NCCP Statement on the Anti-Terrorism Law (Human Security Act)
Below is the National Council of Churches in the Philippines (NCCP) statement on the Anti-Terrorism Law euphemistically called the Human Security Act (HSA) which will be enforced on July 13, 2007.
Various groups have voiced out that the Act will exacerbate the human rights crisis in the country. Also below is the statement of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) on the HSA.
Below is the National Council of Churches in the Philippines (NCCP) statement on the Anti-Terrorism Law euphemistically called the Human Security Act (HSA) which will be enforced on July 13, 2007.
Various groups have voiced out that the Act will exacerbate the human rights crisis in the country. Also below is the statement of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) on the HSA.
National Council of Churches in the Philippines (NCCP) Statement on the Human Security Act (HSA)
The Human Security Act (HSA) is based on the notion that “the State must be held above all else. The State must wield absolute power, using everything to control the territory and population of a country.” It must protect itself at all costs even at the cost of its own citizens. Thus, anything and anyone, that threatens national interests in the eyes of the present dispensation is deemed as a foe, a terrorist, “an enemy of the state”.
With the HSA, the State has set itself up as the absolute power that determines what course people’s lives will take by putting forward a very vague definition of terrorism. By so doing, the State has usurped the functions that rightfully belong to God. By playing God, the State commits the highest form of sacrilege.
The Human Security Act will surely result in many human rights violations as its provisions curtail basic freedoms that run counter to our Constitution; it basically presumes guilt unless proven innocent; it purportedly protects the interests of the state, and hence the people, from terrorists but it actually legitimizes terrorism – state terrorism. It demands full obedience and subservience from its constituents. We must recall why Jesus was crucified, why heroes and heroines died and why many human rights defenders today are being silenced. That is because they would not toe the political line of the powers and principalities. And because they refuse to be subservient, they are labeled as “subversives”. The State must rid its territory of subversives or terrorists.
The Human Security Act is a travesty against the sacred tenet of freedom that God bestowed on people. Thus, to accept the Human Security Act is to defy the will of God. The Human Security Act must be reviewed by our lawmakers in order for the law to really safeguard the security of human beings. But because HSA is contextually infirm and is prone to abuse by repressive government authorities, the National Council of Churches in the Philippines (NCCP) calls for the repeal of RA 9372.
MS. SHARON ROSE JOY RUIZ-DUREMDES
General Secretary – NCCP
THE MOST REV. IGNACIO C. SOLIBA
Prime Bishop – Episcopal Church in the Philippines
Chairperson – NCCP
Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) On The Human Security Act
We are all for the pursuit of peace and we condemn terrorism as a glaring obstacle to peace.
Republic Act No. 9372, dubbed as Human Security Act of 2007, signed into a law by President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo on March 6, 2007, is to take effect two months after the elections of May 14.
Many voices are apprehensive about this law on the basis of constitutionality and provisions that may legalize objectionable methods of fighting and quelling opposition to the obtaining government. Hence there are calls for bringing the Human Security Act to the Supreme Court for review and for studying and discussing further this law in its contents and repercussions. Some sections have caused lawyers and others to question the effectiveness of this law such as:
- The definition of terrorism in Section 3 is broad and dangerous. It may serve and create a condition of widespread panic.
- Section 26 allows house arrest despite the posting of bail, prohibits the right to travel and to communicate with others.
- Provision for seizure of assets in Section 39 and surveillance or wiretapping of suspects in Section 7, investigation of bank deposits and other assets in Section 28 – raise up many eyebrows of lawyers and others.
Since we as pastors have to look more into the morality of this law and make a pronouncement in that level, we feel that the atmosphere created by this law and its impending implementations calls on us to appeal to those concerned to review this law so that in consultation and dialogue we may have a law that is truly relevant in promoting the security of the nation and in the pursuit of authentic peace.
For the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines:
+ANGEL N. LAGDAMEO, D.D.
Archbishop of Jaro
CBCP President
July 8, 2007