PCOO exec asks NUJP to condemn CPP-NPA atrocities

From the Philippine News Agency (Jan 11, 2019): PCOO exec asks NUJP to condemn CPP-NPA atrocities

Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) Undersecretary Lorraine Marie Badoy on Friday challenged the head of the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) to condemn the atrocities of the Communist Party of the Philippines - New People's Army (CPP-NPA) as she denied the media organization's accusation of PCOO "red-tagging" NUJP members.

In a radio interview over DWFM, Badoy asked the NUJP, particularly its chairman Nonoy Espina, to issue a statement denouncing the atrocities committed by the CPP-NPA to disprove their alleged allegiance to the communist rebel group.

"I just want to ask the chairman of the NUJP: will you issue an official statement? Could you do that as a challenge -- denouncing the activities, the atrocities of the CPP-NPA? As simple as that," she said.

Badoy said Espina himself posted contents on social media, patronizing and romanticizing the CPP-NPA on its 50th founding anniversary.



"Maybe the chairman of the NUJP would like to explain to us, why during the 50th anniversary of an organization that has been consistent and relentless in its protracted war against the government, why would he put something like this on his page?" she said.

She then proceeded to recite the content on Espina's Facebook page that had photos of communist terrorists holding high powered guns.
"Mabuhay kayong mga ‘di pangkaraniwan
Pag-ibig ninyo ay walang hangganan
Mabuhay kayong lubos ang katapatan
Mabuhay kayo kailanman."

Badoy said communist insurgency is the primary hindrance to the country's progress and development.

"Internationally, they are responsible for all these horrible reports about the Philippines at a time when our country has turned a corner," she said.

Badoy added that the PCOO and its attached office, the Philippine News Agency (PNA), are only after "simple, plain and responsible journalism."

She also slammed the NUJP for not recognizing the Duterte administration's pro-people program, such as the free college education and Universal Healthcare Act.

The NUJP cried foul over an article published by the PNA over a group of former communist members who denied that their claims against NUJP being linked with the leftist movement is part of an orchestrated plan to silence the group.

The article, titled "Red link tag on NUJP not 'orchestrated': ex-rebels" and published online on January 8, cited the said group, Kilusan at Alyansa ng mga Dating Rebelde (KADRE), which narrated that “hardcore elements” in the NUJP made sure to block the release of their stories and their “freedom to expose the truth.”

The CPP-NPA, in previous reports, had been allegedly involved in cases of extortion, mass murder, and violation of indigenous people's rights.

The US State Department and the European Union have both tagged the CPP-NPA as a terrorist organization.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1058616