An army official claimed that members of the Makabayan bloc were connected to the Communist Party of the Philippines and New People’s Army.
Lieutenant General Antonio Parlade of National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) questioned why they couldn’t criticize the CPP-NPA.
According to Parlade, they’re already challenging the members of Makabayan Bloc into a debate even before the creation of the NTF-ELCAC, however, until now they’re still not accepting it.
The army official said that if they could accept the debate, they may clear their names against the accusations against them.
Parlade then listed the accusations against the members of Makabayan bloc.
“(ACT party-list) Rep (France) Castro, you were tagged as a member of the National Teachers Bureau under the National United Front Commission of the CPP.”
“(Bayan Muna party-list) Rep (Carlos) Zarate, you were also tagged by your former colleague as also a member of the NUFC CPP. He claims this is why you have the authority to meet with top CPP NPAs in Mindanao and anywhere to discuss your directives with them.”
“(Bayan Muna party-list) Rep (Ferdinand) Gaite, former cadres have pointed you as a member of the National Govt Employees Bureau under the CPP.”
“(Kabataan party-list) Rep (Sarah) Elago, former cadres (some are still with the CPP) have told us you are with the Kabataang Makabayan, the underground mass org of the Kabataan.
“(Bayan Muna party-list) Rep (Eufemia) Cullamat needs to speak out because this budget of the NTF ELCAC might just end the conflict in Agusan and Surigao, which she and her siblings in the NPA have been waging for sometime now.”
“Rep. Cullamat is the elder sister of Bae Gloria Campos Tumalon who was apprehended last March 19, 2020 in Diatagon, SDS. Her other siblings are Pablito Sinzo Campos, the NPA leader arrested last 2018 in Sibagat, Agusan del Sur, and Emelda Campos Belandres, another NPA leader who is wanted for various crimes.”
“And, (Former Bayan-Muna party-list Rep) Teddy Casiño, another member of the CPP NPA NDF you’re saying that you “might not be a part of the armed struggle?”
Parlade also insisted that the government didn’t red-tagged the members of Makabayan bloc.
He then urged the said group to stop holding the budget of the Presidential Communication Operations Office (PCOO).
It can be remembered that the PCOO Usec. Lorraine Badoy challenged the Makabayan Bloc to condemn the Communist Party of the Philippines if they really wanted her to resign amid the deliberations of the budget of PCOO.