By REIN TARINAY Bulatlat.com MANILA – Progressive organizations held protest actions in front of House of Representatives calling on legislators to uphold democracy, March 10. The Lower House held hearings on anti-terror bill, proposed mandatory military training for high school and college students, and bills on the renewal of ABS-CBN franchise. Bagong Alyansang Makabayan maintained…
Presidential Communications Office Undersecretary Lorraine Badoy defended red tagging progressive organizations during a hearing on anti-terror bill at the House of Representatives.
By DEE AYROSO
“The [anti-terror] bill provides powers to the executive branch that properly belong to the judicial branch.”
Labor groups and other progressive organizations held a protest action today outside the House of Representatives March 3, demanding the scrapping of Anti-Terror Bill.
“Removing or lowering these penalties gives State authorities a free pass, if not outright approval and endorsement, for violations on human rights and civil liberties…”
Who is exempted from being labeled “terrorists?” Rights defenders, lawyers, journalists, Church people, peasants, indigenous peoples and workers have been publicly vilified by state security forces as such.