A rally against the Anti-Terrorism Law held in January 2021. (FILE PHOTO)
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 4) A number of groups on Thursday said a military official s recent prosecution threat against a reporter justifies arguments that the controversial Anti-Terrorism Act can be weaponized to target criticism and dissent.
In separate statements, lawyers, journalists and human rights advocates condemned Lt. Gen. Antonio Parlade s comment on social media that suggested a lawsuit against Inquirer.net reporter Tetch Torres-Tupas for aiding the terrorists by spreading lies.
The general, who is known for red-tagging a number of personalities, slammed Torres-Tupas story on aetas seeking help from the Supreme Court against the anti-terrorism law.
Search
You Are Here:Home → 2021 → February → 4 → Journalist red-tagged for reporting plight of tortured Aetas
Journalist red-tagged for reporting plight of tortured Aetas
“Had Parlade also done his research and listened to the oral arguments, he would have known that posts like these are what petitioners claim as evidence of a credible threat of prosecution – threat that can warrant a judicial review of the law he seeks to protect and promote.”
By DAWN CECILIA PEÑA
MANILA The National Union of Journalists of the Philippines expressed their concern over yet another red-tagging incident of a journalist who reported on the plight of Aetas who were tortured to admitting that they are members of the New People’s Army.
Published February 2, 2021, 8:49 AM
Lawyers of petitioners participating in Tuesday’s, February 2, oral arguments before the Supreme Court (SC) on the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA) have been reminded to let the people’s welfare be their inspiration.
“Let not the Constitution and the law be your only master, nor conscience your only guide and justice your only aim,” National Union of People’s Lawyers (NUPL) president Edre Olalia said in a statement.
(MANILA BULLETIN)
“But let the rights, interests and welfare of the people out there in the real world especially the multitudes who stand to be terrorized be your inspiration,” he stressed.
By NICOLE-ANNE C. LAGRIMAS, GMA News
Published February 2, 2021 12:14pm Two Aetas who claim they were tortured by the military and falsely charged under the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020 have asked the Supreme Court (SC) to allow them to join the petitions challenging the law. Japer Gurung and Junior Ramos through their lawyers filed a petition in intervention, echoing the call of the groups behind the 37 petitions that the SC is taking up in oral arguments on Tuesday afternoon. Gurung and Ramos have a unique position: according to their lawyers, they are the first known individuals charged for violating Section 4(a) of the anti-terrorism law.
(JANSEN ROMERO / MANILA BULLETIN)
“The NUPL vows to continue its fight against the vilification and attacks against its members and all members of the legal community in particular and against all other victims of this reckless gambit in general which is at war with due process and the so-called ‘rule of law’,” the National Union of People’s Lawyers (NUPL) said in a statement Sunday night.
The group issued the statement after learning that one of its members became another victim of red-tagging.
“The NUPL reiterates its strong condemnation against the misrepresentations and half-truths spread by the government’s TF-ELCACs (Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict),” the statement said.