Cabalen youth defies Anti - Terror Bill

vol. 73 issue 02

SERVE THE PEOPLE

Cabalen youth defies Anti - Terror Bill

A farmer smiles while listening to a mass leader during the SONA ng Bayan protest action

Photo by Marienel Calma

By Jhon Marco Magdangal

Student councils, organizations and three hundred students from various universities and colleges in Pampanga led by Anakbayan Pampanga signed a unity statement opposing the draconian and repressive Anti Terror Bill. In the unity statement posted in the official Facebook page of Anakbayan Pampanga, the group condemned the controversial bill asserting that the draconian provisions and measures in the bill will trample on democratic rights and freedom of speech. “We, the united students and leaders from different Cabalen schools, colleges, universities and organizations in Pampanga, stand firmly against and vehemently condemn the passage of the Anti-Terrorism Bill,” Anakbayan stated. The signature campaign and the unity statement was joined by the University of the Philippines Diliman Extension, Holy Angel University University Student Council, Angeles University Foundation Student Council, Our Lady of Fatima University Student Council, Angeles City Science High School Student Government, Chevalier School Supreme Government, Anakbayan HAU, League of Filipino Students HAU, Bahaghari HAU, Bahaghari San Fernando, Anakbayan AUF, Anakbayan, and The Angelite. The campaign also drew a total of 313 individual signatories composed of students from the aforementioned universities and colleges. Angelites opposes Terror Bill The University Student Council, the College Student Councils (except for the College of Criminal Justice and Forensics), student publications and organizations of the University also showed their dissent in a unity statement to lay out the objections of the student body against the controversial bill. “This will weaponize the law and warrant the State to vehemently erode our civil rights and liberation enshrined in the constitution.” stated in the official statement posted by the University Student Council. Furthermore, the statement also pleads to the incumbent congressmen in Pampanga to retract their vote. However, all of the Pampanga legislators voted yes except for one who claimed that he did not vote. Meanwhile, the Holy Angel University opposes the said bill as well. In an exclusive email to the Angelite the University President pleads to the government to focus on what is truly important and needed during this perilous time.