SEN. Panfilo Lacson yesterday said front organizations of the communist New People’s Army, the armed wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines, have been working double time to discredit the proposed anti-terrorism law to prevent more comrades from surrendering to authorities.
“An Army commander reported that in anticipation of the passage of the anti-terrorism bill, the NPAs have started surrendering — 27 in just two days in Quezon, Laguna, and Mindoro alone,” said Lacson, one of the principal authors of the proposed Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020 at the Senate.
“Many more are sending surrender feelers. That is why, he (commander) said, their fronts have become busier with their disinformation campaign,” he added.
The proposed anti-terrorism law, which will repeal the Human Security Act of 2007, is awaiting President Duterte’s signature.
Lacson said the surrender of the communist rebels could have been for fear that the Manila Regional Trial Court would rule on a government petition seeking to declare the NPA and the Communists Party of the Philippines as terrorist organizations.
He said the CPP/NPA, along with the Abu Sayyaf group, have been designated by the US as foreign terrorist organizations (FTOs).
A list of FTOs posted on the US State Department website showed the CPP/NPA was tagged an FTO in August 2002, and the Abu Sayyaf in October 1997.
“As per the anti-terrorism bill, once the United Nations designates the local communist guerrillas as a terrorist organization, the ATC (anti-terrorism council) can initiate an administrative sanction through the Anti-Money Laundering Council to freeze their accounts. This and more could be the reason why there is so much disinformation going on,” Lacson said.
Last week, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana and military officials said the NPA would be covered by the anti-terrorism law if its members commit acts of terrorism, like bombing and burning of government and private properties.
The NPA is known to burn heavy equipment used in road constructions and farms, and other structures whose owners refuse to give extortion money.
STREET PROTESTS
Lacson said he will join street protests if the new anti-terrorism law is abused as he said will not allow anyone to pervert the legislative intent of the measure.
“The anti-terrorism bill is the wrong tree to bark at. I vow to join those who are concerned, genuinely or otherwise, about the proposed law’s implementation to be as vigilant in monitoring each and every wrongful implementation by our security forces, even to the point of joining them in street protests, just like what I did before during the time of former President Arroyo,” Lacson said.
Lacson maintained the bill contains more than enough safeguards against abuse, including the 10-year jail terms and perpetual disqualification from public service for law enforcers who arrest suspected terrorists but fail to immediately inform the nearest court and the Commission on Human Rights.
He said he will be the first one to stand against abuses in the implementation of the measure through privilege speeches and Senate inquiries.
“Regarding the abuses, we’ve seen them, we’ve investigated them. The cops responsible for the murder of Kian delos Santos were convicted largely because of our Senate inquiries.
We need a tough anti-terror law but with tougher safeguards to fight and defeat both,” he added.
Lacson said the proposed measure underwent strict scrutiny from his colleagues in the Senate to make sure of its constitutionality and strict compliance with the Bill of Rights.
Sen. Ronald dela Rosa, a former PNP chief like Lacson, said law-abiding citizens need not fear of the proposed law as only terrorists and their supporters are the targets of the measure.
He also said the measure will not be used against those who oppose the government as it was clearly written in the bill that activism and the like are not forms of terrorism.
He told critics of the proposed law not to blame the government if terrorism worsens.
“Kapag kayo ay naging biktima ng terorista, sumabog ang bomba diyan, may namatay sa mahal sa buhay ninyo, o kayo mismo, huwag ninyong sisihin ang gobyerno na hindi gumagawa ng paraan para mahinto ang terrorism, para masawata ang terrorism (If you become a victim of a terrorist, a bomb exploded, someone you love died, or you die, do not say government is not trying to stop terrorism,” Dela Rosa told radio dzBB.
