DILG spox Malaya: LGUs not being forced to support anti-terrorism bill

The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) on Wednesday dismissed allegations by Bayan Muna that local government units are supposedly being forced to support the controversial anti-terrorism bill.

"Bayan Muna’s claim that LGUs are being forced into supporting the anti-terrorism bill is complete falsehood and an affront and insult to the dignity, intelligence, and integrity of all local government officials nationwide who have freely expressed their support to the bill that was passed recently by Congress,” DILG spokesman Undersecretary Jonathan Malaya said in a statement.

“Nagbubulag-bulagan lamang ang Bayan Muna sa mga hinaing ng mga LGUs at ng ating mga kababayan lalo na sa mga lugar na patuloy na sinisira ng mga terrorista gaya ng Marawi, Samar, Bicol, CARAGA at marami pang iba,” he added.

Malaya underscored that Bayan Muna should not claim that LGUs cannot think and decide on their own about national issues.

"Ano naman ang tingin ng Bayan Muna sa mga LGUs, na wala silang sariling paninindigan at pag-iisip? Ramdam ng LGUs ang panawagan ng kanilang mga kababayan na matagal ng isinusuka ang mga terorista,” he said.

In an earlier statement, Bayan Muna partylist Representative Carlos Zarate said the group has received reports that LGUs were forced to sign a document stating their support as regards the new bill.

Zarate claimed that if LGUs did not sign the document, they will be red-tagged or be branded as supporters of terrorism.

"The Duterte administration, the military, the police and the security sector in particular, are hellbent in having the new terror law, and, by hook or by crook, they would do anything and everything to make it appear popular despite the widespread condemnation for its passage," Zarate said.

Meanwhile, the DILG said a total of 784 local chief executives have made a genuine stand of supporting the anti-terrorism bill despite the massive disinformation campaign against it. 

Of that number, 43 are governors, which is 53% of the total number nationwide, while 68 are city mayors and 673 are municipal mayors.

DILG Secretary Eduardo Año said Region IV-A has the most number of LCEs supporting the bill with 96 followed by Region II with 91; 88 for Region III; CAR with 80; and Region I with 73.

Other regions such as MIMAROPA has 58; Region XI with 53; Region VI with 52; and Region XII with 50 while Regions V, VII, and XIII have 24, 21, and 32 apiece while NCR and Region VIII have six and four, respectively, Año added. 

Año said more LGUs are expected to express their support against the anti-terrorism bill, which is now being reviewed by the Office of the President. — RSJ, GMA News