Magdalo Party-list Rep. Manuel Cabochan III said he would resign as a congressman and nominee of his party-list if the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) can show immediate proof that Vice President Leni Robredo has links with the New People’s Army (NPA).
"I am one of the former soldiers aligned with the Robredo camp. And I can say with certainty, we also do not want a coalition with the NPA. Maliwanag na kontra kami dyan. Hindi kami papayag diyan (We're clearly against that. We would agree to that). But there is no coalition with the NPA in the first place," Cabochan said in a statement Monday, April 11.
"Now, if the NTF-ELCAC can show proof today, aside from fake witnesses, that there is a coalition between the NPA and the Robredo Camp, I will resign as the incumbent representative and nominee of the Magdalo Party-List," added the former Navy official.
Liberal Party (LP) Chairman Robredo is the opposition's bet in the May 9 Palace race. She earlier decided to run as an independent in the polls.
The NPA is the armed unit of the Communist Party of the President (CPP), which the Duterte administration has branded as terrorists.
"It was promised that by the end of the Duterte administration, the local armed communist conflict would have already been terminated. Bakit meron pa rin? Gawin na lamang nila ang kanilang trabaho ng tama, malinis, maayos, at walang halong politika para matupad ang pangako imbes na magpalabas ng kung anu-anong haka-haka (Why are they still here? They should just do their job properly, cleanly, and in a orderly manner without any hint of politics so that they can fulfill their promise instead of spread rumors)," the solon said.
"We respect the choices of everyone on who to support for the presidency. Malaya tayong mangampanya para sa kanya-kanya nating kandidato (We are free to campaign for our respective candidates). What we cannot accept is making malicious and baseless accusations to discredit one candidate," Cabochan further said.
This is not the first time that Cabochan defended Robredo from accusations of having ties with Red rebels.