UP player Kobe Paras. INQUIRER PHOTO/TRISTAN TAMAYO
MANILA, Philippines—Several collegiate basketball standouts took a stand against the controversial Anti-Terror Bill which only needs President Rodrigo Duterte’s signature to become law.
University of the Philippines’ Kobe Paras and University of Santo Tomas’ CJ Cansino took to Twitter to join the call to junk the bill that is feared to give law enforcement added power to red tag individuals who voice dissent against the government.
Thirdy Ravena, who played his last season with Ateneo in 2019, also lent his voice, reposting images on his Instagram stories criticizing the bill.
https://twitter.com/_kokoparas/status/1268385913739948033
Paras also shared his insights after retweeting 2015 Miss Universe Pia Wurtzbach, who said that citizens should have their voices heard and not silenced.
“My whole life I was told to be quiet and never speak up about things going on in this world because I’m just an athlete. I am a human being,” posted Paras. “God gave me legs to stand up for what is right. God gave me a mouth to speak up for those voices who couldn’t be heard.”
https://twitter.com/_kokoparas/status/1268486164379398145
As a UP student, Paras also expressed his solidarity for those who marched in Diliman against the Anti-Terror Bill.
“I may not be in UP right now, but I am there in spirit. Wearing a maroon hat that says what we all want, CHANGE!” posted Paras on Twitter with his picture wearing a t-shirt in honor of American civil rights leader Malcolm X.
Cansino, meanwhile, tweeted the hashtag #JUNKTERRORBILLNOW in support of the movement while also retweeting the link for change.org where people can sign the petition and also donate for the campaign.
Ravena also embedded change.org‘s link in his Instagram bio.
Paras not only questioned the bill, but also took a swipe at the government’s mounting debts amid the COVID-19 crisis with the Philippines already pushing its loans to a total of P8.6 trillion in April.
“Life is all about being curious right? So I just have one question, where did the money (P8.6 trillion or $172,336,174,000.00) go to?” posted Paras.