NOSReus

It is never good to kill someone. Fred, who is just casually walking in a footbridge witnesses a dilemma which is induced to him by either the careless operator of the trolleys or by the course of accident.  Fred is given a choice, to save five diverse lives or choose one life of an old woman?

If I were Fred, I would consider that neither of my decision is morally upright. But of course, I would never have time to think of that. If I were in his place, my intuition would choose the lives of the five men. It is the most justifiable decision given the context. There are three things I consider: Experience, contribution, and number.

Compared to the old lady, these workers have a lot to experience as they are young in contrast to the lady. In terms of mortality, the workers have a lot time to spend and will more time to contribute to the society. In contribution aspect, I can’t argue that these five people will contribute, I can only argue that they have a future to contribute for compared to the old lady who has little time. Lastly, choosing between five lives or one life is obvious—given the context.

Truth is sometimes subjective. One may argue that the concept of truth seeks solely objectivity of the matter. Yet we need to consider context. In today’s technological advancement, communication plays a vital role and employs knowledge to most people. With the present technology everyone is indulged and has a lot of opportunity to create and discover its own truth. With that being said, context is surely an important element of truth.

  There are various perspective in which a truth can be seen like in personal, political, and objective.

  A belief that is not accepted by everyone and exclusive to a person, can be considered a personal truth. In our experiences, we meet instances like a belief where it is deeply rooted into our reality. For example, one may believe that after someone dies he will be reincarnated into something—this is a personal belief that is only true to oneself. In discovering personal truth we will find many versions of it like in our personal experiences.

Furthermore, there is political truth. It is unknown to many that there is a political truth, it is the kind of truth that delves around the quote “Fake it until you make it” aura. Political truths are information that are heard over and over again until someone is brought into believing it. In the current 2022 elections, there are bundles of political truths we can observe—people are brought to believe that Leni is not a candidate of the Liberal party (Yellow party) because she runs as independent, yet Leni is the former chairman of the said party. Also, the rumor that when the Marcos family will be back in Malacañang they will give each Filipino a part of the hoax Tallano gold. You see, these are political truth you experience around that keeps coming until someone bites into believing it.

  The objective truth, this is where civilization is deeply rooted and among the versions of truth that guides us firmly. Objective truths are data and scientifically driven truth that proves whether a thing is a fact or bluff. Objective truths are around us, and it is the truth that guides our daily lives—though both Personal and Political truth is present every time, objective truth is the one leading us to be in order.

The Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020, officially designated as Republic Act No. 11479, is a Philippine law whose intent is to prevent, prohibit, and penalize terrorism in the Philippines. This law is one of the most contentious laws in recent memory in the Philippines. The law was signed by President Rodrigo Duterte on July 3, 2020 and effectively replaced the Human Security Act of 2007 on July 18, 2020. The Act defines terrorism as engaging in acts intended to cause death or serious bodily injury to any person, acts that intended to cause extensive damage or destruction to a government or public facility, public place, or private property. Engaging in acts intended to cause extensive interference with, damage, or destruction to critical infrastructure. Developing, supplying, or using weapons and releasing dangerous substances or causing fire, floods or explosions when the purpose is to intimidate the general public, create an atmosphere to spread a message of fear, provoke or influence by intimidation the government or any international organization, seriously destabilize or destroy the fundamental political, economic, or social structures in the country, or create a public emergency or seriously undermine public safety. "Advocacy, protest, dissent, stoppage of work, industrial or mass action, and other similar exercises of civil and political rights" shall not be considered as terrorist acts only if they "are not intended to cause death or serious physical harm to a person, to endanger a person's life, or to create a serious risk to public safety. The Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020 earlier signified as urgent and sign into law. The legalization of the said law received so much criticism. Protesters call on Philippine legislators to scrap an anti-terror bill that human rights activists fear will be used to suppress free speech and harass opponents of President Rodrigo Duterte. The rally was held June 4 in Quezon City. Many fear the law’s sweeping definitions will provide a new tool to silence those who are calling for accountability for abuses committed under Duterte’s leadership, including extrajudicial killings carried out during an anti-drug crackdown launched after his election in 2016. A measure that critics warned could lead to more widespread of human rights abuses. Rights group and activists say the new law is designed to give Duterte’s police and military forces to stifle dissent against his populist rule amid his war on drugs, which killed thousands of people. The new law allows the suspect to be detained without a judicial warrant of arrest, prolong the amount of time that they can be detained without being charged in court. Suspects can be jailed for up to 24 days and it can be extended to 14 days with 10 days extension without charge and feared to lead into torture. Senator Risa Hontiveros, one of the two senators to vote against the bill, said that it was untimely, especially during Covid-19. She said that the government should address the pandemic, the health, and economic crisis rather than fast-tracking the bill. "All of us are against terrorist actions and it is the duty of the government to secure people's safety against terrorist actions, but not with this overly broad, vague, and subject to interpretation definition," she added. International human rights organizations have made their opposition clear. Human Rights Watch said in a press statement that the law is a “human rights disaster in the making that will open the door to arbitrary arrests and long prison sentences for people or representatives of organizations that have displeased the president.” Despite of the challenges and critics the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020 earned the overwhelming supports by the 47 Municipal and City peace and order council.

