With the commencement of the election period, the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) has shifted its red-tagging campaign to focus on 2022 election candidates. Its latest claim involves the Leni-Kiko tandem, which the Makabayan Bloc has recently endorsed.

In an SMNI Channel program titled “Laban Kasama ng Bayan,” hosted by NTF-ELCAC spokesperson and undersecretary Lorraine Marie Badoy, Jeffrey “Ka Eric” Celiz – who falsely claims to be a former “cadre” of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army (CPP-NPA) – asserted that Vice President Leni Robredo and Senator Kiko Pangilinan are in fact directly connected to the CPP.

The one-minute portion of the said television program was uploaded in NTF-ELCAC Facebook page last February 5 with the caption: “Rebel returnee Jeffrey ‘Ka Eric’ Celiz wonders how the vice president and Sen. Kiko Pangilinan are able to take pride in their affiliation with the CPP-NPA-NDF terrorist group.”

In the video clip, Celiz accused Robredo and Pangilinan of joining the CPP-NPA with their “twisted and opportunistic view of politics”. Celiz added that Robredo and Pangilinan will undoubtedly give “credence, legitimacy, resources, ballots, and campaign machinery” to the “groups who want to overthrow the government”.

CLAIM:

VP Leni Robredo and Sen. Kiko Pangilinan are affiliated with the CPP-NPA-NDF, claims Jeffrey ‘Ka Eric’ Celiz of NTF-ELCAC

RATING:

FALSE

FACTS:

Both VP Robredo and Sen. Pangilinan have already dispelled claims that they are affiliated with the CPP-NPA.

The Office of the Vice President (OVP) Spokesperson Barry Gutierrez even clarified that Robredo “is not and has never been a member of the CPP-NPA-NDF.”

Beyond these spurious claims, even the CPP-NPA itself disowned Celiz and branded him “a liar.” Moreover, Celiz himself denied that he is a communist cadre back when he was still a mass leader of activists in Iloilo City. He served as spokesperson of BAYAN-Panay from 2000 to 2004, and held multiple positions as political liaison, political strategist, and a mayor’s spokesperson until 2016.

Celiz then left the public eye after his name appeared in Duterte’s ‘narco list’ back in 2016. He eventually reappeared and served as former AFP Gen. Antonio Parlade’s star witness in Senate hearings.

WHY IT MATTERS:

The video clip currently has over 2,300 views, with 387 likes and shared 237 times across the said social media platforms. The television program by NTF-ELCAC airs every weekday morning on SMNI Channel, a free-to-air network, making it an accessible television channel to Filipinos. – Maez Estrada and Joseph Gloria

Altermidya Network is part of #FactsFirstPH which brings together various sectors that are committed to promoting truth in the public space, and exacting accountability on those who harm it with lies. For those interested to join the initiative, email info@factsfirst.ph.

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