REVIVAL OF ANTI-SUBVERSION LAW WON’T SOLVE INSURGENCY -- PIMENTEL
Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel Jr. (PDP-Laban) today said the
proposal of newly-installed party-list Rep. Jovito Palparan to resurrect the
Anti-Subversion Law is a retrogressive move that will only alienate
cause-oriented or progressive groups and will not solve communist insurgency
in the country.
“The proposal of Congressman Palparan to revive the Anti-Subversion Law is
reflective of his antediluvian mentality towards law and order in a modern
democratic society,” he said.
Pimentel said the proposal, if adopted, will bring back a McCarthyist-like
era when any person can be persecuted and treated as an enemy of the state
by mere membership in any legal organization that espouses leftist or
Marxist ideology.
“The Anti-Subversion Law made guilt by association a principle of criminal
law. It is not surprising that he is now attempting to revive the law. His
record as a general, in the field of human rights, speaks of the kind of
attitude he has towards those who have a different view of governance even
if they do not bear up arms in rebellion,” he said.
The minority leader also warned that Palparan’s proposal will mean that the
government will have to close the door to members of progressive
organizations who wish to pursue their struggle for social justice, economic
opportunities and human rights through legal or parliamentary means.
Consequently, he said this will force them to go underground or flee to the
mountains and to take up arms against the government.
He said the ultimate effect of reviving the unpopular, but already dead law
will be to aggravate civil strife and disunity among Filipinos.
“In a word, the general-turned-congressman poses a clear and present danger
to the civil liberties of the people,” Pimentel said.
Date: May 11, 2009
Ref: Omeng Maglangit / (02) 5526733 |
 |
|
