Former Sen. Panfilo “Ping” Lacson. INQUIRER file photo
MANILA, Philippines — Former senator Panfilo Lacson has disagreed with the views of Senator Loren Legarda about not considering communist groups as enemies of the state, noting that these factions have been long regarded as armed terrorist groups.
Lacson, in a statement on Friday, said that while he respects the views of Legarda — whom he considers his “friend” — he cannot simply agree with her claims that the Communist Party of the Philippines, its armed wing the New People’s Army, and political arm National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF) should not be labeled enemies of the state.
For one, the former senator claimed that different governments, including the Philippines, have declared the groups as terrorist organizations, despite Legarda’s insistence that the Court of Appeals has not yet prescribed this tag on the said groups.
“Senator Legarda is a friend and I respect her opinion but I cannot for the life of me agree with her stand, apparently articulated by her statement that the CPP-NPA-NDF is not an enemy of the state,” Lacson said.
“Simply put, an armed terrorist group —already designated not only by the government of the Republic of the Philippines but also by the European Union, the United States of America and four other countries (Canada, United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand) — is unequivocally an enemy of the state,” he added.
Legarda became the subject of red-tagging — linking people to communist rebels — after she questioned the suggestion of fellow Senator Francis Tolentino to compel government officials to disclose ties to members of communist groups.
Legarda explained that there is nothing wrong with espousing leftist ideologies. For example, she has worked with the left, particularly the National Democratic Front, in releasing prisoners of war, including soldiers held captive by the NPA.
READ: Legarda: I worked with the left; nothing wrong with that
Tolentino was looking to require government officials to reveal their ties to CPP-NPA-NDF members, after Adora Faye de Vera, the 66-year-old sister of Commission on Higher Education (Ched) Chairperson Prospero de Vera III, was arrested for her alleged role in killings done by the NPA.
The Ched chief has since distanced himself from his sister, saying they have not seen each other in around 25 years.
READ: Martial law victim—a sister of CHEd chief—back in jail | CHEd’s De Vera on sister’s arrest: ‘I pray for her safety’ but fully backs anti-insurgency efforts
Minority Floor Leader and Senator Koko Pimentel agreed with Legarda that having a relative join, the CPP-NPA-NDF should not be considered subversive, citing the case of another military official whose sibling joined the NDF.
In that regard, Legarda also vowed to push for a review of Republic Act No. 11479 or the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020, which Lacson authored.
In response, Lacson said he would vehemently oppose any attempt to amend the said law, especially since it was considered constitutional by the Supreme Court.
“That being said, any attempt to amend the Anti-Terrorism Act is a disrespect to our comrades-in-arms as well as the countless civilians who fell victims to the atrocities of this terrorist group that has lost its ideological principles over the years — they murder, they rob, they extort, they harass and intimidate and worse, indiscriminately,” Lacson said.
“Having authored and sponsored and almost single-handedly defended the legislative measure in the Senate plenary, as well as in the battle for public opinion in many fora including the media, I will not hesitate to be part of the opposition to thwart moves to amend this law in its substantive form which no less than the Supreme Court has declared as constitutional,” he added.