Gov't critics need not fear anti-subversion law —Año

Critics of the government and legitimate leftist organizations need not fear the proposed anti-subversion law as they are not its target, Interior Secretary Eduardo Año said Thursday.

Año made the clarification during an interview on Dobol B sa News TV amid fears by human rights advocates that the law might be used to clamp down on critics of the government.

A former military chief of staff, Año said the target of the law would be the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) and its armed wing, the New People's Army (NPA), as well as groups "created" by the CPP.

"Yun lang ang gusto natin, 'yung CPP. 'Yung ibang opposition, 'yung ibang legitimate groups, wala silang dapat ipag-alala doon. Hindi sila nasasaklaw sa batas," Año said

"Yung mga kinreate na organisasyon ng CPP, 'yun ang mga hahabulin natin," he also said.

Año said he understands the apprehension toward the anti-subversion law as it was used by the Marcos regime to go after its critics during the Martial Law years.

"Naiintindihan ko 'yung mga concern ng kritiko dahil noon kasing Martial Law ay naabuso 'yung anti-subversion law," he said.

The law — Republic Act 1700 — was enacted in 1957 with CPP and NPA members as its targets and was expanded by the late President Ferdinand Marcos through Presidential Decree 884 and 835 to include critics of the government and those who wanted to overthrow it.

"Medyo pumangit lang ito (anti-subversion law) nang in-expand ito ni Pangulong Marcos... na lahat ng pumupuna sa gobyerno at gustong mag-overthrow ng government ay napasama dito," Año said.

Marcos' successor, the late President Corazon Aquino, repealed PD 884 and 835.

In 1992, RA 1700 was repealed to give way to the peace process with the CPP.

"Pero look, after many years nandito pa rin CPP at NPA. Ang ipinagbawal lang natin ay 'yung NPA pero alam naman natin na ang nagpapatakbo sa NPA ay CPP," Año pointed out.

Año said it would be up to Congress to determine groups that are supporting the CPP. —KBK, GMA News