Tell the Truth: Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020 Part 1

The Tribune’s Side

The report from The Daily Tribune (TDT) concerning the Anti-Terrorism Bills (Senate Bill 1083 and House Bill 6875) charged ABS-CBN of misinformation. Before we proceed, we need to define what misinformation is.

The term “misinformation” refers to incorrect or imprecise information. For example, people commit this misinformation when they spread false rumors, do insults, and make pranks. However, the term “disinformation” refers to the use of hateful and malevolent content, such as computational propaganda, deceptions, swindles, and spearphishing (The Daily Tribune).

So, TDT charged ABS-CBN of committing and endorsing half-truth. According to The Daily Tribune, ABS-CBN along with Anne Curtis, Bea Alonzo, Angel Locsin, Kathryn Bernardo, Liza Soberano, and many others persuaded the multitudes to dishonor the House of Representatives. TDT targeted Anne Curtis and her deceptive act of reading the Bill without understanding it. It also mentioned that Anne Curtis incorporated the link to the Committee Report of the House bill on its website. Additionally, it included the names of the celebrities, such as Bea Alonzo, Angel Locsin, Kathryn Bernardo, Liza Soberano, and many others by highlighting their relations to ABS-CBN (The Daily Tribune).

The Ever-Changing Labels of Threats

TDT asserted that ABS-CBN and its propaganda machine grew mobilized. It used the term blind followers for those who listened to those celebrities. It then mentioned that terrorism has been a real menace. It accentuated that the President’s move to sign the Bill was urgent. It pointed out that government information on national security has been highly classified. It ordered the people or the public that they should not have any second-guess in terms of the government’s intention. It asserted that there would be no problems if people could read the provisions.

Also, TDT emphasized Section 4 of Senate Bill 1083 and House Bill 6875. It cited that the Bill about terrorism should not include the following:

    • Advocacy
    • Protest
    • Dissent
    • Stoppage of work
    • Industrial or mass action, and
    • Other similar exercises of civil and political rights, which are not intended to cause death or serious physical harm to a person, to endanger a person’s life, or to create a serious risk to public safety.”

Moreover, TDT underscored that articulating disagreements and viewpoints have never been considered terrorist acts. It made sure that strikes and rallies have never been terrorist acts. Besides, it mentioned that exercising free speech has never been terrorist acts.

Finally, it concluded that the Bill underwent intense scrutiny by Congress and the Senate. Then, it talked about the media frenzy that worked hard to destroy the integrity of the House, while ending its report to warn, most likely, the fate of ABS-CBN franchise.

For further details, please continue reading here and there.

References

    • The Daily Tribune. (2020). ABS-CBN fuels misinformation on legislation. Retrieved July 7, 2020, from https://tribune.net.ph/index.php/2020/06/08/abs-cbn-fuels-misinformation-on-legislation/
    • Burrow, S., & Yoshida, S. (2020). Anti-Terror Bills (Senate Bill 1083 and House Bill 6875) violate international labor standards. A letter to President Duterte. Retrieved July 7, 2020, from https://www.ituc-csi.org/IMG/pdf/ituc_letter_on_anti_terrorism_law_philippines.pdf