NSC spokesperson Assistant Director-General Jonathan Malaya (Screengrab from PTV)
QUEZON CITY (PIA) — The National Security Council (NSC) criticized human rights group Amnesty International (AI) earlier this week for its report alleging that the Marcos administration is stifling dissent and freedom of expression.
NSC spokesperson assistant director-general Jonathan Malaya rebuked Amnesty’s one-sided and misleading report that ignored the administration’s efforts to protect freedom of speech and of the press.
“We take a very strong exception to the one-sided, misleading, and baseless report of Amnesty International for making rash judgments so far removed from reality.”
“Freedom of expression in the Philippines is constitutionally protected, and we can see that in the robust and healthy traditional and social media environment, where opinions are expressed freely every single day,” Malaya said, adding that AI did not even ask the side of the government before releasing the report.
In its latest human rights report, AI claimed that the Marcos administration is using digital tools, misinformation, and vague anti-terror laws against young activists.
“Activists and other critical voices are being red-tagged and identified as targets by the government and then pursued online. However, in the Philippines, the issue does not only concern online harassment; it also results in tangible harm offline,” AI’s Satija said.
“Over the years, red-tagging has been used to instigate direct threats and attacks on those who criticize and oppose the government, and Meta is playing an enabling role in this,” she added.
Thus, Amnesty International is calling on Philippine authorities to stop the red-tagging campaign, repeal the Anti-Terrorism Act, and abolish the government’s National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC).
But Malaya said that the NSC would like to see the methodology AI used in coming out with their findings to see “what due diligence did they undertake to ensure that their respondents are unbiased and have no political agenda against the Marcos administration.”
“Remember, it’s election season. How did Al choose their respondents? The government and the public have the right to know,” he stressed, noting that the NSC is willing to sit down with AI and discuss the report if it is open to a constructive, fair, and balanced engagement.
But Malaya said the “[NSC’s] doors are open to AI if they are open to listening to the side of the government. We are willing to investigate if there is a probable cause.”
Malaya also took exception to the report’s claim that NTF-ELCAC shares numerous posts and press statements on its Facebook page where many young activists are allegedly vilified or falsely accused of being associated with rebel groups.
“What the NTF-ELCAC shares through its Facebook page are testimonies from expert witnesses, some of them former rebels, who speak about their own personal experiences. Most of these were given under oath at Senate hearings or in public forums. These individuals also have freedom of expression, which we cannot stifle,” Malaya argued.
He pointed out that the AI report overlooked the Anti-Terrorism Act’s role in disrupting terrorist activities.
“Al conveniently overlooked the fact the Philippines is one of the countries heavily impacted by terrorist activities from the CPP-NPA-NDF (Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army-National Democratic Front) to violent extremists in Mindanao. We are still 19th in the Global Terrorism Act. We need an Anti-Terrorism Law,” he said, asserting that no one is targeted arbitrarily.
Regarding claims of misinformation, Malaya said that NTF-ELCAC’s communication efforts are aimed at countering disinformation spread by extremist groups.
Malaya also urged Amnesty to adopt a balanced more objective and circumspect view of the situation rather than parroting the lines of NTF-ELCAC detractors and to recognize the importance of countering violent extremism while respecting freedom of speech and human rights. (PIA DMD)
