enemies.

Still his silence and mediocre attempts of defending his foreign policy in concern to Beijing is weak tea. The President just looks like his given up diplomacy and even standing strong on the rights of land, islands and sea in Western Philippines Sea. An area, which has been contested by both nations, but the Filipino nation won this case. Meaning, the international law is an favour of Manilla and not Beijing.

With that in mind, it is weird that his breaking his back and putting his feet in his mouth. Instead of acting as the Patriotic and Steadfast man his perceived to be. Has he added such debt on the Republic that he has traded away pieces of land?

Has the Build! Build! Build! Programme and loans for infrastructure across the Republic cost its sovereign ownership and because of the rates on these loans. He rather cosy up to Beijing, instead of buying peace in Manilla. Is that’s why his so weak and forgiving to the Chinese?

Because, if these we’re people being red-tagged, possibly connected to the communists. He would have hired the gun and buried you. However, if you are in-connection to the high power and the ones with suction in Beijing. He will grovel and be sweet as sugar.

That is where Duterte is weird. A man who can so easily buckle-up and go hammering on opponents. For someone who can sufficiently target anyone. Has not trouble to offer his hand and be gentle and rub the hands Xi Jinping.

Does Duterte want to act like a caretaker of a Chinese Province or be a proud President of the Filipino Nation? The way he speaks of this manner, it seems like he wants to be a governor appointed by Beijing to rule the Philippines for them.

If he can give away the Scarborough Shoal or the Huangyan Island, which they have claimed ownership over since mid-1930s. While the Philippines won the latest case in 2016. Therefore, the President should shield this island and such. However, he seems frightened and you can wonder what he has gotten from the Chinese.

Has Duterte done something stupid on his visits in Hong Kong or what underlying factors is it with the loans taken out during his term? What is the strings of China and what did he have to give up as collateral for the possible debt?

Did Duterte sign-off Scarborough Shoal for the BBB loans and such? Is that why his so friendly… and so kind towards China?

Because, this is not his typical self… but seemingly a character flaw of someone who can stir up harsh words with no work and be hot-headed. However, that never happens in the way towards Beijing, but can happen towards everyone else.

Duterte is just weird and you can wonder if he has given away something to have an achievement in his term. He was able to push the BBB, but the price of that is to give up his “independence” and loyalty to the Republic. As he knows the friends of Beijing bailed his pet-projects. That is why he needs their favours and see it as a political victory to give a little questionable land in West Philippines Sea, as he can point at the infrastructure built in his term. Peace.

Philippines: Department of Foreign Affairs – Statement on the Illegal Presence of the Chinese Coast Guard in Bajo de Masinloc, and their Belligerent Actions against the Philippine Coast Guard (03.05.2021)

Philippines: DFA Summons Chinese Ambassador, Expresses utmost displeasure over Julian Felipe Reef Issue (13.04.2021)