Admin bets oppose revival of Anti-Subversion Law
Senatorial candidates belonging to the Team Unity yesterday voiced opposition to the call of Armed Forces Chief of Staff Hermogenes Esperon for the revival of the Anti-Subversion Law.
Re-electionist Senator Joker Arroyo said in a press conference yesterday that he along with fellow candidates Tessie Aquino-Oreta and Ralph Recto cannot agree to the proposal because they voted for the repeal of Republic Act 1700 or the Anti-Subversion Law.
The law was enacted in 1957 at the height of the Huk rebellion and repealed in 1992, which legalized the Communist Party of the Philippines.
Arroyo pointed out that even the Philippine National Police saw no need in the revival of the law.
Esperon earlier had said that he wanted the revival of the law so that the government can outlaw the CPP and its "front" organizations.
But PNP spokesperson Chief Supt. Samuel Pagdilao on Saturday said there is no need of its revival because of the passage of the Human Security Act or the antiterrorism bill.
Recto said reviving the law would be contrary to the current trend of most if not all countries in Europe that are allowing the existence of communist parties.
"We cannot outlaw an ideology or an idea. We can only outlaw violence," said Recto.
In the same press conference, the administration candidates also condemned the continued killings of political activists and journalists.
Surigao del Sur Rep. Prospero Pichay Jr. said the issue has not affected their campaign following criticism of the administration from the US government for the continued killings.
But Pichay blamed opposition groups for "holding back relatives of the victims from testifying before the Melo Commission."
Arroyo said that while they condemn the killings, "we do not want to condemn our armed forces."
He said if it were not for the AFP, the country would be under military rule in February 2006, referring to the alleged plot of rebel soldiers to overthrown the Arroyo administration.
Arroyo pointed out that the Melo Commission report did not blame the killings to the AFP but a few officers and soldiers.