Reds gnawing at PH democracy: PNP exec

Durana, in a statement, also reiterated the need for lawmakers to reinstate the anti-subversion law and enhance other existing laws to protect the youth from the communist movement. (File Photo: PTV News/Website)

MANILA — Communist rebels are nothing but a bunch of “termites” out to destroy democracy in the country, a Philippine National Police (PNP) official said on Friday.

“There is a clear and present danger posed by the CPP-NPA (Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army) and the front organizations that support it. They are termites, (viruses), who continue to use the law to circumvent or violate the laws. Using democracy to destroy democracy,” said Maj. Gen. Benigno Durana Jr., PNP Director for Police Community Relations.

Durana, in a statement, also reiterated the need for lawmakers to reinstate the anti-subversion law and enhance other existing laws to protect the youth from the communist movement.

“(The senators) should consider due deliberation and public hearing (on the anti-subversion law). Enhance probably our laws on trafficking of minors and children—like the Cybercrime Law and the Anti-Terrorism Law,” he added.

Earlier, PNP chief, Gen. Oscar Albayalde said the revival of the Anti-Subversion Law will strengthen the campaign of the national government to end CPP-NPA’s terror acts across the country.

Albayalde said with an enabling law, the PNP can effectively implement legal offensives against the CPP-NPA-NDF (National Democratic Front) and all the criminal, economic and organizational support systems that sustain its terrorist activities.

He said the repeal of the law emboldened CPP-NPA to wage its campaign of terror across the country while at the same time strengthening its political base and legal fronts.

The Anti-Subversion Act or Republic Act 1700 was passed in June 1957 during the presidency of Carlos P.

Garcia. It declared the CPP illegal as an organized conspiracy to overthrow the government for the purpose of establishing in the Philippines a totalitarian regime.

During the martial law period, RA 1700 was expanded through Presidential Decree 885 in 1976 and PD 1835 in 1981. These decrees made it a subversive criminal act to be affiliated with a group and attend a meeting or take part in any activity meant to overthrow the government with the open or covert assistance and support of a foreign power.

During the time of President Corazon Aquino, she issued Executive Order 167, series of 1987 repealing PDs 1835 and 1975 and reviving RA 1700.

In 1992, then President Fidel Ramos signed RA 7636 repealing RA 1700.

Under this law, subversion is no longer a criminal offense but sedition remains a crime.