#ArtistsFightBack: Filipino artists, cultural workers join opposition to Anti-Terror Bill

More than 1000 from Filipino artists and cultural workers have signed an online petition to oppose the controversial Anti-Terrorism Bill. 

"Headlined #ArtistsFightBack, it is meant to register the sectors’ indignation at what is seen as a hastily-passed, overbroad bill that is open to abuse by authorities, and presents real dangers to the bill of rights guarantees that protect freedom of speech and expression," the joint statement they released read.

The petition has signatories from the art industry coming from various disciplines including actors, writers, directors, producers, musicians, designers, visual and performing artists, cultural workers and organizations among others.

While agreeing that "the Filipino people need and deserve protection from possible acts of terrorism," the artists said it is "paramount for legislators, whose mandate is to serve the interest of the public, to ensure that the basic human rights of those they are sworn to serve are never compromised."

They said all of them who had signed the statement and the petition have done their duties as citizens "by studying the bill and discussing it amongst our peers and lawyers alike."

After further studying and consultation, the group said that "it is clear: the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020 is filled with provisions that make it problematic and prone to abuse."

Stating an example for them as the creative sector, they highlighted the bill's Section 9:

(Inciting to Commit Terrorism), where it is stated that any person who, despite the lack of a direct part in it, incites others to commit or participate in acts that the bill considers as terrorist may be jailed for up to 12 years 

They noted that artists "are vulnerable to the subjectivity and the impreciseness of this section."

"Our job, quite literally, is to incite. To trigger emotion and to question. To move. To mobilize. Our responsibility is to serve the truth, whether or not it is aligned or in accordance with the government’s stance," they added.

The signatories said that the bill is a "clear impingement on the Constitutional right to freedom of expression, not just of artists, but of any Filipino who should be allowed to express dissent."

They said as their job as professional artists, they commit to " lending our individual platforms to ensuring that our countrymen’s civil liberties aren’t encroached upon by the ATB."

Additionally, as citizens they said they "commit to vigilance and the duty of dissent."

The group is also encouraging fellow Filipinos "to honor their voices by not keeping quiet in the advent of oppression: reach out to our lawmakers and tell them why we are against this dangerous bill."

The group appealed to legislators and to President Rodrigo Duterte on their petition to veto the bill.

"We remind our legislators: the public gave you your seats. We demand that they be used in its service. Lastly, we appeal to President Duterte to carefully review the contents of the bill before signing it into law.

"We are this nation’s storytellers. We are watching, and we will act. #DissentIsDuty #ArtistsFightBack #JunkTerrorBill."

The much-criticized and controversial Anti-Terrorism Bill is now only awaiting the signature of President Rodrigo Duterte, after the House of Representatives approved the measure on third and final reading last week. 

As of writing, the petition has generated 1,263 out of 1,500 targeted signatures overnight. — Jannielyn Ann Bigtas/LA, GMA News