Fishers join “legal battle” vs terror law
Manila, Philippines — Militant fisherfolk group Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (PAMALAKAYA) has joined several progressive groups on a 10th petiiton filed against the widely-criticized and now called as the “terror law”, on Sunday.
The petitioners, led by the National Union of People’s Lawyers (NUPL), specifically asked the high tribunal to issue either a status quo ante order, a temporary restraining order (TRO) or a writ of preliminary injunction to stop the formation of the Anti-Terrorism Council, which will be the lead implementer of the Anti-Terrorism Act.
Other petitioners include progressive groups Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (BAYAN), Movement Against Tyranny (MAT), Karapatan, Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU), Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP), Health Alliance for Democracy, PAMALAKAYA, Anakbayan, League of Filipino Students, Salinlahi, COURAGE, Bahaghari, SELDA, and Piston.
“The challengers of the terror law have been growing by the day, with now 10 petitioners from different progressive and democracy-loving groups and individuals in the high court,” Fernando Hicap, PAMALAKAYA National Chairperson said in a statement.
“The Filipino people should not allow themselves to be left at the mercy of the anti-terrorism council that would be composed of government and military officials notoriously involved in red-tagging and malicious vilification of progressive groups and activists,” added Hicap.
PAMALAKAYA said that aside from the legal action, they will sustain mass actions in various forms but in compliance to the health safety protocols across the country.
“Protests against the terror law would surely escalate across the archipelago. It is written in the horizon and the Malacanang, not even its repressive law, can’t stop this public outrage over the violation of people’s basic and civil rights,” ended Hicap. ###
