Statement of Sonia Roco on the detention of Bayan Muna members in Cebu

The detention of two Bayan Muna and Kabataan members in Cebu serves as an undeserved appetizer that paves the way for the full implementation of the Human Security Act or otherwise known as Anti-Terrorism Law.

Ito ay isa lamang patikim sa uri ng panggigipit at pag-aalipusta na laban sa karapatang pantao ng ating mga mamamayan. I repeat what I said when the bill was passed last February: “Forgive them for they do not know what they do.”

They did this to these two victims allegedly with a warrant of arrest. With the Human Security Act of 2007 in full swing by June, they can do this to more unwilling victims even without a warrant of arrest. On a mere suspicion, hint or hearsay, any one of us could be suspects, detained for three days and be subjected to the same inhuman treatment reminiscent of the martial law era.

This incident and the Anti-Terror bill is an affront to our democratic ideals and serves as an ignominious reminder of how we have reneged on the several international human rights pacts we have signed. As the oldest republic in Asia , we should act as the most mature one. What with the spate of extra-judicial killings and incidents like this, we are losing our grip on the very democratic foundations that would have defined us as a mature nation