“Online citizens” naghain ng petisyon sa SC laban sa Anti-Terror law
Dumulog sa Korte Suprema ang ilang top online influencers sa bansa na kinabibilangan ng mga vloggers, bloggers, advocates, artists, writers at community managers para magsampa ng petisyon laban sa Anti-Terror Law.
Hiniling ng grupong Concerned Online Citizens sa SC na ipawalang bisa ang nasabing batas bilang proteksyon sa online community.
Ang mga petitioner ay binubuo nina
MARK AVERILLA o Macoy Dubs,
MARITA DINGLASAN o Aling Marie
Spoken word artist at writer JUAN MIGUEL SEVERO,
Blogger JOVER LAURIO ng Pinoy Ako Blog,
Blogger at columnist TONYO CRUZ,
Blogger-turned-lawmaker MONG PALATINO
Twitter bhie bhie gurl at college student MARK GERONIMO, Artist and college student ALBERT RAQUEÑO, Mental health champion DR. GIA SISON,
Award-winning artist, illustrator and author ROB CHAM, Writer and LGBT advocate THYSZ ESTRADA, Writer and editor STEFAN PUNONGBAYAN,
IAN PORQUIA ng Reklamador Facebook Page,
Community manager NOELLE CAPILI, Blogger and advocate JHAY ROCAS, Agrarian reform campaigner JC MERCADO, Engineer and activist VICTOR CRISOSTOMO, Cebu tourism advocate KA BINO GUERERRO, at Mindanao blogging community pioneer BLOGIE ROBILLO.
Ayon sa abogado ng grupo na si Atty. Rodel Taton “We are reminded that our rights, whether offline or online, should be protected. This case of the CONCERNED ONLINE CITIZENS touches on the vulnerability and susceptibility of online Filipinos mostly in social media to be victims of vague and broad definitions of terrorism or acts of terror. One can easily be tagged as terrorist or terrorist sympathizer, or terrorist enabler and anyone may be subjected to surveillance, attack and even to peddled fake and false news against their persons.”
Anila ang Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020 ay sandata para i-terrorize ang mga Filipino online.
Hinaharang umano nito ang debate, diskusyon at malayang pamamahayag.
Ayon sa blogger at columnist Tonyo Cruz, ang pagdulog nila sa SC ay laban ng 73 milyong online Filipinos.
“This is a fight for and on behalf of 73 million online Filipinos. If we do not fight and if the court won’t take action, the terror law could easily be used to stifle Internet freedom in the guise of fighting terror. The government has been using the Cybercrime Law before to silence critics, even ordinary citizens. The terror law is the new weapon of a tyrannical government.” ani Cruz.
“The Supreme Court itself maintains a website, and has recently held proceedings online, including interviews held by the Judicial and Bar Council. Local courts and prosecutors, too, have been authorized to hold online conferences, online inquests and hearings. It recognizes that the internet is covered by the full protection of law guaranteed by the Constitution. The same guarantees should apply to ordinary citizens in their online exercise of the Bill of Rights,” ayon pa sa petisyon.
