Inhumane Security Act
I wrote a long blog yesterday about the bribery scandal involving the Commission on Appointments, but thanks to the sudden power interruption, the entire rant was deleted. Oh well.
Tomorrow AGHAM will hold a forum on the Human Security Act (HSA) of 2007 and what possible technological means and methods the government and police/military authorities will employ to spy on their suspects and targets.
I’m an avid fan of the CSI series of shows, especially CSI Las Vegas; and in truth, under vastly different political and social circumstances (completely different system of government and orientation of the police forces), I wouldn’t mind if the government had the technological and legal ability to track down people and suspects whenever necessary. Like, say, during emergencies; or when there’s a brutal crime perpetrated and the killer must be immediately apprehended.
Kaso nga, well, TV reality is different from actual reality and what we have is a government that will not stop at anything to crush political dissent by any means– regardless of how many activists have to die, and regardless of how all laws protecting civil, political and human rights are mangled and stuffed down the toilet like bloody wadded newspapers.
I’ve read the Human Security Act draft and though I’m not a lawyer, I have enough background on what constitutes my rights to know that this law, the HSA, undermines all my rights under the guise of protecting the country against the scourge of terrorism. Suspects can be detained beyond three days without being charged. If freed on bail, suspects will not be allowed to travel or can be placed under house arrest (nag bail ka pa) without access to internet, landline or cellular communication. Warrants from courts will no longer necessary — only a written approval for arrest from a human rights commission. Get this, it’s not THE Human Rights Commission, but ANY HR commission from the city, municipal or regional level. LGUs are currently being tasked with establish HR desks, and no, it’s not so they can monitor HR violations, but I think in preparation for their role in implementing the HSA: stamp pads for the issuance of warrants of arrests of suspect.
Am I personally afraid of the HSA? Yes I am. I have every reason to be so. I don’t buy the tripe that the HSA was crafted to legally arm the police and the military to go after terrorists groups such as the ASG, Jemaah Islamiyah or the Al-Qaeda it was crafted with the direct intent of going after political activists who advocate a change in government, in the administration through legal and democratic means. The HSA is meant to be a weapon against political dissent, against those who accost the government for its despicable failure to address the economic needs of Filipinos; those who expose these failures; and those who condemn the government for the over 800 extrajudicial killings and its refusal to hold the AFP accountable for the deaths.
It’s really that simple.
The HSA draft is along and convoluted draft that should strike fear (and anger) in the hearts all freedom loving Filipinos. It’s martial law without the actual declaration, and worse.
What is terrorism? This question
remains sufficiently unanswered by those who continue to sound the
alarm and support the so-called war against terrorism. This very lack
of a clear definition must be done away with if the incumbent
government can even begin to have the right to assert the necessity
to address terrorism and recommend the measures by which to stop it.
What is the objective of the Arroyo government?
Besides pleasing the US government by doing its bidding that the Philippines pass an anti-terrorism law patterned after the US’ Patriot Act, the Arroyo government seeks to silence its critics, put an end to the civil protests without having to give in to the legitimate and righteous demands, and to pave the way for constitutional amendments that will give Arroyo and other officials like Jose de Venecia a clear shot at being prime minister.
I am not comforted any by the announcement recently issued by officials of the Philippine National Police (PNP) that they are conducting training sessions on the HSA and giving the rank and file a thorough grounding on the what the law covers and how its supposedly aims to protect civilians.
Utang na loob. The PNP uses truncheons and teargas on student protestors calling for tuition fee rollbacks. How the hell am I suppose to trust them to respect and protect my rights?!
If the government were sincere in fighting terrorism, then it should overhaul the military and create a fighting force free from corruption and mercenary tendencies and who will do their duty of going after the real terrorists and criminals.
But then, gad, how can a terrorist government genuinely fight against terrorists?
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The newly-opened Trinoma mall’s architecture beats SM City and Mall of Asia’s any day.
Last week Walkie and Edre and I walked around Trinoma and agreed that if weren’t for the massive volume of people, the place was a cool place to hang out. The fountains and stone and bamboo garden were very Zen, and encouraged contemplation; kaso nga, there were so many people, particularly loud and giggly teenagers.
Have been compelled to stay on as Ka Bel’s chief of staff. So that puts an end to my other hopes and plans (haha).
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Kim is afraid of the boogeyman. I almost ruptured a few vital organs laughing last night when he begged me to close the closet door because he was worried that something big and scary would come out and grab him, drag him from the bed and take him inside the dark recesses of the closet and, well, eat him.
My husband can be so cute when he doesn’t intend to be.
