UniTeam Senate bet and House Deputy Speaker Rep. Rodante Marcoleta has issued a challenge to lawmakers of the Makabayan bloc: condemn the actions of rebel groups.
“We are talking about the statement of President Rodrigo Duterte about these Makabayan bloc. You know I’ve been in the House of Representatives for so long, and ang ipinagtataka ko sa advocacies nila maraming inconsistencies lalo na sa human rights violations (I’m wondering why their advocacy against human rights violations is inconsistent),” said Marcoleta in a press statement on Tuesday, April 5.
“Hindi sila umiimik o kumukondena sa paglabag sa human rights ng ASG (Abu Sayyaf Group), NPA (New People’s Army), at iba pang private armed groups, example ang nangyari sa Marawi siege, hindi sila umimik (They don’t condemn human rights violations made by the ASG, NPA, and other private armed groups like what happened during the Marawi siege). Why is that? Hindi ba inconsistent naman dahil kapag pulis at taga-gobyerno mabilis sila sa pagkondena (It’s not consistent because when it’s the police or government, they condemn quickly),” the SAGIP representative added.
The Makabayan bloc has previously condemned actions committed by the NPA. They condemned the Masbate incident last June 2021 during which the NPA claimed responsibility for a landmine detonation resulting in the deaths of Far Eastern University student athlete Kieth Absalon and cousin Nolven Absalon.
The coalition also urged that the victims’ families file complaints against the NPA through the Joint Monitoring Committee.
Marcoleta also cited the shutdown of the ABS-CBN network and its employment of contractual workers, the Kalipunan ng Damayang Mahihirap (Kadamay) housing occupation issue, and “the destruction of houses in Misamis Oriental” as instances in which the Makabayan allegedly kept silent.
Marcoleta is running for a Senate seat as part of the UniTeam’s slate. UniTeam is led by Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. and running mate Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte.
Marcos Jr. and his mother, Imelda Marcos, have been held in contempt by the United States Court of Appeals in relation to a case of human rights violations committed by Marcos patriarch, late dictator Ferdinand Marcos Sr.
Meanwhile, the Makabayan bloc previously endorsed the tandem of Vice President Leni Robredo and Senator Francis Pangilinan.