KWF books make readers subversive – Bato

MANILA, Philippines — Sen. Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa has revived the issue on Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino-published books, saying these materials would make readers subversive, only to be reminded that it is beyond the KWF’s mandate to ban books.

During the KWF’s budget deliberations at the Senate plenary last Thursday, Dela Rosa slammed the commission for allowing the publication of books perceived as subversive by its five commissioners, who criticized chairman Arthur Casanova for allowing their publication.

These books are “Labas: Mga Palabas sa Labas ng Sentro”  by Reuel Aguila, “Tawid Diwa sa Pananagisag ni Bienvenido Lumbera: Ang Bayan, Ang Manunulat at Ang Magasing Sagisag sa Imahinatibong Yugto ng Batas Militar 1975-1979” by Dexter Cayanes, “Teatro Political Dos” by Malou Jacob, “Kalatas: Mga Kuwentong Bayan at Kuwentong Kuhay” by Rommel Rodriguez and “May Hadlang ang Umaga” by Don Pagusara.

The former Philippine National Police chief-turned-senator alleged without basis that reading these books would make one subversive and plant the seeds to despise the government, even though one of the allegedly subversive books is an academic dissertation on the late National Artist Lumbera’s works during the martial law period.

“As a father, I can tell you right straight that it would make even my child subversive,” Dela Rosa told the KWF’s budget sponsor Sen. Pia Cayetano, adding that he has only read portions of the books.

Dela Rosa stressed that it should have been “prudent” for the KWF not to publish such books, pointing out that critics of the ban are “abusing” academic freedom in defending the works.

“These people are using academic freedom to destroy the real essence of academic freedom,” he said.

The KWF was criticized for violating academic freedom and putting the writers’ lives at risk by red-tagging them.

Cayetano, however, said under Republic Act 7104, which created the KWF, nowhere in its charter did it state that the KWF has any power to screen publications that allegedly subvert government.

She cited Section 4 of the law, which states that the KWF “shall undertake, coordinate and promote researches for the development, propagation and preservation of Filipino and other Philippine languages and which shall be directly under the Office of the President.”

“Its mandate is on the side of language. Congress, as an institution, did not give the commission power to scrutinize works for content in terms of subversiveness, love of country or God,” she said.

The senator added that the KWF commissioners who called for the ban – Hope Yu, Alain Dimzon and Angela Lorenzana – had also withdrawn their signatures, agreeing with critics of the ban that the KWF is not a “censorship body” and that the commission should respect freedom of expression.

In withdrawing their signature, however, the commissioners said it did not mean that they agreed with any subversive content in the text of the books.

Commissioners Benjamin Mendillo Jr. and Carmelita Abdurahman, for Ilocano and Samar-Leyte languages, respectively, had not withdrawn their signatures.

Meanwhile, the Network in Defense of Historical Truth and Academic Freedom, a group of 1,700 Filipino scholars, criticized Dela Rosa for reviving an issue resolved by the KWF, adding that his comments “are an affront to academic freedom and freedom of expression, protected in our Constitution and under international law.”

“Sen. Ronald dela Rosa opined at the KWF’s budget hearing that reading books can cause young people to rebel against the government. Simply reading and gaining knowledge are not why people rebel – the real causes are better found in oppression, poor governance and economic hardship,” the network said in a statement.

One of the banned book authors, Rodriguez said writing literary works deemed subversive by the senator forms part of his freedom of expression as an artist. He said the role of literature is to criticize societal problems and disrupt the status quo.

Casanova did not reply to The STAR’s request for comment yesterday.