Junk the Terror Law!
Scripts and Templates

phone

Phone Script for MPs to Condemn the Anti-Terror Law

Hon. [MP name],My name is [Insert Name], your constituent from [Insert Riding] and a member of [Insert Organization if Applicable].I am calling to raise the alarm on the Philippine government’s on-going human rights abuses; in particular, the “Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020”, also known as the “Anti-Terror Law.” The law, signed on July 3rd, 2020, is yet another manifestation of President Rodrigo Duterte’s authoritarian regime that continues to erode democratic governance in the Philippines and further exacerbate state-sanctioned violence.Under Duterte, the Philippines has already been deemed one of the deadliest countries in the world for land defenders, journalists, and trade unionists. According to human rights groups, the number of killings under the current Duterte regime, infamous for its deadly war on drugs, has risen to 30,000. Despite widely publicized documentation of state-sanctioned killings and human rights violations in the Philippines, Canada continues to provide aid to Duterte’s regime including military equipment and training.Today, I urge you to lobby the Government of the Philippines to abolish the Anti-Terror Law and publicly support the organizations demanding the repealing of the law. Specifically, I urge you to take the following actions to ensure the human rights of all citizens of the Philippines will be protected:1. Publicly support the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights process and investigation of human rights abuses and crimes and the development of an independent mechanism for review.2. Lobby other governments to support the process.3. End all Canadian support to the current government including financial, socio-economic programming, military training, sales and any kind of defense cooperation.4. Apply sanctions against officials who have committed, incited or failed to prevent human rights violations.The Anti-Terrorism Act affects not just Filipinos in the Philippines, but also Filipinos in Canada and any Canadian who is concerned with the human rights situation in the Philippines. In the same spirit as Canada’s recent suspension of its extradition treaty with Hong Kong in response to the region’s new national security law, I urge the federal government to take action and stand up for the human rights and liberties of the Filipino people.Thank you.

Phone Script for the Philippine Consulate/Embassy in Your Area
(For overseas Filipinos who grew up and lived under Marcos martial law)

[Consul General/Ambassador] [Name],My name is [Insert Name], from [Insert City] and a member of [Insert Organization if Applicable].I’m calling to register my concern of the recent passing of Duterte’s “Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020”, also known as the “Anti-Terror Law”. Duterte's Terror Law violates the Philippine Constitution with its very vague definition of terrorism which impacts on due process and free speech, property and freedom of association. It disregards the protection guaranteed by the Philippine Constitution against warrantless arrests, detention without charges, and the right to bail and travel. It puts so much power on the Anti-Terrorism Council to arrest, detain, and charge people on mere suspicion and in doing so, mocks the rule of law.This formalizes martial rule in the Philippines with its very vague and very broad scope of the law of the Terror Law. As an overseas Filipino, I know what martial rule is like, I have lived through it and seen its horrors. it should not happen. Ever again.[Consul General/Ambassador] [Name], please relay our concern to President Duterte that as overseas Filipinos we demand that the Philippine government ensures the human rights of all citizens of the Philippines are protected!Thank you.

Phone Script for the Philippine Consulate/Embassy in Your Area
(For overseas Filipino youth)

[Consul General/Ambassador] [Name],My name is [Insert Name], from [Insert City] and a member of [Insert Organization if Applicable].As an overseas Filipino youth, I do not want to have the shadow of a dictatorship over the heads of Filipinos, inside and outside the country.This is why I’m calling to register my concern of the recent passing of Duterte’s “Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020”, also known as the “Anti-Terror Law”. Duterte's Terror Law violates the Philippine Constitution with its very vague definition of terrorism which impacts on due process and free speech, property and freedom of association. It disregards the protection guaranteed by the Philippine Constitution against warrantless arrests, detention without charges, and the right to bail and travel. It puts so much power on the Anti-Terrorism Council to arrest, detain, and charge people on mere suspicion and in doing so, mocks the rule of law.This formalizes martial rule in the Philippines with its very vague and very broad scope of the law of the Terror Law. I have not lived under martial rule but have met the people and heard the stories of government repression and the people's resistance. As an overseas Filipino youth, I do not want to have the shadow of a dictatorship over the heads of Filipinos, inside and outside the country.[Consul General/Ambassador] [Name], please relay our concern to President Duterte that as overseas Filipinos we demand that the Philippine government ensures the human rights of all citizens of the Philippines are protected!Thank you.

email

Email Template for MPs to Condemn the Anti-Terror Law

SUBJECT: Addressing Canada's Connection to Human Rights in the Philippines

Dear Hon. [MP Name],My name is [Insert Name], your constituent from [Insert Riding] and a member of [Insert Organization if Applicable].I am writing you to raise the alarm on the Philippine government’s on-going human rights abuses; in particular, the “Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020”, also known as the “Anti-Terror Law.” The law, signed on July 3rd, 2020, is yet another manifestation of President Rodrigo Duterte’s authoritarian regime that continues to erode democratic governance in the Philippines and further exacerbate state-sanctioned violence. The law provides Duterte’s administration with full judicial authority to define what constitutes “terrorism,” consolidating this power through the creation of an Anti-Terrorism Council that would be empowered to order mass arrests without warrants, detain individuals and groups without due process and for mere suspicion of being involved in ‘terrorist’ organizations, authorize the large-scale surveillance of individuals perceived to be terrorists, and remove penalties for wrongful detention.Under Duterte, the Philippines has already been deemed one of the deadliest countries in the world for land defenders, journalists, and trade unionists. According to human rights groups, the number of killings under the current Duterte regime, infamous for its deadly war on drugs, has risen to 30,000. Despite widely publicized documentation of state-sanctioned killings and human rights violations in the Philippines, Canada continues to provide aid to Duterte’s regime including military equipment and training.Today, I urge you to take the following actions to ensure the human rights of all citizens of the Philippines will be protected:1. Publicly support the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights and its declaration that “the human rights situation in the Philippines has now reached a level of gravity requiring robust intervention by the UN.2. Convey to the members of the Human Rights Council that Canada strongly supports and urges immediate action towards the creation of a mechanism for the independent monitoring and investigation on the rights situation in the country, including that Special Procedures mandate holders have access to the country.3. Suspend all support for and cooperation with the Armed forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Philippine National Police (PNP), including training, and redirect Canada’s assistance towards strengthening the capacity of human rights defenders and organizations.4. Suspend the sale and transfers of all military and defence equipment to the Philippine government and invoke the Special Economic Measures Act which can be used to prohibit the transfer of trade of goods to a specific country because of their human rights record.5. Respond to the recommendation of the eleven United Nations human rights experts that states that Member States initiate, whenever possible, governmental sanctions and criminal prosecution against individual Philippine officials who have committed, incited or failed to prevent human rights abuses.The Anti-Terrorism Act affects not just Filipinos in the Philippines, but also Filipinos in Canada and any Canadian who is concerned with the human rights situation in the Philippines. In the same spirit as Canada’s recent suspension of its extradition treaty with Hong Kong in response to the region’s new national security law, I urge the federal government to take action and stand up for the human rights and liberties of the Filipino people.Thank you,[Your Name]

twitter

Hi @[Insert your MP's Twitter handle] as your constituent I am urging you to condemn Duterte's #AntiTerrorLaw! This new law is a direct affront to human rights & democracy in the Philippines! Support concerned Filipinos/Canadians by publicly denouncing the ATL NOW! #JunkTerrorLaw