Human rights advocates and Indigenous Peoples’ organizations renewed calls on Thursday to repeal the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA) of 2020.
They warned that the law, alongside the Terrorism Financing Prevention and Suppression Act (TFPSA), continues to be used to suppress dissent and violate civil liberties.
In a July 3 statement, rights group Karapatan said the implementation of both laws under the Duterte and Marcos Jr. administrations has enabled “state terror with impunity.”
“From Duterte’s enactment to Marcos Jr.’s full implementation through the Anti-Terrorism Council, these laws have been used as blunt instruments to enforce State terror… to threaten and harass groups and individuals, and to criminalize dissent and activism,” the group said.
Karapatan reported at least 227 individuals have been charged under the ATA and TFPSA, many on “vague or patently baseless accusations.”
Thirty-four have been designated as terrorists; 30 remain in detention, including journalist Frenchie Mae Cumpio, development workers Marielle Domequil and Emilio Gabales, church worker Aldeem Yañez, and environmental activist Miguela Peniero.
Three others—Elgene Mungcal, Norman Ortiz, and Lee Sudario—have been forcibly disappeared.
The group also cited the TFPSA’s impact on community groups. “The operations of [several NGOs] have ground to a halt or have been impaired because of freeze orders on their bank accounts,” it said.
Calling the laws “dangerous tools of political repression,” Karapatan said they “send a chilling message and a wave of terror on the general populace,” and urged their “immediate repeal.”
The statement coincided with a protest march to the Department of Justice by Indigenous groups, who also asked the Supreme Court to strike down the law.
“Nandito kami para singilin si Bongbong Marcos sa limang taong paglabag sa karapatan naming mga Katutubo gamit ang terror law na ito,” said Funa-ay Claver, spokesperson of Katribu.
Claver cited the 2020 arrest and alleged torture of Ayta farmers Japer Gurung and Junior Ramos, as well as the 2023 terrorist designation of four Cordillera Peoples Alliance leaders whose assets were frozen.
She also warned of TFPSA’s misuse, including the case of Marcylyn Pilala, a Kankanaey woman charged for allegedly selling groceries to rebels.
“Hindi terorismo ang pagdepensa sa lupang ninuno. Ang tunay na terorista ay ang estado na nagpapatahimik sa amin,” Claver said. “Ibasura ang terror law! Itigil ang karahasan laban sa mga Katutubo at human rights defenders!”
