The statement
of the NUJP Olongapo Subic Chapter
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The authors and enablers of the Cyber Crime
bill in the legislative
branch of government, who are being supported by an equally misguided
President Aquino who signed it into law, are only after one thing: to
silence the critics of the administration and these elected government
officials, and to punish them severely if they cannot be silenced.
That message has been heard loud and clear by the press, the public,
and even international organizations, and it has been responded to in
kind.
To Aquino and the Philippine Senate, we say thus: This bill will only
kill democracy in the Philippines, and it is a fatal stab in the heart
of the Philippine constitution which protects our way of life.
A law that oppresses its own people, and which will be responsible for
the death of democracy in the Philippines cannot be the legacy that
real statesmen can support, or any freedom loving Filipino can uphold.
To do so would be to trample on the inalienable rights of every man,
woman, or child in this country, including those generations that will
come long after we are gone.
President Corazon Aquino herself came to power because people’s voices
could not be silenced, or their will be overcome by a tyrant. Her
husband, Ninoy Aquino, died so that these freedoms might live and
flourish again in this country after the long dark night of martial
law.
That is the legacy of the Aquinos of old, and that is the only reason
why this current President, the son of giants in Philippine history,
is in power.
It would be a tragic day indeed if President Aquino himself will
extinguish the light of freedom which both his parents lived for and
died to protect, so that our country and its citizens can think and
speak their minds freely.
We are against the Cyber Crime law, and our voices will be heard, and
will be joined by a chorus of those who not only believe in freedom of
speech, of the press, and our inalienable rights in the face of
tyranny – but will fight for them, so that our democracy will live on
despite this assault from those who were supposed to protect it for
the people’s sake.
branch of government, who are being supported by an equally misguided
President Aquino who signed it into law, are only after one thing: to
silence the critics of the administration and these elected government
officials, and to punish them severely if they cannot be silenced.
That message has been heard loud and clear by the press, the public,
and even international organizations, and it has been responded to in
kind.
To Aquino and the Philippine Senate, we say thus: This bill will only
kill democracy in the Philippines, and it is a fatal stab in the heart
of the Philippine constitution which protects our way of life.
A law that oppresses its own people, and which will be responsible for
the death of democracy in the Philippines cannot be the legacy that
real statesmen can support, or any freedom loving Filipino can uphold.
To do so would be to trample on the inalienable rights of every man,
woman, or child in this country, including those generations that will
come long after we are gone.
President Corazon Aquino herself came to power because people’s voices
could not be silenced, or their will be overcome by a tyrant. Her
husband, Ninoy Aquino, died so that these freedoms might live and
flourish again in this country after the long dark night of martial
law.
That is the legacy of the Aquinos of old, and that is the only reason
why this current President, the son of giants in Philippine history,
is in power.
It would be a tragic day indeed if President Aquino himself will
extinguish the light of freedom which both his parents lived for and
died to protect, so that our country and its citizens can think and
speak their minds freely.
We are against the Cyber Crime law, and our voices will be heard, and
will be joined by a chorus of those who not only believe in freedom of
speech, of the press, and our inalienable rights in the face of
tyranny – but will fight for them, so that our democracy will live on
despite this assault from those who were supposed to protect it for
the people’s sake.
Related article:
Cyber Law (Republic Act 10175) draws widespread protests
Philippines: New ‘Cybercrime’ Law Will Harm Free SpeechFOI Act will immortalize you, Mr. PresidentCybercrime law threatens freedom of
