IT was my distinct privilege to have worked on the House version of the antiterrorism law sponsored by Sim Datumanong. That would have made it a Muslim anti-terrorism law—a historic first. That version was all teeth and claws yet careful of basic liberties. But we settled in the face of Senate obstruction for its namby-pamby version. Something was better than nothing. The Americans were breathing down our necks.
Nonetheless the version signed into law defines terrorism as “the premeditated or the threatened use of violence or force, or any other means that deliberately cause harm to persons; or the premeditated or threatened use of force and other destructive means against property; with the intention of creating, or of sowing a state of danger, panic, fear, or chaos in the general public or a segment thereof; or of coercing or intimidating the government or a branch thereof to do an act [such as passing the Bangsamoro basic law, or BBL] or to refrain from doing an act [such as not passing it].”
And there you have the legal definition of terrorism. Yesterday a member of the peace panel, one of a menace a trois, said—her exact words—that “a very, very bloody war will result if the peace process fails.”
And it may fail. Because the people suspect the wisdom and the loyalty of the peace panelists. And Congress hesitates to give a sweeping approval to the Moro Islamic Liberation Front-congenial BBL.
That law gives a homeland to terror and a foothold to the foreign power sponsoring it, thereby establishing a caliphate inside a democracy; contrary to the Constitution’s republican clause.
If the antiterrorism law is considered part of the Revised Penal Code, the crime of terrorism “complexed” with treason is arguable.
This government should not be terrorizing the Filipino people; this government should not be terrorizing the Legislative branch of government: to give in to threats of Islamic violence.
On the contrary, this government should be giving our people the iron assurance, backed by guts it has yet to demonstrate, that with or without the BBL our people will be safe; that their lives will be secured; and their properties protected come what may. And if there is trouble, that the republic can—and that it will—suppress it completely like Marcos did. And that the government will never ever capitulate to the enemies of Filipino peace—whom we have long fought to preserve that peace against those vowed to destroy it.
If this government cannot give that assurance, then this government should throw in the towel and give way to another that will fight—for the flag and for the Republic for which it stands, one nation indivisible, with freedom from fear, real justice for all, and not just Sharia for some.
Image credits: Jimbo Albano