Moros Fearful of Terror Bill?s Potential for Abuse
Terrorized. Members of the Suara Bangsamoro partylist group hold a demonstration on Friday against the anti-terrorism bill. (davaotoday.com photo by Barry Ohaylan)
By Grace S. Uddin
davaotoday.com
DAVAO CITY — Three months ago, Naif Yaken applied for a job in one of the plywood companies here. The work was simple: all Yaken had to do was stick the plywood together.
But the 20-year-old Moro, who supports his parents and four siblings, did not get the job. A man who applied at the same time with Yaken got it instead. Yaken now speculates that, had it not been for his religion, which is Islam, he would have gotten the job.
Related item: Terror Law Undermines Efforts for Justice and Peace in Mindanao
COTABATO CITY — The Suara Bangsamoro Partylist is one with the rest of the Filipino people in vehemently opposing the passage of the Anti-Terrorism Bill.
A government peace negotiator, a Marine general and 11 other people have been held since Friday by a faction of the Moro National Liberation Front. Undersecretary Ramon G. Santos of the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP), Marine Major General Benjamin Dolorfino, of the military’s National Capital Region Command and the others were prevented from leaving an MNLF camp on Friday afternoon. The MNLF said they did not take Santos and company as hostages and that they were merely asked to remain in the MNLF camp in Panamao, Sulu, “for more inquiries” by the rebel group.