ANTI-CYBECRIME LAW ( Where is now my FREEDOM? )

BLACK PROTEST. I AM AN ANTI-CYBERCRIME LAW.

#NoToCyberCrimeLaw, Now trending!

October 3, 2012. As of 10: 20AM.

Social Networking sites are now bombarded with all the moaning and pleading voices of mostly Filipino citizens regarding the newly passed law, the CyberCrime Law.

[ Republic Act No. 10175 ]

AN ACT DEFINING CYBERCRIME, PROVIDING FOR THE PREVENTION, INVESTIGATION, SUPPRESSION AND THE IMPOSITION OF PENALTIES THEREFOR AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

Read more: http://www.gov.ph/2012/09/12/republic-act-no-10175/

Philippines is considered as a democratic country. Democracy is a system of government by which political sovereignty is retained by the people and either exercised directly by citizens or through their elected representatives.

In political theory, democracy describes a small number of related forms of government and also a political philosophy. Even though there is no universally accepted definition of ‘democracy’, there are two principles that any definition of democracy is required to have. The first principle is that all members of the society have equal access to power and the second that all members enjoy universally recognized freedoms and liberties.

The main and most important feature of democracy is:- Government by the people. Sounds really good doesn’t it? Does it really exist?

In lieu with that, and for most of us Filipinos,  this law works against ordinary netizens & disregards, among other things, our right to privacy & freedom of expression. As what stated in the 1987 Constitution of the Republic of the Philippines Section 4. No law shall be passed abridging the freedom of speech, of expression,  or of the press, or the right of the people peaceably to assemble and petition the government for redress of grievances. The United Nations is with us as they stand firmly on Internet Freedom. Even international groups warns Philippines for this Cybercrime Law. It violates substantive due process.

(UN’s stand on Internet Freedom) June 29, 2012

Section 1 of Article III of the Bill of Rights of the 1987 Constitution provides that “no person shall be deprived of life, liberty or property without due process of law, nor shall any person be denied the equal protection of the laws.”

But the Cybercrime Law fundamentally violates procedural due process because of new legislation’s Section 19.

Section 19 provides that “when a computer data is prima facie found to be in violation of the provisions of this Act, the DOJ shall issue an order to restrict or block access to such computer.”Interaksyon.com appropriately called it the “TAKEDOWN CLAUSE”. Note that it will not even take a court order to potentially block a website. The DOJ itself will have that mandate. (source: Interaksyon.com Atty. Mel Sta. Maria, News5 )

I do know my rights especially with my freedom of expression. As a blogger, I am against this law which I considered not worthy to be paid attention for knowing the fact that Philippines has a lot more conflicts to consider and not this one. I am not afraid nor threatened with this law. I still speak up what I want to say, burst out my views/thoughts/opinions the way I want. No one could prevent me! I am AGAINST Cybercrime Law. Why? Because I don’t want to be put behind bars for 12 years just because I was being honest with my idea. I ponder, why do Filipinos always have to fight for freedom when it’s actually their birthright? Why do we need to battle with highly political officials in the country who have no hearts for the Filipino mass. Why is the Philippine so eager in wasting money, 50 MILLION annually  to be specific, which is not really helpful to us? It’s very saddening to know that the government will allot such big bucks for this law where there is much more problems to be acted upon. Not this! What a waste! I don’t know what will happen to me after posting this entry. Well, again, as I mentioned earlier. I AM NEITHER AFRAID NOR THREATENED.

Print-screened pictured from facebook- https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=4187701063684&set=p.4187701063684&type=1&theater. So it has come already!

This law came suddenly out of nowhere. The only thing I find relevant here is fighting child pornography. But wait a minute, there’s already an existing law against child porn. What you gonna do with 50 million? That’s a lot of cold cash to pay hackers track down other hackers. I wish the lawmakers would give a bit more attention to existing laws like those against inhumane treatment to animals, so that the rest of the world would somehow see Filipinos as less barbaric. Isn’t it alarming? One way of corruption? It’s for you to conclude.

My friend wittily uttered me this: This LAW does not protect FILIPINO people from the intruders/cybercriminals but limiting FILIPINO people in the Internet world. He’s absolutely right! Nobody disputes the necessity to fight online crimes but the libel provision they deviously attached just reeks of online censorship and violation of freedom of speech. The government sees the Internet and online social networks as a threat to their Corporate Controlled Mass Media’s capability to sway public opinion in matters of great national importance.

Just read a news earlier. Cybercrime Law can be retroactive. That’s dangerous! The Cybercrime Act is the worst assault to our Bill of Rights.

The meaning of ‘FREEDOM’ is now redefined. The ‘DEMOCRACY’ we have fight for years ago is now being  trashed. The President of the Philippines, PNoy Aquino, is a son of the Mother of  Democracy in thou country. Our president should know the meaning of FREEDOM since his parents fought for it. What a sad feeling that instead our country is reaching continually its pedestal of glory, it’s more of moving into a dark pit. Even the sky now is crying for freedom. What will happen now to the generation next to us? Why not a law for higher standards on eligibility to file for candidacy so that imbeciles are never elected again?

[Today is the Declaration of Policy]

Below are some of the tweets trending in Twitter:

[Source: TWITTER]

[Source: TWITTER]

 

[Source: TWITTER]

[Source: TWITTER]