SENATOR Leila de Lima on Tuesday urged the youth to push for the declaration of the unconstitutionality of the Anti-Terrorism Law, which she said opened a floodgate for abuses because of its vagueness.

De Lima said the Anti-Terror Act has no place in a country where its forefathers have fought and died for democracy.

“You are the future of this country on whose shoulders bear the weight of the consequences of the decisions made by a government that thrived on failure, abuse and oppression,” she said.

“Because of this, it is a challenge for you to have a better understanding of this law so that it cannot be used against you, so that you may help educate others, so that we can work together to clamor for the immediate declaration of its unconstitutionality,” she added.

On July 3, 2020, President Rodrigo Duterte signed into law the Anti-Terrorism bill that gives more surveillance powers to government forces.

De Lima, a social justice and human rights champion, pointed out that there is no place for the Anti-Terror Act in a democratic society where freedom of speech and expression should be perpetually protected and shielded from all efforts to silence the public.

“Walang puwang dapat ang isang batas na sa sobrang labnaw ay mas magagamit pa ito laban sa tao kaysa para sa tao. Kaya imbes na protektahan ang tao, magiging armas pa ito laban sa tao at kasangkapan para sa karahasan,” she said.

“Democracy demands dissent. Ang nagsasalita, ang umaaray at lumalaban ay hindi terorista. Ngunit sa ilalim ng batas na ito, pinapatawan ng napakalawak na kapangyarihan ang gobyerno upang busalan ang taumbayan,” she added.

The senator lamented that the Anti-Terror Law produces a chilling effect that can only be cured by striking it down.

“A law that seeks to protect the nation must lessen our fears, not add to it. Mas higit ang nailuwal na takot ng batas na ito kaysa sa pakiramdam ng kaligtasan na dapat taglay ng ating mga batas,” De Lima said.

“Sa sobrang lawak nito, kahit sino ay maaaring tatakang terorista bagaman ginagamit lamang nila ang boses at kalayaang magsalita na ginagarantiya ng ating Konstitusyon,” she added.