The camp of presidential aspirant Vice President Leni Robredo did not mince words on Thursday, March 10, as it hit back on personalities claiming that the massive attendees of her campaign rallies are members of the country’s communist groups.
Lawyer Barry Gutierrez, Robredo’s spokesperson, said in a statement that although they are used to “attacks and fake news,” this recent issue is a “new low” for the Vice President’s detractors.
“Over the course of this campaign, we have seen more than our fair share of attacks and fake news against VP Leni. But this blatant and persistent red-tagging, masked as ‘concern,’ is a new low,” he said.
His statement came after Cavite 3rd District Rep. and Deputy House Speaker, Rep.Jesus Crispin 'Boying' Remulla, claimed that Robredo’s supporters were paid P500 to attend the grand rally in General Trias, Cavite that drew a crowd of 47,000.
Robredo’s fellow presidential candidate Senator Panfilo Lacson retweeted a link to the news article, warning of a coalition government with the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP).
He also cited information from ex-New People’s Army (NPA) cadre Jeffrey “Ka Eric” Celiz who said on a social media post that a former colleague in the CPP-NPA, who is now based in Cavite, indicated that members of the CPP’s legal fronts were brought to the grand rally on Friday, March 4.
Celiz, Lacson, and Remulla did not present evidence to support the claims.
“For the record, there is no ‘coalition government’ being contemplated, and to leap to the absurd conclusion that there is, based on self-serving reports, supposedly ‘validated’ by someone desperate for a seat in the party-list elections, is the height of irresponsibility,” Gutierrez said, referring to Celiz’s attempt to run as the first nominee of Sambayanan party-list.
“As is using fear-mongering in a cynical effort to dampen the energy, enthusiasm, and commitment of the people's campaign that has emerged to provide massive support to VP Leni's candidacy for President,” the former lawmaker added.
Former Senator Antonio Trillanes IV also called Lacson’s attention on social media site Twitter.
READ: Trillanes defends Robredo: 'Ex-generals’ support belies red-tagging ploy'
“Sen @iampinglacson, sir, your intel sources are wrong, and that Ka Eric you cited is a fraud. I am inside the campaign team of VP Leni at wala akong nakikitang komunista doon. Hindi papayag si VP nyan at kami rin (and I don’t see any communist there. VP will not allow that, and us, too). Her military advisers could attest to this too. All right, Sir,” he wrote.
Remulla questioned the “organization” of Robredo’s supporters in Cavite, which his brother, Cavite Gov. Juanito Victor 'Jonvic" Remulla Jr., earlier claimed was “Marcos country” after promising to deliver 800,000 votes to former Senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr. in the May 2022 elections.
This prompted a good number of Caviteños to march to the grand rally wearing shirts that read, “800K Minus One.”
Cavite’s Robredo People’s Council (RPC), the volunteer arm of the campaign, rebutted the accusations, saying that the grand rally was completely volunteer-driven and that supporters financed transportation, snacks, shirts, tarpaulins, and many other campaign materials during the rally.