The government’s anti-insurgency task force on Monday expressed opposition to House Bill No. 77 or the "Human Rights Defenders' Protection Act" .
“The NTF-ELCAC, through its Legal Cooperation Cluster, therefore, calls on all Filipinos to unequivocally reject HB No. 77 and to enjoin their District Representatives to junk the said Bill on sight, upon its introduction in the plenary for its Second Reading,” it said. The measure also mandates the government to respect, promote, protect, and fulfill the rights of human rights defenders. It also ensures protection from intimidation or reprisal. Derogatory and unfounded labeling such as “reds”, “communists”, “terrorists”, or “enemies of the state”, among others are also refrained under the proposed bill.
“The Bill seeks to create 'sanctuaries' that virtually makes the [communist terrorist group] beyond the reach of law enforces, which are in direct contrast with the unequivocal language of the aforesaid UN Resolution that it does not create new rights but instead merely articulates existing rights,” it said.