NATIONAL Security Adviser (NSA) Hermogenes Esperon has asked the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) to block public access to several websites with alleged links to the communist movement.

Esperon cited the resolutions of the Anti-Terrorism Council (ATC) designating the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP), New People’s Army (NPA), and National Democratic Front (NDF) as “terrorist groups”.

Esperon’s list of 28 websites included alternative media groups Bulatlat and Pinoy Weekly.

Also included in the list were fisherfolk group Pamalakaya (Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas), BAYAN, and Amihan.

“May we request the NTC to issue legal instruments to order Philippine Internet Service Providers [ISP] to block access to block (these) websites affiliated to and are supporting these terrorists and terrorist groups,” Esperon’s letter to NTC Commissioner Gamaliel Cordoba read.

The letter was dated June 6, 2022, but was only made public on Wednesday, June 22, 2022.

This developed as Department of Justice (DOJ) Undersecretary Adrian Sugay on Wednesday said that anybody who felt aggrieved over “improper designation” under the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020 can seek redress in courts.

Sugay made the statement following Esperon’s request to the NTC.

“Our position on the matter of the effects of designation has always been very clear. [Suppose] anybody should feel aggrieved by any perceived improper use or application of any provisions of the ATA, including the provisions in the designation. [In that case], there are remedies under the law, and judicial recourse is always available,” Sugay said.

Meanwhile, Pamalakaya rejected Esperon’s request, saying its website is “the Filipino fishers’ major platform to amplify legitimate issues and calls.”

While its website has been critical of the government’s “little” effort to protect Philippine territory and fishers from Chinese incursion, Pamalakaya pointed out that “Majority of our website content (angpamalakaya.org) are updates on the plight and struggles of Filipino fishers in the West Philippine Sea.”

“Esperon lobbying to have our website blocked is an admission of guilt that the security cluster mandated to secure our sovereignty has been ‘inutile’ to do so.”

“We are humbly asking Internet service providers not to fall with Esperon’s vicious lies and prevent themselves from being accomplices of the state in suppressing the people’s right to information and freedom of expression,” PAMALAKAYA in a statement yesterday said.