Jauhn Etienne Villaruel

Groups protest the 5th year of the Anti-Terror Law in front of the Department of Justice (DOJ) in Manila on Thursday, July 3, 2025. Job Manahan, ABS-CBN News

Article (news)

Job Manahan

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:950px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1751515923916514958489_1211712644337323_9174222016929656627_n.jpg" style="width:950px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Groups protest the 5th year of the Anti-Terror Law in front of the Department of Justice (DOJ) in Manila on Thursday, July 3, 2025. <em>Job Manahan, ABS-CBN News</em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA — Groups on Thursday braved the rain and trooped to the Department of Justice (DOJ) office in Manila to reiterate their calls for the repeal of the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020, as the controversial legislation turns five.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/06/02/20/why-tough-new-anti-terror-bill-strikes-feareven-to-non-terrorists">Why tough new anti-terror bill strikes fear—even to non-terrorists</a></div><p>Groups protested the continuing “arbitrariness” of the filing of cases against progressive individuals and groups, saying this “sends a chilling effect” and endangers freedom of expression. </p><p>“DOJ ang primary na responsable sa pag-build up ng cases at ng terrorism financing na sinasampa nila. Namo-monitor namin, karamihan dito pina-file nila laban sa mga aktibista, development organizations, at sa iba pang NGOs na tinuturing nila na involved sa armed movement sa Pilipinas,” said Karapatan deputy secretary general Maria Sol Taule. </p><p>&quot;Arbitrary ang ginagamit ng batas,” Taule added.</p><p>Taule urged the Justice department to dismiss the cases filed against activists and urged Congress to repeal the Anti-Terror Law.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2024/11/28/-poetic-justice-if-rodrigo-duterte-s-anti-terror-law-used-vs-daughter-sara-lawyer-1501">&#x27;Poetic justice&#x27; if Rodrigo Duterte&#x27;s anti-terror law used vs daughter Sara: lawyer</a></div><p>In January 2024, the Supreme Court promulgated the rules regarding the Anti-Terror Law, which addressed contentious topics such as designation of suspected terrorists, proscription, surveillance and detention without judicial warrant of arrest.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/01/03/24/doj-welcomes-anti-terror-law-rules-despite-opposition-from-critics">DOJ welcomes anti-terror law rules despite opposition from critics</a></div><p>This included provisions on surveillance with law enforcement agencies mandated to secure a Court of Appeals approval.</p><p>Petitioners against the Anti-Terrorism Act had warned before and after the law was passed that it was prone to abuse and could be used against government critics and dissenters.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2024/11/27/vp-duterte-warns-playbook-of-anti-terror-law-amla-might-be-used-against-her-1911">VP Duterte warns ‘playbook’ of Anti-Terror Law, AMLA might be used against her</a></div><p>They had also warned about the government &quot;weaponizing&quot; the law against critics, including human rights defenders, journalists and members of civil society.</p><div><strong>RELATED VIDEOS</strong></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/zFIKhAl-tUo?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/i-qUwuGNh54?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div>

<p>The groups protested the “arbitrariness” of the filing of cases against progressive individuals and groups due to the Anti-Terrorism Act.</p>

The groups protested the “arbitrariness” of the filing of cases against progressive individuals and groups due to the Anti-Terrorism Act.

Groups renew calls to repeal Anti-Terror Law as controversial legislation turns 5

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Groups renew calls to repeal Anti-Terror Law as controversial legislation turns 5

Job Manahan,

ABS-CBN News

Published Jul 03, 2025 12:29 PM PHT

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