Educators to Supreme Court: Anti-terror law violates academic freedom

Several teachers and professors on Tuesday asked the Supreme Court to declare the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020 unconstitutional, saying it violates academic freedom.

In at least the 31st petition against the law, 72 members of the academe and of teachers' groups said they stand to suffer from the "chilling effect" created by the provisions of the law, many of which they said are "overbroad," "vague," and violative of rights guaranteed by the 1987 Constitution.

The petitioners said reading materials they may assign to students that may express certain advocacies or political views, class discussions and demonstrations, and researches on topics that are critical of the government may be construed by law enforcers as acts of terrorism or its related crimes.

Progressive teachers and those who encourage their students to be critical of the country's "exploitative and oppressive" social system may also be considered subjects of the law, they said.

"This kind of environment would add another layer of chilling effect on academics, educators and writers such as petitioners to limit their ideas and criticisms that they may put into writing or in choosing materials for their students to read in order to achieve academic potential and excellence in the academe," the petitioners said.

They argued that a "badly written" law such as the anti-terrorism law will "embolden state forces to abuse and weaponize the law against dissenters."

The professors added that eight of the petitioners are members of the Alliance of Concerned Teachers, an organization that they claimed has been "subjected to red-tagging, vilification, profiling and harassment from law enforcement and government agencies."

The anti-terrorism law has been widely criticized by different sectors for the alleged threats to basic human rights, such as the freedom of speech and expression.

Despite reassurances by government officials that the law will not be used against activists, critics filed petition after petition, making the anti-terrorism law one of the most challenged laws before the highest Philippine court.

Aside from the teachers, retired SC justices, lawyers, activists, youth leaders, labor groups, artists, journalists, and several other organizations have asked the court to declare the law unconstitutional.

The SC said it will hold oral arguments on the petitions in the third week of this month at the earliest. Solicitor General Jose Calida, representing the government, has moved for a cancellation, citing risks posed by COVID-19. — RSJ, GMA News