Lacson: I don't think Sister Mananzan is a terrorist

Senator Panfilo Lacson on Wednesday said he does not believe that activist nun Sr. Mary John Mananzan is a terrorist after an official of the Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) recently alleged that the latter has "a place of honor in a communist terrorist organization."

"First, personally I don’t believe that. I marched with Sr. Mananzan in the streets before," Lacson said during a webinar hosted by the Management Association of the Philippines.

Last week, PCOO Undersecretary Lorraine Badoy posted on social media that Mananzan was "a long-time ally of the National Democratic Front" and emeritus chairperson of GABRIELA, which she called an "an above-ground organization of the terrorist group" Communist Party of the Philippines.

Badoy is an outspoken supporter of the Anti-Terror Bill. However, Lacson said he does not agree with her opinion.

"This measure and myself, we’re not bound by the opinion of Usec. Badoy. Anyone can express his or her opinion," he said

"Ang question, is it binding on myself as principal sponsor? No. I don’t believe Sr. Mananzan is a terrorist," he added.

The Palace has earlier said that Badoy's Facebook post against the nun is covered by freedom of expression under the Philippine Constitution.

Badoy's social media post came amid fears from critics of the bill, including retired Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio, over a provision that allows an executive body made up of Cabinet secretaries to proscribe a group for involvement in terrorism, the definition of which under the bill some said is "very broad." -MDM, GMA News