Policemen cannot use the Anti-Terror Law to brand documents as subversive, Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Gen. Archie Gamboa said Monday.
Gamboa noted there are no implementing rules yet published for the Anti-Terror Law, signed by President Rodrigo Duterte this month despite strong opposition from several sectors.
The PNP chief said the repeal of Republic Act 1700, the Anti-Subversion Law of 1957, means documents can no longer be tagged as "subversive."
"Now, on the context of the Anti-Terrorism Act, that cannot still be used as of now, to call it anti-government or whatever, because there are no implementing rules and regulations yet," Gamboa said.
Policemen on Sunday seized documents including copies of Pinoy Weekly magazine from the office of Kalipunan ng Damayang Mahihirap (Kadamay) in Pandi, Bulacan.
A Facebook post from Pinoy Weekly said the police claimed the publication "is illegal and teaches people to fight the government.
This police operation follows the arrest of a local leader of Kadamay in the same area."
Gamboa said he reminded Central Luzon Police Regional Director BGen. Rhodel Sermonia about the repeal of the law before filing any charges.
In a statement, Sermonia said there was no raid of underground printing house, but instead the Kadamay group surrendered volumes of printed materials to the Pandi, Bulacan police station.
"Kadamay requested Pandi police to receive volume of printed materials left at the model house of Villa Louis situated at Barangay Siling Bata that town," said Sermonia, as he clarified an earlier report on social media.
Kadamay-Bulacan, led by Lea Maralit and members Marilou Iligan, Jeselyn Jasadon Beth Guerrero, Carmie de la Cruz, Niel Villamor and Gina Peyil told the police of their fear that the printed materials would eb distributed ahead of Presi ent Duterte's State of the Nation Address (SONA), said Sermonia.
He said the Kadamay group in Bulacan has already pledged support to the government’s programs as they vowed to help the government in its peace and order campaign.