Leaders of the Makabayan bloc on Tuesday categorically denied their relationship with the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) and its armed and political groups.
Incumbent Bayan Muna Representative Carlos Zarate and Kabataan Partylist Rep. Sarah Elago were present in the resumption of the Senate's oversight hearing on the red-tagging activities of government defense and military officials on November 24.
Also present were former Bayan Muna representatives Teodoro "Teddy" Casiño and Neri Colmenares.
During the November 3 Senate hearing, high-ranking government officials and witnesses said the four, among other elected government officials in the House of Representatives, act as fronts to the CPP, the New People's Army (CPP) and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP). They maintained their claims were not red-tagging, calling it as "truth-tagging" instead.
Zarate, however, said such allegations were "blatant lies."
He declared that he is not a rebel, not a member of the CPP or the National Democratic Front (NDF) and that the CPP does not control the Bayan Muna party.
Zarate also maintained that Bayan Muna and other members of the Makabayan bloc at the House of Representatives are legitimate parties that espouse change and reform at the Lower House and not as rebels.
"Tahasan kong sinasabi sa Komiteng ito, Mr. Chair, na hindi ako miyembro o opisyal ng Communist Party of the Philippines. Hindi ako rebelde o
miyembro ng NDFP. Tahasan ko ring pinasisinungalingan na ang aking partido, ang Bayan Muna, ay creation at kontrolado ng CPP (I say before this committee, Mr. Chair, that I am not a member of the CPP. I am not a rebel or a member of the NDFP. I also categorically deny that my partylist, Bayan Muna, was created and controlled by the CPP)," he told the Senate Defense Committee led by Senator Panfilo Lacson.
Zarate also asserted that “Bayan Muna and other members of the Makabayan bloc in the House of Representatives are legitimate groups that believe in parliamentary participation to push for reforms in our society" he added.
He said members of the Makabayan bloc have performed well since they were elected to Congress in 2001 and were among the most active members of the House of Representatives in passing key legislation.
Elago also said: "Hindi ako NPA, hindi ako NPA recruiter. Hindi po bahagi o front ng CPP ang Kabataan Partylist. Hindi NPA recruiter ang Kabataan Party list (I am not an NPA member, I am not an NPA recruiter. The Kabataan Partylist is also not part nor a front of the CPP. The Kabataan Partylist is also not an NPA recruiter)."
Casiño also slammed as "malicious and unfair" the mention of his name in the Senate inquiry by government witness and self-proclaimed NPA officer Jeffrey Celiz as a CPP member.
"Nandito po ako para sabihing wala itong katotohanan (I am here to say that this is not true)," said Casiño, who also spoke in behalf of the Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (BAYAN), the umbrella group consisting of progressive groups Gabriela, Alliance of Concerned Teachers, among others, that have been tagged as being part of the CPP.
He continued: "Isa po akong aktibista (I am an activist)...I am pursuing my advocacies -- be it higher wages for workers, climate justice, or lower power rates -- I have always worked within the bounds of the Constitution and our laws."
"I am not engaged in the armed struggle. I do not support or espouse the violent overthrow of the state, and I do not recruit for the New People’s Army or any armed group. Hindi po ako rebelde (I am not a rebel), Mr. Chair. Hindi po ako terorista (I am not a terrorist). At hindi po ako front ng mga rebelde o terorista (And I am not a front of the rebels or terrorists)," he said.
Kabataan Party List Representative Sarah Jane Elago denied that she is a rebel, recruiter and kidnapper of young Filipinos to eventually become members of the NPA.
She said it was also "extremely illogical" that their organizations recruit members for the NPA as several of their members end up working in various fields, including the government.
"Malayang nakakapagdesisyon ang bawat myembro ng landas na kanilang tatahakin sa buhay. Maraming miyembro ang napunta sa iba't ibang fields, mas madami bilang opisyal ng gobyerno (Our members are free to decide whatever they want to pursue. Many of our members went to various fields, more ended up being government officials)," she said.
Casiño echoed this, saying the decision to take up arms against the government "is not an organizational decision but a personal choice dictated by their own experiences and political and ideological consciousness."
Former Bayan Muna Party List Representatives Neri Colmenares and Sister Mary John Mananzan of Gabriela and other militants denied they are leftists.
Colmenares questioned Celiz' testimony that all Makabayan representatives who get a seat in Congress are engaged with the CPP.
He said Celiz, among other inconsistencies, cannot claim personal knowledge on the matter since he had earlier said that he left the CPP-NPA in 2006.
"The term of Rep. Colmenares only started in 2007. Ang term ko po 2007...In 2006, Cong. Neri Colmenares does not exist," Colmenares said as he maintained that the claims were without basis.
Colmenares has previously denied being a member of the CPP. He also challenged the military to file charges against them to prove their claims and not resort to red-tagging.
The Makabayan bloc reiterated its appeal to the Senate to put a stop to the supposed red-tagging and terrorist labelling and not allow that the chamber be used for the propaganda of the NTF-ELCAC.
They also demanded accountability from government officials for their "dangerous" red-tagging campaign and "fake news" against progressive groups and opposition members.