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Vague definition of terrorism in Anti-Terror Act threatens workers – Colmenares
Vague definition of terrorism in Anti-Terror Act threatens workers – Colmenares
The vague definition of terrorism under the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020 threatens labor groups fighting for the rights of common workers, National Union of People’s Lawyers (NUPL) chairperson Neri Colmenares said Monday.
During a discussion about the anti-terror law with several labor groups, Colmenares, who will argue before the Supreme Court against several provisions of the law, said that “vague definition of terrorism under ATA could be used versus laborers because it exempts advocacy, protest, dissent, stoppage of work, etc. only if not intended to cause death (or) physical harm, endanger person's life, cause serious risk to public safety.”
He argued that the ATA “punishes intention (and) not the act,” citing two provisions of the law that will work against labor groups’ right to peaceful assembly and protest.
The law will punish anyone who “engages in acts intended to cause extensive interference with critical infrastructure” such as transport, water supply, telecommunications, and information system, among others.
Another provision of the law will prohibit gatherings for protest if it will engage “in acts intended to cause extensive damage to public facility, public place, or private property.”
Colmenares argued that the phrase “interference with critical infrastructure” can be problematic because it doesn’t specify what can be categorized as interference.
The NUPL chairperson, a lawyer, is scheduled to question the constitutionality of the Anti-Terror law before the SC on Feb. 2.
Solicitor General Jose Calida will represent the government while Colmenares will be joined by 12 other lawyers collectively picked by the 37 groups of petitioners against the law.
Colmenares cited as an example of the vagueness of the definition of terrorism the infographic released earlier by the Philippine National Police (PNP) in Batac City.
The Batac City PNP said in the infograph that acts of terrorism are damage or attempted damage on government facilities, donating or helping in relief drives that aren’t government-recognized, participating in rally or movement that can cause a “serious risk to public safety,” and posting, writing, sharing, and or retweeting posts and memes related to terrorist activities it earlier defined.
The post has since been taken down.