Different sectors from government has called for the revival of
the RA1700 Anti Subversion Law, from the Department of Interior and Local
Government (DILG) Eduardo Ano, this call has been gaining support. Recently the
Philippine National Police Chief Director General Oscar Albayalde made it
publicly known that he supports such call of the DILG because he believes it
would lead to the demise of the New People’s Army (NPA).
The Senate hearing headed by Senator Ronald Dela Rosa, is a revelation former NPA rebels that has seen
the light has confessed under oath all the fears the State was having – massive
recruitment of members in colleges and universities, Partylist groups still in cahoots
with the communists, the NPA has direct connections with media practitioners
and even in the Catholic church.
No wonder this Maoist insurgency has been surviving and existing
for the longest time.
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| (photo from Philstar) |
How to end it?
As a primer and an eye opener, we have quoted part of the article
in Philippine Star that explains what is the Anti-Subversion law.
Republic Act 1700
The Anti-Subversion Act or
Republic Act 1700 was enacted in 1957 during the presidency of Carlos Garcia,
with aim to counter the Hukbalahap movement.
Section 4 of the repealed
law punished “whoever knowingly, wilfully and by overt acts affiliates himself
with, becomes or remains a member of the Communist Party of the Philippines
and/or its successor or any subversive association.”
The Marcos-era Presidential
Decree 1835, which was similarly repealed, defined communist subversive groups
as existing “for the purpose of overthrowing the government or for the purpose
of removing from the allegiance to said government or its laws, the territory
of the Philippines or any part thereof, with the open or covert assistance or support
of a foreign power or the open or covert support from a foreign source of any
association, group of persons, whether public or private, by force, violence,
terrorism, arson, assassination, deceit or other illegal means.”
The decree also enumerated
set of acts that would be prima facie evidence of subversion such as giving
financial support to a “subversive” organization, executing its orders or plans
and distributing its material or propaganda.
Dead law
In 1992, nearly three
decades ago, Ramos signed Republic Act 7637, which repealed the Anti-Subversion
Act.
“Republic Act 1700 was
passed 35 years ago—when communism seemed the wave of the future—by a
Philippine state fearful of being submerged in its tide. Today we repeal
it—confident of our national stability and confirmed in the resilience of our
democracy,” Ramos said in a speech in 1992.
He added: “By assuring
communist insurgents of political space, we also challenge them to compete
under our constitutional system and free market of ideas—which are guaranteed
by the rule of law.”
In a statement Tuesday,
Drilon said the law was repealed because of the perceived infringement on the
constitutional rights of an individual.
“The anti-subversion law
was ‘buried’ a long time ago for it was proven that such policy, aside from
being prone to abuse and a tool to harass, undermined some of our basic
constitutional rights,” the opposition lawmaker said.
Article 2, Section 4 of the
1987 Constitution states that “no law shall be passed abridging the freedom of
speech, of expression, or of the press, or the right of the people peaceably to
assemble and petition the government for redress of grievances.”
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Report from Philstar
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