Solons urge KWF to revoke memo purging ‘subversive’ books

Lawmakers have asked the state-run Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino (KWF) to revoke its memo pulling out certain books on the Martial Law regime, calling this an "assault" to freedom of expression.

Representatives Edcel Lagman of Albay and France Castro of ACT party-list were referring to the KWF memo dated August 9 which ordered the ban of the books in public schools and libraries. 

Lagman said the memo is "a patently unconstitutional edict, an obtrusive weapon of thought control, an unmitigated censorship and a wanton assault on academic freedom."

The veteran lawmaker stressed the Bill of Rights provision under the 1987 Constitution that states, “No law shall be passed abridging the freedom of speech, of expression, or of the press”. 

He further said the KWF has no authority under its enabling statute, the Commission on the Filipino Language Act, to ban and censor writings in Filipino.

"Its (KWF) principal mandate is to ensure and promote the evolution and development and further enrichment of Filipino as the national language of the Philippines. ... It has the power to enhance and develop Filipino as the national language, but not to destroy and proscribe writings in Filipino," he said.

He also said that the ban on the books for "purportedly violating Section 9 of Anti Terrorism Law on inciting to commit terrorism is an unwarranted sanction by an unauthorized agency without trial and due process."

According to him, the August 9 memo was signed by only two fulltime KWF commissioners —Carmelita Abdurahman and Benjamin Mendillo —out of 11 commissioners including chairman Arthur Casanova.

"In other words, the memorandum does not have the conformity of the requisite majority of the commissioners. It does not even have the imprimatur of the chairman," he said.

Lagman pitched available remedies to the KWF action such as the withdrawal of the memorandum.  The Office of the President can also order its nullification.  He added a petition for certiorari may also be filed to stop the implementation of the memo.

He cited that a Supreme Court ruling in the Chavez vs. Gonzalez case involving the publication of the transcript of the tape of the 2004 conversations on national elections between government officials wherein the High Court ruled that any attempt to restrict freedom of expression "must be met with an examination so critical that only a danger that is clear and present would be allowed to curtail it.”

"Chief Justice Reynato Puno, the ponente of Chavez vs. Gonzalez, stressed that “… The right belongs as well – if not more – to those who question, who do not conform, who differ … To be truly meaningful, freedom of speech and of the press should allow and even encourage the articulation of the unorthodox view, though it be hostile to or derided by others; or though such view ‘induces a condition of unrest, creates dissatisfaction with conditions as they are, or even stirs people to anger," Lagman said.

The books covered by the memo are Tawid Diwa sa Pananagisag ni Bienvenido Lumbera: Ang Bayan, Ang Manunulat at Ang Magasing Sagisag sa Imahinatibong Yugto ng Batas Militar 1975-1979 by Dexter Cayanes; Teatro Political Dos by Malou Jacob; Kalatas: mga Kuwentong Bayan at Kuwentong Buhay by Rommel Rodriguez; May Hadlang ang Umaga by Don Pagusara; and Labas: Mga Palabas ng Sentro by Reuel Aguila.

The last three titles were published by the KWF.

'Censure board'

Castro questioned the commission for the ban on the materials that it earlier approved for publication and dissemination.

"Mantakin ninyo, na ilang buwan lang ang lumipas matapos ipalimbag at ipaimprenta ng KWF ang mga librong ito, ay ipatitigil ng KWF mismo ang kanilang diseminasyon.  Pinagbintangan ang sariling mga pinalimbag, tinuring na krimen ang kritisismo, na kasalanan ang katotohanan.  Ang dapat na taliba ng wika, umakto bilang Board of Censors," Castro said in a separate privilege speech.

(Imagine, it has only been months since these books were published by KWF and it is now stopping its dissemination. The commission now accuses itself, regards criticism as crime, and tags the truth as sin. The keeper of language became a censure board.)

Both Lagman and Castro likened KWF's August 9 memo to the book burning of the Nazis wherein "un-German" books were ordered burnt, an action that was followed by the burning of Jewish people alive dubbed as the holocaust.

The KWF, Castro said, will certainly have a lot to explain when it faces the House Committee on Basic Education and Culture on Wednesday.

"Dapat magpaliwanag ng KWF, lalo na ng mga pumirmang Komisyoner, ano ang kinakatakot ninyo sa mga tula, dula, at prosa?  Sa mga pahinang nagbubukas sa mambabasa sa mga mundong kathambuhay-ngunit-katotohanan?," Castro said.

(KWF should explain, especially those Commissioners who signed the August 9 memo ordering the pullout of books. What are they afraid of poems, plays and prose? Why are they afraid of pages that tell the truth?)

GMA News Online has reached out to at least three KWF officials on whether the agency would heed the lawmakers' call to revoke the August 9 memo, but they have yet to reply as of posting time.—LDF, GMA News