Dela Rosa raises issue of subversive books in KWF budget hearing

Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa on Wednesday raised during the deliberation of the proposed P74-million budget of the Komisyon ng Wikang Filipino (KWF) the continuous publication and distribution of the five books the commission previously deemed as “subversive”.

Dela Rosa said he read portions of the books and expressed concern it may “brainwash” readers into “hating” the government.

“It has come to the attention of the security sector, particularly of the Armed Forces and the police... I can tell you right straight na pag nabasa ‘yan ng anak ko magiging subersibo ang anak ko,” Dela Rosa said.

(It has come to the attention of the security sector, particularly of the Armed Forces and the police... I can tell you right away if my child reads that book, he will be subversive.)

“Prangkahan tayo dito. Tayo’y hirap na hirap na para kalabanin ang insurgency and yet meron tayong ahensya ng gobyerno na sumusuporta sa pag-radicalize ng utak ng ating mga kabataan para lumaban sa ating gobyerno. That’s very counterproductive,” he added.

(Let’s be frank. We’re fighting hard to defeat the insurgency and yet we have a government agency that supports the radicalization of the minds of our youth to fight the government.  That’s very counterproductive.)

To recall, the KWF issued a memorandum in August calling for a stop to the “proliferation” of several books in schools and libraries.

All five works were published by the KWF. The “pull out” orders were met with criticisms from academics and various groups.

In September,  the commission said in a House budget deliberation that the memorandum was already rescinded after three of the five commissioners who signed it withdrew their signatures.

Senator Pia Cayetano, the sponsor of the KWF’s budget, explained to Dela Rosa that determining the nature of books being published was not part of the mandate of the commission under the law.

“Kung merong tanong, sa nature ng content, kung subversive tulad ng sinasabi ninyo, ang dapat magbigay ng decision dyan ay ang korte… Kasi wala sa batas 'yung mandato nila na mag-desisyon non kung subversive ang libro o hindi,” Cayetano said.

(If there are questions on the nature of the content, if it was subversive as you are saying, the one to decide it is the court. It is not under their mandate to decide if the book is subversive or not.)

Dela Rosa government officials should be "prudent" to take action on the issue.

“It should be prudent in our part as officials of this government na tingnan natin kung ano pinagp-print na libro. Bakit kailangan pa tayong aabot sa korte kung tayo binabantayan natin ang gastos ng gobyerno para i-print yan tapos makita natin na subversive ang laman. Bakit natin pabayaan pa? Bakit kailangan pumunta pa sa korte para magsabi na ihinto ang printing na ‘yan,” Dela Rosa.

(It should be prudent on our part as officials of this government to look into the books being printed. Why do we need to take it to the courts if we’re guarding the budget to print those books? And then we’ll see they’re subversive. Why should we allow that to happen? Why do we have to seek court permission to stop their publication.)

“You are evading your responsibility for the future of these students na makabasa ng mga libro na yan,” (who will read those books) ” he added.

Cayetano then suggested a resolution on reviewing the KWF’s mandate be filed in the Senate after the budget deliberation, reiterating the present law limits the commission’s authority in strengthening the country’s languages.

“‘Yung mandato n'ya is on the side of languages. Wala tayong binigay na power dito sa komisyon na siyasatin ang content in terms of subversiveness, or love of country, God, walang ganon eh,” she said.

(Their mandate is on the side of languages. They have no power to scrutinize the books’ contents in terms of subversiveness, or love of country, God.)

“If the decision of the body eh… baguhin natin to, this will be referred to the committee but with the present law hindi po yun mandato nila,” she added.

(If the body decides to change it, this will be referred to the committee but with the present law that is not part of their mandate.)

Dela Rosa, for his part, clarified his appeal stands on “moral” and not on “legal grounds”.

Meanwhile, Senator Risa Hontiveros said “banning” books and similar scenarios should be discouraged.

“Para sa akin, higit na mabuti sa lahat ng ating mga kabataan, maging mga kabataan ba passionate for military service…hanggang sa mga anak natin kung sila man ay apathetic sa politika at ideolohiya hanggang sa mga kabataang aktibista… Just for the record, higit na maigi kung wala pong bina-ban na mga aklat,” she said.

(For me, it is for the betterment of our youth, even those who are passionate about military service, apathetic, or activists… just for the record, it will be much better if no books will be banned.)

“Patuloy magpakasigasig tayong mga magulang, mga guro, lahat ng responsableng adults maging sa ating pamahalaan na ilaban at ipanalo ang mga superyor na ideya hindi sa pamamagitan ng pagb-ban o anupaman pero sa paggabay at paghubog ng kritikal na pag-iisip,” she added.

(Us parents, teachers, and responsible adults in the government should continue working  on fighting and winning the superior ideas not by banning or whatever but through guidance and molding of critical thinking.) —NB, GMA News