Groups say NICA’s mandate to warn public vs. Reds' allies

From the Philippine News Agency (Apr 9, 2021): Groups say NICA’s mandate to warn public vs. Reds' allies (By Lade Jean Kabagani)

Anti-communist groups said it is the mandate of the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency (NICA) to warn the public against national security threats.

In a joint statement Thursday, the League of Parents of the Philippines (LPP), Liga Independencia Pilipinas (LIPI), Melchora Women's Partylist, Youth Power against Destabilization and Terrorism (YPADT), and Duterte Youth Partylist have backed the claim of National Intelligence Coordinating Agency (NICA) Director-General Alex Paul Monteagudo that the union of Senate employees is affiliated to the communist group.

"We the various multi-sectoral organizations have thrown its support to the efforts of Dir. Gen. Montaegudo of NICA in his effort to enlighten the public on the dangers of government unions being affiliated to COURAGE that has also strong affiliations with Bayan and Bayan Muna, actually they are member-organizations of both of it," the groups said.

In an earlier Facebook post, Monteagudo said the Senate workers' union, the Sandigan ng mga Empleyadong Nagkakaisa sa Adhikain ng Demokratikong Organisasyon (Senado), has been “the eyes and the ears of the CPP, the New People’s Army, and the National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF)."

"In fairness to him, it is his mandate as the head of the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency to inform and raise the level of awareness of the public on such issues," they said. "Countless records and personal accounts clearly manifest the role of COURAGE in the legal front facade of the CPP-NPA-NDF."

According to the law, the NICA directs, coordinates, and integrates all government activities involving national intelligence.

"It serves as the focal point for the preparation of intelligence estimates of local and foreign situations."

Eye-opener

The groups said the Senate should not misinterpret Montegudo's intention to aware them of the possible threats to national security.

They added it should serve as an eye-opener for the public about the communist' allied groups.

"On the contrary, senators should not take it as red-tagging but should be very appreciative to the effort of the Director-General. We clearly believe that there is no intention to malign the integrity of the SENATE, its employees, the union, or even the senators," they said.

The groups added that it was CPP founding chairman Jose Maria "Joma" Sison himself who red-tagged several individuals and militant organizations.

"As we all know, the CPP founder and present chairman Joma Sison has publicly tagged and confirmed that 'Bayan' is a legal front of them," the statement read.

The groups said associating these front organizations and individuals with the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP-NPA-NDF) were based on the pronouncements of Sison in a video during a meeting at the International Center, CIC in Brussels, Belgium on March 4, 1987.

“At any rate, even while there are of the armed revolution, there are the legal democratic forces in the Philippines. The biggest of these is Bagong Alyansang Makabayan or BAYAN, in short. Its biggest component organizations are: Kilusang Mayo Uno which is the labor center; the Kilusang Magbubukid (KMP); GABRIELA, the woman’s Alliance; League of Filipino Students (LFS); Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT); KADENA; and so on,” Sison was quoted as saying.

The groups likewise condemned the "baseless" allegations tossed against Monteagudo by raising awareness about the front organizations of the communist terrorist groups.

"We also condemn the baseless accusation against Monteagudo that he is red-tagging the S.E.N.A.D.O union and C.O.U.R.A.G.E," they said.

Appeal to senators

The anti-communist groups, meanwhile, urged senators to review the alleged reds' infiltration within the government.

"To our beloved Senators, viewed the matter as a positive note in order to preserve the integrity of the SENATE as a clean institution without any creeping danger of being infiltrated by Communist Terrorist Group," they said.

Senate President Vicente Sotto III earlier said Senate employees suspected of being affiliated with the communist movement will be investigated.

Sotto told NICA to give him the names of the employees to push a further investigation, however, identities will remain confidential once submitted.

The CPP-NPA is listed as a terrorist organization by the United States, the European Union, United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the Philippines.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1136262