If the anti-terrorism bill is signed into law, Juan dela Cruz will be walking a tightrope 24 hours a day. The measure makes it criminal for an individual or groups to engage “in acts intended to cause death or serious bodily injury to any person, or endangers a person’s life” through “speeches, proclamations, writings, emblems…” and to sow terror or “spread a message of fear.”
In one of his speeches, President Duterte incited the people to “Kill the bishops, kill your priests!” After the insane exhortation, three priests were killed, while others critical of the drug war reported receiving death threats. Then he urged us to “Kill the drug addicts, they are useless,” and the police started a killing spree of suspected drug addicts. Under the anti-
terrorism bill or “Kill Bill” as I prefer to call it, did Mr. Duterte commit acts of terrorism when he incited us to do harm on the priests and addicts?
Mr. Duterte’s anti-drug war gave birth to “Operation Tokhang,” which involves police paying drug suspects a visit in their homes, giving them friendly reminders of the ill effects of drugs, and urging them to lead a clean and healthy life. Unfortunately, under the supervision of former PNP chief Bato “Shit happens” dela Rosa, Operation Tokhang became a killing machine, mowing down more than 5,000 drug suspects and a number of victims from the crossfire.
Families of the victims as well as their neighborhoods now live in fear. Does this make Bato dela Rosa, as chief implementer of Operation Tokhang, a terrorist under the draft Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020? And does the implementation of Operation Tokhang constitute acts of terrorism? Just asking.
Evelyn Silay
evelyndsilay@gmail.com