KWF stops distribution of ‘subversive’ books
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 12) – The Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino (KWF) has ordered to stop the distribution in schools and public libraries of some “subversive” books that allegedly contain texts that are against the government.
In a memorandum issued on Tuesday, the KWF invoked Article 9 of Republic Act 11479 or the Anti-Terrorism Act in halting the distribution of the questioned books as it alleged that those materials “incite to commit terrorism.”
Among those books are “Teatro Politikal Dos” by Malou Jacob, “Kalatas: Mga Kuwentong Bayan at Kuwentong Buhay” by Rommel Rodriquez, “May Hadlang ang Umaga” by Don Pagusara, and “Labas: Mga Palabas sa Labas ng Sentro” by Reuel Aguila.
Also mentioned in the memorandum is “Tawid-diwa sa Pananagisag ni Bienvenido Lumbera: Ang Bayan, at Manunulat, at ang Magasing Sagisag sa Imahinatibong Yugto ng Batas Militar 1975-1979,” a published thesis made by Dexter Cayanes that tackled the literary works of the late National Artist Bienvenido Lumbera during the Martial Law period.
KWF Commissioner for the Ilocano Language Benjamin Medillo explained they found out in the those books some citations from the Communist Party’s publications.
“These kinds of text are beyond the mandate of our agency on linguistic formation of grammar, orthography, translation studies, ethnographic studies, and language revitalization," Mendillo said on Thursday. "We strongly condemn these publications which the commissioner should not be publishing.”
Mendillo also emphasized that even if the books were published during the previous administration, it is the commission’s mandate to thoroughly review books that contain “political content.”
Academic organization Tanggol Wika condemned the KWF memorandum, saying it promotes “censorship” amid the lack of books written in Filipino.
“Marami sa mga aklat – Filipino man o Ingles – ang tiyak na may mababanggit na citation o sipi mula sa iba’t ibang sanggunian, kasama na yaong mga isinulat ng mga grupong itinuturing ng gobyerno na subersibo o rebolusyunaryo,” Tanggol Wika said in a statement signed by several academic, linguistic, and literary groups.
[Translation: Many of the books – whether Filipino or English – are bound to have citations or passages from various sources, including those written by groups the government considers subversive or revolutionary.]
“Ang gayong pag-cite o pagbanggit sa mga sipi na mula sa iba’t ibang sanggunian ay hindi dapat ituring na akto ng pagsang-ayon o pakikisimpatya sa alinmang sinipi kundi bahagi ng tipikal na akademiko at iskolarling proseso ng mapanuring pagsipat sa iba’t ibang sanggunian,” the group added.
[Translation: Such citation or citation of quotations from various sources should not be considered an act of approval or sympathy to any one quoted, but rather part of the typical academic and scholarly process of critical examination of various literature.]
The University of the Philippines Departamento ng Filipino at Panitikan ng Pilipinas (UP DFPP) also slammed the KWF order as the publication of such books is part of freedom of speech guaranteed by the 1987 Constitution.
“Lubos na nakagagalit ang patuloy na paninikil ng mga nasa poder ng kapangyarihan sa mga akademiko at manunulat ng bayan," the UP DFPP said in a separate statement.
[Translation: We are enraged by the continuing extortion of those in power from the academics and writers of the people.
"Sa kabila ng kaliwa’t kanang krisis sa ekonomiya at kalusugan sa bansa, ito pa ang binibigyang-panahon ng mga nasa puwesto," it also said. "Sabihin pa, ginawa ang atakeng ito ngayong Buwan ng Wika,”
[Translation: Despite the economic and health crises in our country, those in power are giving too much time on this. What's more, this attack was made during the Buwan ng Wika.]
