J M
- House Bill 6875 recently passed its third and final reading.
- Netizens have continuously opposed the passing of the said bill.
With 173 votes in favor, 31 against, and 26 abstaining, the controversial House Bill 6875 or Anti-Terrorism Bill has passed its third and final reading.
One of the representatives who voted in favor of the bill is Batangas 6th District Representative Vilma Santos. While netizens have continued to call out those who voted “yes”, Santos’ son, Luis Manzano asked for his mother’s side and uploaded a screenshot of her reply on Twitter.
“To everyone asking, here’s what my mom said about the anti-terror bill,” he wrote.
Santos clarified that she is in favor of the bill “with reservations” because of the country’s current national security policy.
“I’m in favor of it WITH RESERVATIONS. I have a concern about the country’s national security policy. I just hope that the law enforcement agencies will implement it in accordance with the Constitution, full respect to human rights, and without any abuse whatsoever.”
https://twitter.com/luckymanzano/status/1268146063065493510
Netizens said that even with the explanation and “reservations,” she still voted yes to the bill.
https://twitter.com/yooohanseu/status/1268159663087869953
a yes with reservations is still a yes. shes enabling this to happen. it’s on her too. https://t.co/YPATK87UGT
— bee ♡ (@kwinbih) June 3, 2020
Did she just save her face with that “with reservations” thing? GUrl enabler ka, and that’s not going to change with your “in favor of it with reservation” https://t.co/1VHP08RCHx
— c (@cianalmodovar) June 3, 2020
This did not clear her name at all. She still voted yes to a bill that could possibly be used to deny us of our basic human rights. She is an enabler. She could’ve said no if may reservations sya. Never forget. https://t.co/e8Wsq34F96
— St. Gabe (@gabebalita) June 3, 2020
Others also called her out and said that Santos is staying blind to what the current administration is actually doing.
https://twitter.com/francescamau_/status/1268171496741953536
Guys, it's very important that we know that Vilma Santos had reservations while abdicating the responsibility to uphold the constitution, putting blind faith in an administration that has shown very little regard for human rights. https://t.co/pWm8v0Fuy9
— Phil Dy (@philbertdy) June 3, 2020
“Full respect to human rights without any abuse whatsoever…”
Yall been blind this past 4 years?” https://t.co/YxFAzUsnK4
— Millennial Doktora (@MillennialMD) June 3, 2020
Another Twitter user also mentioned Operation Tokhang and the lockdown as reasons as to why the people cannot trust the police and the military.
With all due respect, we CANNOT trust the police and military to accurately identify real terrorists. Abuses will surely happen.
Remember Tokhang?
Remember human rights violations under the militarist lockdown?#JunkTerrorBill #LabanMamamayan https://t.co/F8pkC5kGiv— Raoul Manuel #Kabataan (@iamRaoulManuel) June 3, 2020
Netizens have continuously campaigned against the bill by making #JunkTerrorBill and #JUNKTERRORBILLNOW trend on Twitter.
