MANILA – Human rights groups renewed their call for the repeal of the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020 and the Terrorism Financing Prevention and Suppression Act of 2012, saying the laws have been used to suppress dissent and violate civil liberties.

In a report, it said that the groups staged a protest outside the Department of Justice as the country marked the sixth anniversary of the enactment of the Anti-Terrorism Act.

During the rally, Karapatan Secretary General Cristina Palabay criticized the Supreme Court’s decision to uphold most provisions of the Anti-Terrorism Act in 2021.

“Anim na taon po ang nakakaraan. Ayaw po sana namin sabihin sa Korte Suprema, pero sasabihin ko na rin. We told you so, Supreme Court,” Palabay said.

“Sinabi na po namin anim na taon na ang nakakaraan, unconstitutional. Lumalabag sa karapatang pantao at civil liberties, tatamaan ang mga aktibisa, ang mga nagpapahayag, ang mga ordinaryong mamamayan sa ilalim ng terror law,” she added.

In December 2021, the Supreme Court declared two provisions of the Anti-Terrorism Act unconstitutional but upheld the rest of the law.

Palabay alleged that at least 256 individuals have faced fabricated charges or arbitrary detention under the anti-terror laws.

“Marami po sa mga naging biktima ng terror law na ito ay mga magsasaka, mga katutubo, mga manggagawa, mga kababaihan, at mga kabataan,” she said.

She also accused the government of using the laws to suppress critics and political dissent.

“Dalawang batas na ginagamit para supilin ang mga lumalaban, ang mga nag eehersisyo ng ating mga karapatan, ang mga rebolusyonaryo para manaig ang mga kurakot, ang mga mamamatay tao, ang mga nagsasanla ng ating bansa sa mga dayuhan,” she said.

In a separate statement, Karapatan said the Anti-Terrorism Act and the Terrorism Financing Prevention and Suppression Act have been used to justify arrests, prolonged detention, bank account freezes and terrorist designations against activists and community leaders.

The group claimed that 25 individuals remain detained under cases related to the anti-terror laws, while 37 others, including leaders of people’s organizations and National Democratic Front of the Philippines consultants, have been designated as terrorists by the Anti-Terrorism Council.

Karapatan also cited several financing of terrorism cases filed in 2025 against activists in Cagayan Valley and Negros, and called on the Marcos administration to repeal both laws and hold accountable officials responsible for alleged human rights violations committed under the government’s counterterrorism campaign.