PNP backs revival of Anti-Subversion Law to ‘end’ communism; Sen. Go wants peace talks to resume
The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Friday backed the proposal of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) to reinstate the Anti-Subvertion Law in a bid to “end” the five-decade old communist insurgency in the country.
Republic Act No. 1700 (Anti-Subversion Law) declared the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP), founded by Jose Maria Sison, and similar associations outlaws and penalized the membership therein with 12 years of imprisonment.
It was enacted on June 20, 1957 but was repealed in 1992 by then President Fidel Ramos after peace talks had been initiated by the national government with the communist groups.
In a statement, Police Brigadier General Bernard Banac, PNP spokesperson, said it is high time that the current administration revive the Anti-Subversion Law “due to [the] imminent threat of communist terrorism to the country’s security.”
DILG Secretary Eduardo Ano first made the proposal about the possible revival of the Anti-Subversion Law in a Senate hearing on Tuesday.
However, Sison, in a separate statement, said the move was a “manifestation of the frenzied drive of the tyrannical Duterte regime to impose a thoroughgoing fascist dictatorship on the people in a vain attempt to end the armed revolutionary movement.”
Sison then claimed that the revival of the law would pave the way for the return of the death penalty.
Further, Sison said the reinstatement of the law would not eliminate the CPPNPA but only serve to “further violate the national and democratic rights of the people,” thus, “incite the broad masses of the people to rise up.”
Resume peace talks
Instead of reviving the Anti-Subversion Law, neophyte Senator Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go said government should instead resume the stalled peace talks with the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP).
Go also expressed his concern about the influence of leftist groups on students they are able to enlist into its ranks through its front organizations.
“Nabi-brainwash ‘yung mga bata sa eskwelahan pa lang at nagkakaroon ng galit sa gobyerno. ‘Yun ang dapat tingnan nang mabuti (Students at schools are already being brainwashed and develope hatred for the government. That is what government should focus on),” he said. Go, a former Special Assistant to the President (Duterte), emphasized that the best way to deal with the problem is through peace talks.
“Ang akin dito, magkaroon na po ng usapang pangkapayapaan (As far as I am concerned, there should be peace talks),’’ he pointed out. Go is against the revival of the Anti-Subversion Law which criminalizes membership in communist groups.
Senator Panfilo M. Lacson, a former Philippine National Police (PNP) chief and current chairman of the Senate national defense committee is also not inclined to favor its revival.
Senate Minority Leader Franklin M. Drilon, a former Justice Secretary, said “mere membership in any organization is a not crime.”
“Hindi po ako pabor sa pagbuhay, sa pag-revive ng Anti-Subversion Law dahil pabor po ako sa resumption of peace talks with the communist party (I favor the resumption of peace talks with the CPP instead of reviving the Anti-Subversion law),” Go said. “Kung bubuhayin mo ‘yan, masisira na naman ang usapang pangkapayapaan, dahil alam naman natin na may mga partylist, whether you like it or not, affiliated talaga sa (communist party), huhulihin sila kung maisabatas ‘yan. Sa ngayon, I’m against reviving the AntiSubversion Law (Reviving it would skewer the peace talks. We all know that there are party list representatives affiliated with the communist party,” he added. (with a report from Mario B. Casayuran)