Palace to US lawmakers calling for immediate repeal of Anti-Terrorism Act: ”You’re no longer our colonial masters”

July 16, 2020

The Philippines has long been independent of the United States and no longer its colonial master, Malacañang said on Thursday.

Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque made the statement following the prodding of at least 45 American lawmakers for the Philippine government to immediately repeal the newly-passed Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020.

An Illinois lawmaker even called the new law as a new weapon to suppress the dissent of the Filipinos.

"The Philippines has long been independent of America. Although when we were colonized, that was the bloodiest battle that the world had seen wherein the Americans violated the law prevailing when there is war. They killed all the people, especially those in Samar," Roque said referring to the Balangiga Massacre in Eastern Samar in 1901 during the Philippine American war.

He said the petitions questioning the constitutionality of the anti-terror law have been filed in the Supreme Court.

Roque told the 45 American lawmakers that the judicial system in the country works.

"We can rely on our judicial system to rule on the constitutionality of the Anti-Terror Law," he said.

Roque also told the US lawmakers not to interfere in the internal affairs of the country.

"Don't meddle, you're no longer our colonial masters; we're already an independent country," he stressed.

At least 45 American legislators sent a letter to the Philippine government through Philippine Ambassador to US Jose Manuel Romualdez calling to repeal the anti-terror law, which according to critics contains unconstitutional provisions and could be used by the Duterte administration against its critics.

The Anti-Terrorism Act will take effect on July 19, fifteen days after its publication in two newspapers of general circulation, Roque said. Celerina Monte/DMS