Makabayan Congressmen deny linkages to CPP-NPA as claimed by Duterte

MANILA, Philippines – Makabayan congressmen vehemently deny linkages to the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) after President Rodrigo Duterte himself identified the group as such.
“Hindi ako miyembro ng Communist Party of the Philippines, maging ng NPA or ng NDF (I am not a member of the Communist Party of the Philippines, or the NPA, or the NDF),” said Bayan Muna Partylist Rep. Carlos Zarate in a press conference on Tuesday (December 1).
Zarate admits being an activist and a human rights lawyer but not a member of any group that targets destabilization of the current administration.
ACT Teachers Partylist Rep. France Castro, meanwhile, accused the Duterte Administration of using the issue to divert the public’s attention from the government’s poor response to the current problems of the country.
“Patuloy na nililink ang mga progresibong organisasyon na talagang nagbubunyag ng kainutilan nitong Duterte administration,” Castro said adding that such a claim is the administration’s scheme to disqualify their group in the 2022 Elections.
The lawmakers claim it is a way to silence them for being critical of the government.
“With the statement of the President they will be further emboldened to intensify their attacks against us including even their objective to remove us from Congress, ipa-disqualify kami (to have us disqualified),” Zarate said.
The opposition group dares their critics who are claiming of having evidence linking them to the communist group to face them in court.
They are also hoping that the House leadership will support them given that House Speaker Allan Velasco once said in October that he will protect any member of the Lower House who is being tagged by Lt Gen Antonio Parlade Jr of the National task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict as members of the communist organization.
Meanwhile, Malacañang questioned leaf-leaning organizations or militant groups why they cannot renounce the use of arms.
According to Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque, it’s questionable that while they consistently deny claims linking them to the communist organization, they do not condemn the NPA’s armed activities.
Roque said it is not criminal to be a member of an organization but to become an advocate of armed struggle against the government is against the law.
“Kung ikaw ay member ng CPP, pwede kang maging legal but you have to renounce the use of arms. Magagaling naman sila sa parliamentary politics. Na-e-elect naman sila. Pinakamarami sila sa party list groups. Bakit hindi pa nila i-renounce ang use of arms,” Roque said.
[If you are a member of the CPP, you can be legal but you have to renounce the use of arms. They are good in parliamentary politics. They are being elected. They have the majority in party list groups. Why couldn’t they renounce the use of arms?]
“Pero habang hindi nila nire-renounce at habang sila po ay nakikibahagi pa sa paggamit ng dahas at sandata laban sa republika, criminal po iyan,” he concluded.
[But while not renouncing and while still supporting the use of arms or armed struggle against the Republic (of the Philippines), that’s criminal.] MNP (with reports from Rey Pelayo / Rosalie Coz)