SMNI News released a quote card on their Facebook page last March 30 featuring a portion of President Rodrigo Duterte’s March 29 “Talk to the People” speech, wherein he red-tagged the party-list organizations under the Makabayan Coalition. Duterte said these groups are “legal fronts” of the Communist Party of the Philippines and used an acronym for the said groups – KABAG (Filipino for gas pain) – which stands for Kabataan, Anakpawis, Bayan Muna, ACT Teachers, and Gabriela Women’s Party.
CLAIM: Party-list groups under Makabayan Coalition are ‘legal fronts’ of the CPP
RATING: FALSE
FACTS:
Since 2001, party-list groups under the Makabayan Coalition have been serving in Congress to represent different marginalized sectors. Said party-list groups are duly-registered with the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) under Republic Act 7941 or the Party-list System Act. Section 6 of RA 7941 expressly prohibits organizations that support or advocate violence and unlawful means for their goals, violation of which is grounds for the group’s removal or cancellation of registration by COMELEC.
The said party-list groups have consistently belied the Duterte administration’s accusations about their supposed links to CPP and its armed wing, New People’s Army (NPA). The Senate Committee on Defense has even conducted a probe on these allegations last 2020, where Bayan Muna chairperson Neri Colmenares and Party-list Rep. Carlos Zarate, along with Kabataan Rep. Sarah Elago, personally appeared and testified to debunk red-tagging attacks hurled against the Makabayan Coalition.
The said red-tagging accusations were in connection with the kidnapping and crimes against humanity complaint filed by the Philippine National Police’s Criminal Investigation and Detection Group, together with the parents of activist Alicia Jasper Lucena. The said case was eventually dropped by the Department of Justice (DOJ) due to lack of evidence.
WHY THIS MATTERS:
Words uttered by the president matter to the public, as even if said in jest, the head of a nation’s utterances influence public policy. Even if the Makabayan Coalition has repeatedly expressed proof in various avenues, including the Senate and the DOJ, that the red-tagging allegations against them are unfounded, President Duterte’s latest red-tagging attack against them bears weight in the eyes of the public, especially as the nation is set to elect its next leaders this May.
The SMNI post in question currently has over 20,000 reactions, 942 comments, and 5,400 shares. –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.
Read more articles here