Terrorism is a crime against the country, its people and humanity. Terrorism has already unimaginable effects on our community. A wider socio-economic effects associated with terrorism, such as businesses closing and, therefore, an increase in poverty and unemployment. The destruction of structure and houses, loosing lives of both military and civilian. Nowadays the Number of terrorism is increasing and it became rampant and aggressive, even the lockdown did not stop the terror. Thus fight against terrorism requires a comprehensive action. Recently the Julu bombings killing 14 people and wounding 75 others causing the government to urgently implement the Law. This law was necessary to crack down on terrorism that strikes anytime and anywhere. When the democratic government is threatened, the Law can help raise its arms in self defense, protect the people from wrong ideologies. In addition making decision has advantages and disadvantages it’s up to us on how can we deal with it. If you are not a terrorist, then there is nothing to fear as long as you follow the law enforced by the government. The Government will not legalized a law that is harmful to the people. The government is aware of their work and they will also play their role in this law which they have enacted without abusing people, rights and dignity.

CITATIONS: “Republic Act No. 11479”, (n. d. ). Talk: Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020. Wikipedia the free encyclopedia. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anti-Terrorism_Act_of_2020). “Duterte’s anti-terror law”, (2020). Duterte’s Anti-terror law a dark new chapter for Philippines,

expert warn. The Guardian. (https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/jul/09/dutertes-anti- terror-law-a-dark-new-chapter-for-philippines-experts-warn).

Chiu, R. A. (2020, July. 06). Peace keeping and peace building: Anti-Terrorism earns sweeping support among Bohol peace, order councils. Reliefweb.

(https://reliefweb.int/report/philippines/anti-terrorism-act-earns-sweeping-support-among- bohol-peace-order-councils).

Dollanganger, C. (2020, August. 21). What do critics and supporters of the Philippines anti- terrorism bill say? The News lens. (https://international.thenewslens.com/article/138072).

Venzon, C. (2020, June. 10). Politics: Anti-terrorism Act of 2020: five things to know. Nikkei Asian Review. ( https://asia.nikkei.com/Politics/The-Philippines-Anti-Terrorism-Act-of-2020- Five-things-to-know). Gutierrez, J. (2020, July. 03). Duterte signs antiterrorism bill in Philippines despite widespread

criticism. The New York Times. (https://www.nytimes.com/2020/07/03/world/asia/duterte- antiterrorism-law-philippines.html).

Al Jazeera, (2020, August. 24). 14 killed in Jolo twin bombings in southern Philippines. Al Jazeera