With the proposed Anti-Terrorism Bill expected to reach President Rodrigo Duterte’s desk on Tuesday, Cavite Gov. Jonvic Remulla on Sunday said the government should focus on “bigger problems” and hear citizens’ pleas, instead of ruling with an iron fist.
“Let us focus on the bigger problems like Covid, enrollment, jobs, and transportation. Baka naman sa panahon na ito, mas maigi na tayong namumuno ay makinig at unawain ang hinaing, kaysa gamitan ang kamay na bakal at pwersa ng kapangyarihan,” Remulla said on Facebook.
This came after Remulla shared a post from the “Laguna Vs. Cavite Trashtalkan” group, which read: “Pag nakapunta ako ng Cavite, papatayin ko ‘yung governor niyo.”
“According to the proposed Anti-Terrorism Act, this person is liable far beyond the penal code. Pwede po siyang ikulong nang 24 na araw kahit walang ‘inquest,’” the Cavite governor said.
But Remulla said such posts should not be meted jail time.
“I really am not offended. Trash-talking is an art form… social media is full of this. Paano natin hihimayin kung sino ang ‘with serious intent’ o kalokohan lang?” he said.
The governor added that historically, dissent has made the nation “better.”
“Dissent is in the fabric of our political culture. Lumaban ang mga Kabitenyo sa mga kastila. Lumaban ang mga gerilya laban sa mga hapon. EDSA 1 and 2 ay dyan nanggaling. We are all a better nation because of it,” he said. John Ezekiel J. Hirro
Preview image: cavite.gov.ph