By Ellson Quismorio
Bayan Muna chairman and Makabayan senatorial candidate Neri Colmenares blasted the Philippine National Police (PNP) for allegedly distributing black propaganda materials against the Makabayan Bloc in Tondo, Manila.
Bayan Muna chairman and Makabayan senatorial candidate Neri Colmenares
(FACEBOOK / MANILA BULLETIN) Based on reports of Kontra Daya Metro Manila, some police officers were caught distributing copies of a newspaper tagging Bayan Muna Party-list as "supporters" of the New People's Army (NPA) at the Geronimo Elementary School, Sampaloc, Manila. "This is patently and blatantly illegal. Police should not be engaged in campaigning for or against any candidate. What's worse, they're doing this on election day, when campaigning is prohibited," Colmenares said in a statement Monday afternoon. " Gen. Albayalde and Sec. Año should immediately order their men to stop," reckoned Colmenares, a former congressman. The NPA is the military wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP), which the Duterte administration considers as terrorists. The Makabayan Bloc, which has seven seats in the 17th Congress, has branded the Duterte administration's linking of them to the CPP as "red-tagging." Among the police officers identified by Kontra Daya in the smear campaign were only named Gonzales, Salalac, Reyes, and Mateo. Meanwhile, Bayan Muna Party-List Rep. Carlos Zarate likened the cops involved in the distribution of the newspapers to "the goons of dirty politicians." "Make no mistake about it: the day of reckoning will come; we will file charges and make these pathetic mercenaries and their superiors accountable," vowed Zarate who is a lawyer.  #MatalinongBoto2019
Bayan Muna chairman and Makabayan senatorial candidate Neri Colmenares(FACEBOOK / MANILA BULLETIN) Based on reports of Kontra Daya Metro Manila, some police officers were caught distributing copies of a newspaper tagging Bayan Muna Party-list as "supporters" of the New People's Army (NPA) at the Geronimo Elementary School, Sampaloc, Manila. "This is patently and blatantly illegal. Police should not be engaged in campaigning for or against any candidate. What's worse, they're doing this on election day, when campaigning is prohibited," Colmenares said in a statement Monday afternoon. " Gen. Albayalde and Sec. Año should immediately order their men to stop," reckoned Colmenares, a former congressman. The NPA is the military wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP), which the Duterte administration considers as terrorists. The Makabayan Bloc, which has seven seats in the 17th Congress, has branded the Duterte administration's linking of them to the CPP as "red-tagging." Among the police officers identified by Kontra Daya in the smear campaign were only named Gonzales, Salalac, Reyes, and Mateo. Meanwhile, Bayan Muna Party-List Rep. Carlos Zarate likened the cops involved in the distribution of the newspapers to "the goons of dirty politicians." "Make no mistake about it: the day of reckoning will come; we will file charges and make these pathetic mercenaries and their superiors accountable," vowed Zarate who is a lawyer.  #MatalinongBoto2019