In 28 August 2019, during the second round of interpellation on the Proposed DND Budget for 2020, Partylist Rep. Carlos Zarate of Bayan Muna preferred to devote his time to vent his ire.
He deplored the Department of National Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana’s issue of “blanket statements” that tags them, the “progressive groups”, as affiliates of the NPA. Mr. Zarate deems such as vilification, “red-tagging”, and “red-baiting”.
He vehemently—almost seethingly- raised his voice to take exception on their group being lumped amongst NPA which seeks to violently overthrow government.
He bewailed that such actions put him and his colleagues in danger especially when he visits his constituency.
To this, the Defense Secretary’s reply nailed the point.
He said it wasn’t the Defense Department or the Armed Forces of the Philippines that did what Mr. Zarate referred to as red-tagging”, and “red-baiting”. It was Mr. Jose Maria Sison who identified who were the allies of the CPP. And Bayan Muna was among those that Mr. Sison enumerated.
Sec. Lorenzana went on further addressing Mr. Zarate saying the department finds it difficult to make a distinction between the NPA and the Makabayan Block (MB).
Dahil “Kung saan maraming NPA nandun din kayo. Nagtatayo kayo ng mga activities nyo doon. You do not condemn the killings (and) atrocities of the CPP-NPA.
“Kapag nanununog sila ng equipment silent lang kayo. How can we now dissociate you from this group while you keep quiet?
“Comdemn the NPA and we will stop what we are doing.”
Mr. Zarate was silent, still.
Hindi nagsalita ni gaputok.
Kahit maaari naman syang humingi ng pagkakataon sa Chairman para sagutin ang hamon.
Kunsabagay, matagal naman na ang hamon sa kanya at sa iba pang “progresibong grupo” gaya ng Karapatan ukol sa ganitong pag kondena. Subali’t kaylan man, hindi nila ginawa.
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