A.
INTERVIEWEE BACKGROUND
1. Briefly describe your stint as a human right advocate, particularly in Religious Freedom.
As a graduate of De La Salle University, and through our former Dean, Atty. Chel Diokno, my pursuit
towards the practice of law has a heightened awareness of human rights in the Philippines. I have
volunteered in various non-government organizations providing services for victims of human rights
violations – although not specifically focused on religious freedom, it is of my opinion that there is an
interplay among all fundamental human rights in which protection of one constitutes the protection as
well of the others.
B. Religious Freedom
1. Can you give a brief description of your understanding of religious freedom in the context of our
society?
The freedom of religion is enshrined in the 1987 Philippine Constitution which guarantees the non-
establishment clause and the freedom of religious profession and worship. The Philippines is a secular
country. Yet, having an absolute separation of Church and State is not the idyllic structure needed within
a society. Basically, religious freedom can be exercised by a person free from any government intrusion
as long as it does not offend compelling state interest. This stems from the difference between the right
to belief, which is absolute and non derogable, and the right to act on one's belief, which is subject to
regulation
Religious freedom is not a free-for-all pass to do anything, unless one is living in a vacuum. Upon placing
it within the context of our society, religious freedom, like all other rights, is limited and it should be
exercised within the flexible constitutional limits so as to ensure the stability of the society and peaceful
coexistence of its constituents.
2. Would you consider religious freedom important to the Filipino people?
Yes, The Philippine culture has always been rooted in tradition and culture. Religion thus, plays a big role
in the lives of every Filipinos. Being mostly Roman Catholics, Filipinos have conservative views in the
current global and national issues. In its broadest sense, conservatism, arising from exercise of one's
religious thoughts, has become a political philosophy based on tradition and social stability.
The impact of religious freedom to the Filipino people can be explicitly seen through the gradual
development of our country when it comes to sensitive topics of legislation, such as, but not limited to:
divorce, abortion and death penalty, as opposed to an abrupt change adapted by other countries in the
present modern era.
3. What issues or concerns make religious freedom relevant today?
Personally, religious freedom is relevant in all present issues and concerns - from gender inequality,
extrajudicial killings, bullying and discrimination, even up to the basic issues of dress code policies. It
being a fundamental right, it is therefore linked to all other fundamental rights in which all people
should abide with and take into consideration when tackling a particular problem. The Supreme Court
has decided a number of cases involving the exercise of religious freedom. Religion is essential to all
human; whether one does not subscribe to any belief system, the lack thereof still affects the moral,
civil, and political views of a person. As long as an issue is connected to the welfare of a human, its
environment, and other effects, religious freedom will always be relevant.
C. Assault on Religious Freedom
1. Do you know of any acts or practices which may be considered as assaults on religious freedom?
By the term "assaults", do you mean violations against the exercise of religious freedom? If yes, then:
Honestly, the only acts that I perceive as possible derogation on the exercise of religious freedom are
the several statements that Duterte has made openly criticizing the Catholic Church and its doctrines
and the order of killings of bishops, which are annoyingly brushed off as hyperbole to avoid any liability
on his part. Other than that, I think that religious freedom is freely exercised in the Philippines which
oftentimes opens the gate for abuse of its exercise. The Filipinos being dominantly Catholics, the country
has developed a sense of false perception that when a certain issue is against the Catholic faith and
teachings the impulsive response is that it is in violation of religious freedom, without bearing in mind
the existence of the minority belief systems.
2. Based on your observation, are concerns about assaults on religious freedom in our society
today sufficiently address by existing policies and government actions?
Apart from the issue involving Duterte which can only be addressed if he will get impeached, I think that
the legislative and judiciary branch of the government has been properly addressing the issues in
relation to religious freedom, one step at a time. Again, the Supreme Court has decided cases involving
religious freedom showing how the judicial system has been protecting the right to religion without
regard as to whether one belongs to the majority. As for legislation, the Philippines is slowly
transitioning in creating laws that advocate and take into consideration religious freedom (eg. RH Law).
3. What do you think are the likely consequences of the failure to address the different acts which
may be considered as assaults on religious freedom?
Failure to address would likely result to unorganized public assemblies, animosity among the religious
groups, and between the government due to clash of interests and ideologies, ultimately resulting to
violence and armed conflicts.
4. What suggestions can you give to members of religious faith and the public institution to
prevent or deal with the different acts of assaults on religious freedom?
All religious leaders should conduct interfaith discussions and collaborations to address existing issues as
a collective effort to find the middle ground among all communities of faith in the country and to
promote religious freedom
