Socmed monitoring for terrorists only, AFP clarifies

Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Chief Lt. Gen. Gilbert Gapay’s suggestion to regulate social media use under the controversial Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA) was meant to keep track of terrorists, not to curtail the right to freedom of expression.

By regulating, Gapay meant putting the use of socmed to order, that is, to ensure that the terrorists will not be able to use it as a convenient but potent means “to advance the ends of terrorism, recruit new members, and generate financial, logistical, and material support,” AFP spokesman, Maj. Gen. Edgard Arevalo, said in a statement on Wednesday.

But even this is difficult to regulate because it is underground and operates illegally.

Gapay merely shared his views as the military will be among those who will help craft the implementing rules and regulations of the ATA of 2020.

The comments, insisted Arevalo, also stemmed from Gapay’s experience in fighting terrorists in Mindanao, particularly in Marawi City, as well as from his observations from other countries’ approach in battling terrorism and violent extremism.

Gapay drew criticisms after saying that the use of social media must be regulated to stop radicalism and radicalization of the youth as cyberspace “is the platform now being used by terrorists to radicalize, to recruit and even plan terrorist acts” and that the military also “will have some recommendations on how the law may be implemented.”

Arevalo assured that the stand of the AFP chief will always be “subject to constitutional limitations, existing laws and regulations.”

“The AFP assures the public that it will not curtail and instead protect the people’s right to free speech, assembly, and redress of grievances as enshrined in the Constitution,” Arevalo noted.

Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana, in a separate statement, guaranteed that regulating social media use is not mandated by the controversial law against terror nor “it would violate freedom of speech and discourse.”

Lorenzana also defended Gapay, whom he said was only trying to convey that the AFP, as the main body tasked to fight terrorism in the country, is mulling suggesting diving into the dark side of internet where clandestine networks peddle drugs, traffic people, sell guns and explosives, hire assassins, engage in illegal activities, and recruit terrorists and plan terroristic acts.

“But even this is difficult to regulate because it is underground and operates illegally. Also being used to recruit and plan terroristic acts,” Lorenzana said.