Kapamilya star Liza Soberano aired out her disagreement over House Bill (HB) No. 6875 or the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020.
The bill, which amends the country’s existing anti-terrorism law or the Human Security Act of 2007, seeks to impose a harsher punishment on terrorism which is defined as “acts inciting fear and seriously destabilizing structures in the country.”
Under the proposed measure, those who propose, incite, conspire and participate in the planning, training and facilitation of a terrorist attack could face a sentence equivalent to life imprisonment. Individuals giving support to terrorists and recruiting anyone to be a member of a terrorist organization will receive same degree of penalty.
People opposing the bill fear that the law will curtail right to freedom of expression.
The actress expressed her opposition on social media the same day the House of Representatives passed the law.
“#JUNKTERRORBILLNOW,” she tweeted.
Her simple tweet of the hashtag gained support from many Twitter netizens.
In another tweet, the 22-year-old asked that “our voices our basic human rights” should not be taken away.
“Please do not take away our voices our basic human rights!!!!!”
As a reply to her own tweet, she shared a link with information and petitions against the bill.
On Tuesday, the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) released a statement saying the bill “paves the road for possible abuse as it tends to blur the distinction between terroristic activities and ordinary crimes.”
CHR spokesperson Jacqueline de Guia said the bill could be “used to limit substantial freedoms, including expression of dissent and critical perspectives most especially by civil society and human rights groups under a democracy.”
