Save youth, gov’t coffer from CTG-linked orgs: groups

From the Philippine News Agency (Jul 22, 2021): Save youth, gov’t coffer from CTG-linked orgs: groups (By Lade Jean Kabagani)

NO TO REDS’ PARTY-LISTS. No inclement weather can stop members of the League of Parents of the Philippines and Liga Independencia Pilipinas from denouncing party-list organizations that are identified with communist terrorist groups during a rally in front of the Commission on Elections office in Manila on Thursday (July 22, 2021). They want the poll body to delist the Kabataan and Gabriela party-lists from the May 2022 elections. (Contributed photo)

The cancellation of party-list organizations that are identified with the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People's Army-National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF) will not only save the youth from being recruited into the armed struggle but will also save government funds.

This, according to members of the League of Parents of the Philippines (LPP) and Liga Independencia Pilipinas (LIPI) during a rally in front of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) main office in Intramuros, Manila on Thursday.

The groups called on the poll body to bar the Kabataan and Gabriela party-lists from joining the May 2022 elections, saying it is about time that it corrects its past mistake by delisting them.

They insisted both are legal fronts of the CPP-NPA-NDF and deceptively lure minors to fight the government.

Kabataan is represented by Sarah Elago while Gabriela has Rep. Arlene Brosas.

In an interview, LLP chair Remy Rosadio said the two party-lists have been violating the provisions of the 1987 Philippine Constitution by advocating citizens to overthrow the government and becoming allies of the CPP, which controls the communist terrorist groups (CTGs).

Rosadio said Kabataan and Gabriela have done nothing but to urge youth to overthrow the government, instead of getting them involved in addressing various societal problems.

"Tulungan niyo po kami para mapuksa ang matagal nang panlilinlang ng mga organisasyon na ito para hindi po masayang ang buwis natin. Ang pondong binibigay sa kanila 'di natin alam kung saan napupunta. Nandyan ang pork barrel pero nasaan ang mga programa (Help us to eliminate the long-term deceptions made by these organization so we our taxes won't go to waste. We don't even know how they utilize the government funds. The pork barrel is there but where are the programs)?" Rosadio said, as she urged the Comelec to hasten the decision on the disqualification case against the two party-lists.

She said Comelec should consider that allowing the organizations to prolong their terms in Congress endangers the youth.

"The interest of our children and succeeding generations is at stake. You are duly mandated by the people and the Constitution to perform what is morally correct and legally right. Act according to your conscience and strong political conviction. Be steadfast and resolute in carrying out and performing your task," she said during the rally.

Rosadio insisted the party-lists are being used by CTGs "to penetrate the system with their wrong ideologies" and push their communist agendas.

"The two party-lists have grossly violated the provisions of the 1987 Constitution by advocating violence, the overthrow of the existing government, mockery of existing structures of it, and allegiance and playing stooge to terrorist organization of the CPP-NPA-NDF," she said.

LIPI spokesperson Nolan Tiongco said their group is determined to continue the protests against organizations that are linked with the CPP-NPA-NDF.

"Malinaw na malinaw na ginagamit nila ang kabataan para isulong ang komunistang pakikibaka. Kaya nananawagan kami sa Comelec na i-disqualify na ang Kabataan party-list at huwag hayaan na makatakbo sa susunod na eleksyon bilang resulta ng on-campus recruitment ng ating mga kabataan at udyukin na maging mandirigma para sa New People's Army (It is clear to us that they are using our youth to promote communist revolution. We urge the Comelec to disqualify and bar the Kabataan party-list from running in the elections as a result of its on-campus recruitment of students luring them to become combatants for the New People's Army)," he added.

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

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1147873