MAKABAYAN chair and senatorial candidate Neri Colmenares expressed dismay on the Supreme Court’s decision to uphold the constitutionality of the Anti-Terror Law sans two provisions.
Colmenares, who was in town over the weekend to attend the national conference of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines held here, said the Anti-Terror Law has been designed and worded to work against those who are critical of the government.
“[Ang batas na] ito ay para sa dissenters, sa mga oposisyon sa gobyerno, hindi para sa terorismo,” he told Gold Star Daily in an interview yesterday.
He expounded on some provisions of the law that he found issue against. For instance, the one that allows the government to detain a person for 24 days on mere suspicion of terrorism; Article 24 of the said law which allows for a suspect to post bail, but can still be under house arrest without communication with the outside world; and how the Anti-Terror Council (ATC) can unilaterally declare a person a terrorist.
The composition and method of selection for members of the ATC was also one which he found issue against.
He also discussed his objections to other provisions of the law: where a person’s assets can be frozen, and that any act of dissent can be identified as terrorism under the said law.
“Ang presidente is a lawyer, pero allergic sa korte,” he said.
Colmenares bared that his legislative plan if voted into office next year would include free health care, ending labor contractualization, and repealing the Rice Tarrification Law.
He also revealed that the Makabayan bloc has not decided on who to back as a presidential candidate.
“Because you trust, therefore you hope. And because you hope, you continue,” Colmenares said when asked about his efforts in campaigning for a Senate seat.
