Opposition solons slam Esperon for saying anti-terror law critics ‘support’ terrorists

Opposition lawmakers at the House of Representatives on Monday slammed National Security Adviser Secretary Hermogenes Esperon Jr. for saying that critics of the Anti-Terrorism Law of 2020 could be "supporters" of terrorists.

In a statement, Gabriela Women's Party Representative Arlene Brosas said Esperon's remark is a "dangerous leap in logic" that could endanger the lives of those who oppose the "draconian" law.

"Esperon desperately seeks to lump the broad array of forces against the Anti-Terror Law with terrorists in a vain attempt to drum up the national security rhetoric over the urgent demands of a pandemic, and to justify a more extensive witch-hunt in the coming days," she said.

"He is resorting to the classic Bush counter-terror antic 'it's either you're with us, or you're against us,' in an attempt to cheapen the debate, intimidate and sow fear among critics of the law, and dodge pressing constitutional issues," she added.

In a Dobol B sa News TV interview on Sunday, Esperon maintained that the new anti-terrorism law does not target activists and dissenters of the government.

"Doon sa definition ng terrorism, Section 4, sinasabi doon na hindi kasali ang mga dissent, advocacy, mass actions, at other similar exercise of political rights. Nandoon mismo sa definition ng terrorism yan," he said.

"So anong sinasabi nila na mawawalan ng human rights? Palagay ko yung mga nagsasabi niyan, yung mga supporter ng mga terorista," he added.

Brosas said that if this is how Esperon sees critics of the new anti-terrorism law, then there is more cause for concern that the law might be abused, Brosas said.

"Esperon hoists mere suspicion to label critics as supporters of terrorists, which would warrant arrest and lifetime imprisonment. Fascist minds wielding extraordinary powers under the law present a clear and present danger to the lives of ordinary Filipinos," she said.

For her part, ACT Teachers party-list Representative France Castro said that it is from these malicious and baseless accusations from the police and the military that surveillance, warrantless arrests, and illegal detention incidents start.

"Ito na nga ba ang sinasabi natin. Ilang araw pa lamang mula nang maging batas ang Anti-Terrorism Law, pinaghihinalaan na ang lahat na mga tumutuligsa dito na mga suporter umano ng mga terrorista. Kahit suspetsa pa lang ay puwede nang masailalim ang isang tao sa surveillance at pagkakakulong sa ilalim ng napakadelikadong batas na ito," she said.

"Pinapatunayan lamang nina Esperon at ng iba pang sumusuporta sa napakadelikado at unconstitutional na batas na ito na nilalabag nito ang mga batayang mga karapatan ng mamamayang Pilipino," she added.

Kabataan party-list, represented by Sarah Elago in Congress, meanwhile said that criticism and opposition to the law should not be interpreted as support for terrorism, but as an exercise of the right to dissent.

"Such statements coming from an ATC (Anti-Terrorism Council) member like Esperon are dangerous, to say the least. It is all the more reason for us, the youth and the people, to intensify our voices to call to junk the terror law," the group said.

"With the Anti Terror Law, and the statements by ATC members like Esperon, it is clear that Filipinos who  will forward their needs, exercise dissent, and call to uplift their situation can now be subjected to Terror Law," it added. — BM, GMA News