Five years have passed since the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020 was signed into law by former President Rodrigo Duterte. The rationale behind the implementation of the law was to strengthen the state’s anti-terrorism initiatives. Enacted alongside the Terrorism Financing Prevention and Suppression Act of 2012, then-signed by former president Benigno Aquino III, the two laws continue to be the subject of public scrutiny as different advocacy groups and organizations question the legislation’s impact on communities and on members of vulnerable sectors such as Indigenous Groups across the Philippines.
In light of these occurrences and with the objective to enlighten the community, the Discipuli Legis Universitatis Sancti Aloysii (DLUSA), in partnership with the Cordillera Human Rights Alliance (CHRA) and the SLU Political Science Academic Society (POSAS), conducted the forum entitled: “Five Years of Terror: Cordillera Communities and the Anti-Terror Law and Terrorism Financing Prevention and Suppression Act”, on the 22nd of November 2025 at the Theophile Verbist Hall, Saint Louis University.
Borrowing the words of a representative from the CHRA: “Five years after the enactment of the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA) of 2020—passed despite strong public opposition and multiple legal challenges—its implementation has resulted in surveillance, harassment, and the designation of individuals and organizations as “terrorists.” In the Cordillera region, four Igorot leaders have been designated as terrorists by the Anti-Terrorism Council without clear or sufficient evidence. Together with the Terrorism Financing Prevention and Suppression Act of 2012 (TFPSA), these laws have disproportionately harmed those targeted through asset-freeze orders, red-tagging, and other measures that threaten their safety, sustainability, and freedom of expression.”
The first part of the event comprised of in-depth lectures about the different facets of the two
laws and how they have disproportionately affected activists and their supporters since its
inception by the following guest speakers:
- Atty. Katherine Panguban, a member of the National Union of People’s Lawyers and the Head of the Women and Children’s Committee and Legal Services Committee who discussed the Legal Framework and Changes of Anti-Terror Law.
- Atty Marben Panlasigui, a volunteer lawyer of the Cordillera Human Rights Alliance
(CHRA) who discussed the Implementation and Effects of the Anti-Terror Law on Cordillera IPs.
- Atty. Jose Molintas, an incumbent Baguio City Councilor who shared insights on the current circumstances surrounding state mandated terror designation.
- Atty. Francisca Claver, an environment and human rights lawyer and member of the
National Union of People’s Lawyers who shared on the freezing of accounts as a result of the TFPSA.
Thereafter, the second part of the event involved a dialogue about the impacts of the Anti-
Terrorism Law and Terrorism Financing and Suppression Act with the following panelists:
- Windel Bolinget, the Chairperson of the Cordillera People’s Alliance and Willy Alangui, the Lead Convenor of the Defend NGOs Northern Luzon who both discussed the impacts of the Anti-Terror Law.
- Marcylyn Pilala, an IP from Gueday, Besao, Mountain Province who was accused of
- violating the TFPSA and made a manifestation about how she was personally impacted by the Anti-Terror Law and the TFPSA through a video message.
- Emerita Dazon, the Secretary General of the Cordillera People’s Alliance, Mountain Province and Caselle Ton, the Spokesperson of the Cordillera Human Rights Alliance who jointly discussed the impact of the Terror Law in communities.
Mr. Jerel Beltran, the president of the Political Science Academic Society (POSAS), had this to say about the event: “Ang Five Years of Terror ay nagbukas ng mga kwento at karanasang hindi ko akalaing ganito kabigat para sa mga komunidad sa Cordillera. Habang pinapakinggan ko ang mga panelist, speakers, at mga guests, lalo kong naunawaan na ang mga batas na Anti-Terror Law at TFPSA ay hindi lamang simpleng polisiya kundi tunay nakakaapekto sa buhay, takot, at kalayaan ng mga tao. Naramdaman ko rin kung gaano kahalaga na may mga espasyong tulad nito kung saan puwedeng magsalita ang mga direktang apektado at marinig ang boses nila nang walang pangamba. Naiwan sa akin ang paalala na ang seguridad ng bansa ay hindi kailanman dapat ipalit sa karapatang pantao at dignidad ng bawat indibidwal. Payt Latta!”
Aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals 10 (Reduced Inequalities), 16 (Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions), and 17 (Partnership for the Goals), this program aimed to deepen understanding of these terror laws, their mechanisms, and the legal strategies used to counter them. It also seeks to highlight the testimonies and lived
experiences of those directly affected. Ultimately, this gathering strengthened the collective resolve to safeguard against attacks on certain rights and freedoms, and to awaken the community towards the staggering reality of what truly transpires beyond the naked eye, which affirms the CICM advocacies of justice, peace, and dialogue.
This event is an advocacy and a call upon those perpetrators that they are being watched, and gradually, people are learning and taking action against these injustices. (Article and Photos by DLUSA)
Narigat ngem, Payt Latta!
