3 July 2020 Once More, We, the Undersigned, Strongly Register Our

3 July 2020 Once more, we, the undersigned, strongly register our opposition to the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020 (House Bill No. 6875) recently approved by the House of Representatives on third and final reading and the earlier similar bill approved by the Senate (Senate Bill 1083) last February. We reiterate our call for the President to listen to the pleas of our people who are already burdened by the pandemic, and to veto this particular version of the bill, before it automatically lapses into law on July 9, 2020. Once more, we also express our commitment to work with government to craft a better version of the bill, and other legislation, that can uproot terrorism, while still addressing the people’s concerns about their basic rights. By so doing, we will not be divided in countering terrorism. As we have stated in our June statement, while we acknowledge the need to fight terrorism, we find the passage of the bill ill-timed. As our people continue to struggle in coping with the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, our attention, efforts, and resources should focus on fighting the virus and in helping our people. Many have died and continue to suffer from the pandemic. Our health systems and personnel are stretched to their limits. Many have lost jobs and are hungry. At this time, our priorities should be shoring up our health system, providing support to our health workers, ensuring food for our communities, stimulating the economy and providing jobs for our people. To be sure, it is our lawmakers’ sworn duty as public servants that these very real and terrifying threats to our health and economy receive more of their dedication and attention than hastily passing a bill that could, with its haphazard construction, wrongly impair sacred constitutional rights. Instead, the Anti-Terror Bill adds to people’s anxieties and fears. Many of the provisions under this bill are couched in language that is sweeping and equivocal as to be easily subject to misinterpretation and abuse. Worrisome are the expanded and vague definitions of a “terrorist;” the powers given to the Anti-Terror Council to designate a group as a “terrorist group;” the weakening of the protection of one’s privacy and the safeguards against arrests and detention without warrants. Instead of being a measure to protect our people, in the wrong hands, this bill can be used to oppress our people. Once again, we call upon our people to remain vigilant, to keep abreast of what’s happening, and to safeguard our rights that are enshrined in the Constitution. Our people are under siege on several fronts. May God grant us wisdom and courage in this time of need. Signed Fr. Primitivo Viray Jr. SJ Br. Armin Luistro FSC Provincial Superior Provincial Superior Lasallian East Asia District Philippine Province of the Society of Jesus Fr. Jose Ramon Villarin SJ Br. Raymundo Suplido FSC President President De La Salle University Ateneo de Manila University Fr. Roberto Yap SJ Br. Bernard Oca FSC President President Xavier University-Ateneo de Cagayan De La Salle Santiago Zobel and St. Jaime Hilario School-De La Salle Bataan Fr. Joel Tabora SJ President Ateneo de Davao University Br. Augustine Boquer FSC President De La Salle University-Dasmariñas Fr. Roberto Exequiel Rivera SJ and President De La Salle Medical Health Sciences Ateneo de Naga University Fr. Karel San Juan SJ Br. Edmundo Fernandez FSC President President Ateneo de Zamboanga University La Salle Green Hills and De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde Fr. Manuel Uy Jr. SJ President Sacred Heart School Cebu-Ateneo de Cebu Br. Joaquin Martinez FSC President Fr. Aristotle Dy SJ University of St. La Salle and President St. Joseph’s High School-La Salle Xavier School Fr. Joseph Raymund Patrick Sanchez SJ Br. Dante Jose Amisola FSC President President Ateneo de Iloilo De La Salle Lipa .

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