AFP chief: Proposal to add social media in anti-terror law was made to regulate platforms

Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief Lieutenant General Gilbert Gapay clarified that his proposal to include social media in the coverage of the anti-terrorism law was not to regulate its users but the platforms itself.

In an interview with CNN Philippines late Friday, Gapay said the military does not aim to curtail the freedom of expression of social media users.

“What I mean by that is to regulate and put order on the social media platforms, not the users per se,” the AFP chief said.

“They can upload whatever they want. But, what I’m saying is to regulate the platforms on the content that they allow to be uploaded in the platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, and similar platforms,” he said.

Several lawmakers such as Senators Franklin Drilon and Panfilo Lacson opposed Gapay’s proposal to regulate social media under the anti-terror law which was signed by President Rodrigo Duterte last month.

Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana also opposed the AFP chief’s proposal while the Palace emphasized that there is no provision in the law that regulates social media.

Gapay, for his part, reiterated that his proposal was premised on alleged use of social media by terrorist groups to recruit and radicalize the youth.

“My statement invited interest among several sectors, but really the premise was social media is being used as a vehicle of terrorist groups to recruit, to gain financing in logistics, to radicalize and even plan terrorist attacks,” he said.

“That's why we were asked to suggest some ideas to the IRR (implementing rules and regulation). Based on our experience in Marawi [siege], this is one of the major challenges we confronted,” he noted.

The AFP chief claimed that the Maute terrorist group was able to hole up and sustain their positions in the fight for four months by capitalizing in social media. 

“They were able to recruit, to radicalize, and even plan and carry out some attacks in certain communities,” Gapay said.

Critics of the Anti-Terrorism Act earlier expressed doubt that the police and military would fairly enforce the controversial measure. —KG, GMA News