Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 2) — The Makabayan bloc at the House of Representatives on Thursday criticized as “dangerous and ineffective” the government’s use of the Anti-Terrorism Act to solve crimes, such as the killing of former Negros Oriental Gov. Roel Degamo.
\”The Marcos Jr. administration must refrain from indiscriminately accusing or designating anyone as a terrorist without providing credible proof and due process,\” the group said in a statement, which came a day after the Anti-Terrorism Council (ATC) designated Negros Oriental Rep. Arnolfo Teves and 12 others as terrorists. Teves is accused of masterminding Degamo’s assassination – a charge he has denied.
READ: Gov’t designates Teves, 12 others as terrorists
The Makabayan lawmakers said government must be able to ensure justice for the victims within the bounds of due process and respect for human rights. They added that the terrorist tag only shows the \”incompetence of government bodies in apprehending their suspects and highlights the tendency to use the Anti-Terrorism Law as a crutch.\”
\”When the Marcos Jr. administration cannot get what it wants from the courts, it goes to the ATC,\” the bloc added, citing the terrorist designations of four leaders of the Cordillera Peoples Alliance (CPA) last July 11.
READ: Gov’t designates 4 Cordillera IP activists as ‘terrorists’
