Civilian Anti-Terrorism confab set

Press Release
By Alliance for Nationalism and Democracy (ANAD)
September 7, 2007

MANILA, Philippines  –  The consolidation of about 78 anti-terrorism organizations throughout the country will be the focal point during the 1st National Multi-Sectoral Anti-Terrorism Congress set on September 10, 2007 at the Cherry Blossoms Hotel, in Ermita, Manila. This was bared by Jun Alcover, chairman of the Anti-Terrorism Convenors’ Group in an interview over UNTV, Thursday.

“The time is ripe for all anti-terrorism groups and leaders to come together and join forces, especially with the implementation of Republic Act 9372, otherwise known as the Human Security Act 2007 or the Anti-Terrorism Law of the country,” said Alcover, also the national chairman of ANAD party.

With its theme “Stop Terrorism, Stop Poverty,” the Multi-Sectoral Anti-Terrorism Congress seeks to adopt a common stand, as a Non-Government Organization (NGO), to support the effort of government against all forms of terroristic activities. “We believe that the problem wrought by terrorism cannot and will never be solved by guns and bullets alone but through a holistic approach involving the community. This shall pave the way for the implementation of the so-called “left hand – right hand” strategy against terrorism.

“We will prove to those who continuously spew lies and sheer deception that terrorism bred poverty and not the other way around. With the involvement of the civilian community-based anti-terrorism organizations, government’s effort to crush the Maoist communist and militant Muslim terrorism shall now have a potent and effective compliment” said Alcover.

“For sure, the multi-sectoral anti-terrorism aggrupation will adopt a name of its own that would serve as the rallying point of the different anti-terrorism organizations, in the country,” Alcover quipped.

On the other hand, in the same program, Alcover stressed that the arrest of Jose Ma. Sison will never have any positive impact against Maoist-communist terrorism in the country.  “In my more than 10-years experience in the Maoist communist-terrorist CPP-NPA-NDF underground movement, the Maoist communist hierarchy has a built-in system and ready pool of senior personalities who will take over the leadership once a rebel commander, in the NPA, or a senior Political Officer in the National Democratic Front and the Communist Party, is either arrested or killed,” said Alcover.

Alcover pointed to the arrest and incarceration of Sison, during the Marcos regime, saying, “While he was in detention, the CPP-NPA-NDF continued with its avowed goal of destabilizing the government through tactical and strategic campaigns, both in the rural and urban areas. For a communist ideologue or hardliner, it is – the show must go on, so to speak,” he added.

Asked by program host Jay Sonza on his assessment of the thinking of the CPP-NPA-NDF’s general membership in relation to Republic Act 9372, otherwise known as the Human Security Act of 2007 or Anti-Terrorism Law, Alcover stressed that so-called hardliners comprise a minority of the entire membership. “It is because of fear and the threat of being killed that the majority of the membership, who have tasted and disliked the real communist system in play, are keeping them within the terrorist organization,” Alcover explained.

The ANAD party national chairman pointed to Romulo Kintanar, Arturo Tabara, Popoy, and Leopoldo “Ka Hector” Mabilangan, and the thousands of their own peers who were mercilessly killed during the purges of the 1980’s as bold examples of the deception and intimidation employed by Jose Ma. Sison and his surrogates within the CPP-NPA-NDF.