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MANILA, Philippines – Some members of the Makabayan bloc in the House of Representatives were disappointed with the Senate hearing on the recent red label of some celebrities and legislators.
Bayan Muna’s representative, Carlos Zárate, said that the Senate hearing became a “platform for more red marks” and seemed like a “forum” of the National Working Group to End the Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) and the Antiterrorist Council.
“It seems now that those responsible and facilitators of this witch hunt do not want to end the red labels and terrorist labels, but essentially just find ways how the NTF-ELCAC and other government offices can get away with it without presenting any kind. of credible evidence, ”Zárate said in a statement.
“At the expense of taxpayer money in these times of calamities compounded by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Senate was clearly used again as a venue for spreading lies and disinformation by compromised witnesses and self-proclaimed paid military assets whose statements obviously would not. . sustain in court. It’s a waste of taxpayers’ time and money, ”he added.
Zárate added that his party’s list would rather address “more important matters such as relief missions and consultations with our voters than participate in such a slanderous spectacle.”
Meanwhile, ACT faculty representative France Castro called the hearing a “wave of terrorists for the NTF-ELCAC.”
“It is no wonder that what emerged from the Senate Committee hearing investigating the issue of red tagging certain celebrities, personalities, institutions and organizations were further unsubstantiated and terrorist accusations against me and my fellow Makabayan legislators. “Castro said in a separate statement.
“They are using this Senate hearing to justify the general’s pork under the NTF-ELCAC and reject the reaction they received from celebrities, personalities, institutions and organizations that flag in red,” he added.
Castro said that the military officials present at the hearing only repeated his “script” even if Makabayan lawmakers had already denied their claims.
“This administration continues to terrorize and criminalize anyone who decides to defend their rights and claims legitimate demands for justice and basic social services as terrorists,” said Castro.
“The Duterte administration must realize that while they continue to target all who exercise their basic democratic freedoms, they are only exposing themselves more as the real terrorists of this country who use the people’s money to restrict the rights of the people,” he added.
Kabataan party representative Sarah Elago, meanwhile, said she was “disappointed and enraged” by the events in the audience, echoing from her colleagues that the audience was only used “as a platform for high-ranking military personnel. and the NTF-ELCAC to spread false information and lies. “
“The hearing to allegedly address the red label was used once again to label critics of the government and the Makabayan bloc. The national security advisor Esperon even denied the red label and accused the victims of the red label as those who actually label themselves, ”Elago said.
“It is nothing but callous and a grave disservice to Filipinos that two days after the country was badly beaten by Rolly, the NTF-ELCAC and military officers wasted people’s time and money in a hearing to impeach legitimate youth organizations and peoples of legal fronts of communist groups ”, he added.
The Makabayan bloc chose not to attend the hearing and only sent one representative, lawyer Maneeka Asistol Sarza. Despite his absence, lawmakers expressed hope that the Senate hearing on the alleged red tag for military officers will not be used to smear members of progressive organizations.
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