On July 3rd 2020, Senate bill 1083 of the Philippines was officially ratified. According to its authors, this bill was made as an attempt to counter terrorism. In reality, this bill is an excuse for the Philippine government to have excessive control over their citizens, making it legal for the government to point fingers at anyone.
Filipinos can now be easily criminalized and considered as terrorists. If a citizen were to converse with anyone, they could be arrested for presumably plotting an attack in secret. If a citizen donates to a relief drive that is not state recognized, they can be arrested. These absurd accusations don’t have a limit; police are legally allowed to arrest anyone for anything, even without a warrant.
The absolute power of the senate bill also includes persecuting without a requirement to check for torture, meaning that officers are allowed to present their subjects in front of a judge without checking or considering if the suspect has suffered any type of torture.
Senate bill 1083 is the definition of a human rights infringement.
Learn more on this issue at: junkterrorbill.carrd.co
Written by Mariam Al Raisi
Artwork by Isabel
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