Akbayan denies seeking rivals’ disqualification

From the Philippine Daily Inquirer (Oct 28): Akbayan denies seeking rivals’ disqualification

The party-list group Akbayan on Saturday distanced itself from groups that had asked the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to disqualify leftist party-list rivals such as Bayan Muna, Gabriela, Kabataan and Anakpawis. In a statement, Akbayan denied reports that it was allied with the People’s Advocacy for Collaboration and Empowerment (PEACE), New Guardians for Freedom and Democracy, and Pro Democracy Foundation of the Philippines—groups that petitioned for the disqualification of so-called “communist” groups. “In a story that appeared on the front pages of the Philippine Daily Inquirer on Oct. 27, 2012 (Akbayan hits back, seeks ouster of red party-listers), Akbayan Partylist was erroneously reported to be allied with…groups that filed a disqualification petition against Bayan Muna, Gabriela, Kabataan, Anakpawis and several other party-list groups before the Commission on Elections,” Akbayan said. “Akbayan categorically denies any association or involvement with these groups. We are also not involved with any move to disqualify Bayan Muna and their affiliate party-list groups from the 2013 elections,” it added. Akbayan said it was issuing the statement to counter any perceptions that “may arise and mislead our fellow citizens into making the conclusion that Akbayan seeks to silence its detractors with the same dirty tricks that they resort to.” “While we have found reason to disagree with Bayan Muna and their affiliates on a range of issues such as CARPer (the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program Extension with Reforms Law) and human rights abuses committed by nonstate actors, and despite the malicious campaign they wage against us, Akbayan has no intention of adopting the same deplorable tactics,” the group said....

http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/296884/akbayan-denies-seeking-rivals-disqualification