Makabayan solon claims being shadowed by ‘undemocratic forces’

Bayan Muna party-list Representative Carlos Zarate on Saturday said he was being shadowed by "undemocratic forces" possibly due to his stand against the proposed amendments to the Human Security Act (HSA).

According to a statement, the House Deputy Minority Leader claimed he was being tailed by a motorcycle-riding man over his disapproval of the amendments to the HSA, which he felt would  "make the country a police state, where protests are equated with terrorism."

"This motorcycle-riding man may have been sent to harass or intimidate me using the same modus operandi they utilized with other opposition members and critics of the government,"  Zarate said.

In his statement, Zarate recounted how an unidentified person had approached a member of the rights group Hustisya outside their office in Quezon City and inquired if Zarate was inside.

The person further inquired if the Hustisya member knew where Zarate's office was located.

The fellow asking the questions was using a Yamaha motorcycle with no plate number.

Despite this development, Zarate said he would not back down.

"I along with all the members of the Makabayan bloc will stand by our position, like the fact that the HSA amendments are anti-people and unconstitutional," he added.

The Senate on Wednesday approved the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2019 on third and final reading. Advocates claimed that the bill strengthened the country’s anti-terrorism laws.

Senate President Vicente Sotto III had promised that the act would not be used on groups that opposed President Rodrigo Duterte's administration. — Joahna Lei Casilao/DVM, GMA News