By Chito Chavez The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) on Wednesday scored Bayan Muna for its baseless claims that the government is coercing the local chief executives to support the Anti-Terrorism Bill (ATB). This developed as DILG Secretary Eduardo M. Año commended the 784 mayors and governors for making a genuine stand in support of the Anti-Terrorism Bill despite the massive disinformation campaign against it. DILG Secretary Eduardo Año (PCOO/ MANILA BULLETIN) Año noted that of the 784 local officials, 43 are governors which is 53 percent of the total number nationwide. He added that having the support of half of the provinces in the country is already a victory towards ending terrorism. Meanwhile, 68 city mayors and 673 municipal mayors have also expressed their solidarity and are backing the passage of the Anti-Terrorism Bill. Año noted that Region IV-A has the most number of LCEs supporting the Bill with 96 followed by Region II with 91; 88 for Region III; CAR with 80; and Region I with 73. Other regions such as MIMAROPA has 58; Region XI with 53; Region VI with 52; and Region XII with 50 while Regions V, VII, and XIII have 24, 21, and 32 apiece. NCR and Region VIII have six and four, respectively. “We have been receiving support from all LGUs across the country,’’ Año said. He said that among the LCEs who have conveyed their support for the Bill are Metro Manila Mayors League Chairman Edwin Olivarez, San Juan City Mayor Francis Zamora; Makati City Mayor Abby Binay; Manila City Mayor Isko Moreno; Ormoc City Mayor Richard Gomez; and Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio. Meanwhile, Quirino Governor and Union of Local Authorities of the Philippines (ULAP) president Dakila Carlos Cua said that “Generally, I would say about 80 percent are supportive, most of the local executives see the value and importance of the anti-terrorism bill.” DILG Undersecretary Jonathan Malaya said Bayan Muna is insulting local officials by saying they can be forced to support a measure that they did not like. Malaya issued the statement after Bayan Muna partylist Rep. Carlos Zarate on Tuesday allegedly claimed to have received reports that local officials will be tagged as leftists and terrorists if they do not support the ATB. Malaya also accused Bayan Muna of being insensitive to the grief and suffering of the LGUs and the residents of the chaotic places like “Marawi, Samar, Bicol, Caraga’’ among others where terrorist activities have sowed fear and destroyed their peace and order. Malaya asked Bayan Muna not to “look down on LGUs and assume that they cannot think for themselves’’. Critics of the bill said it will only give license to the police to commit further abusive acts as unwarranted arrest and search will now be made lawful. Other groups espousing the rejection of the ATB say that the proposed bill poses an immediate threat to the freedoms enshrined in the Constitution. Malaya said the bill “does not and will not diminish the disciplinary mechanisms against erring police officers’’ citing “we still have the Human Security Act (HSA)’’. He maintained that police officers will have second thoughts on violating people’s rights as the country has a functioning National Police Commission (NAPOLCOM), Internal Affairs Service (IAS), People’s Law Enforcement Board (PLEB) and “even the CSC (Civil Service Commission), Office of the Ombudsman and the regular courts that keep an eye on our police’’. He asserted that the ATB in fact gives the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) prosecutorial powers to ensure protection against all forms of abuses.