The bill filed by the Duterte Youth Partylist reviving the anti-subversion law seeking to outlaw the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP), its armed wing, the New People’s Army (NPA), and political arm,the National Democratic Front (NDF), reeks of desperation, an activist group said.

According to Anakbayan, the House Bill 8231 or the Anti-CPP-NPA-NDF Act of 2021, the proposed measure will “legalize arrest based on belief and mere suspicion.”

"They know how baseless their accusations are and how their supposed evidences will not hold water in court,” said Anakbayan secretary general Vinz Simon.

The party’s representative Ducielle Cardema, wife of Commissioner Ronald Cardema of the National Youth Commission, filed the bill on Monday.

Former president Fidel Ramos signed the law that repealed Republic Act 7636 or the Anti-Subervsion Law in 1992 and gave the CPP its legal existence.

Anakbayan warned that the revival of the anti-diversion law will set the Philippines back to “witch hunt” like that of the Cold War when the country’s leaders used it against revolutionary forces.

“It will legitimize and further institutionalize red-tagging, harassment, arrests, and killings of community organizers and dissenters,” said Simon.

The Duterte Youth Partylist sought the revival of the anti-subversion law amid the massive red-tagging and arrests of activists and members of progressive groups.

Just last week, police arrested six labor organizers and a journalist, collectively known as the “Human Rights Day 7,” for illegal possession of firearms and explosives.