Duterte has basis to link Makabayan bloc to Reds, says Palace

President Rodrigo Duterte has basis to link the party-lists under the Makabayan bloc to communist rebels, Malacañang said Wednesday.

At a press briefing, acting presidential spokesperson Martin Andanar said as president, Duterte has access to sensitive information from the intelligence community.

"Naniniwala kaming may basehan po ang mga ito [We believe that these accusations have basis]," Andanar said.

In his Talk to the People on Tuesday night, Duterte urged the public not to vote for the Makabayan party-list groups which he said are "legal fronts of the Communist Party of the Philippines."

The President identified these groups as Kabataan, Anakpawis, Bayan Muna, ACT Teachers and Gabriela.

Makabayan groups respond

Reacting to this, Gabriela party-list Representative Arlene Brosas said such "recycled red-tagging claims" of Duterte "constitute his desperate last-ditch attempts to silence progressive groups" ahead of the 2022 elections.

Bayan Muna party-list Representative Carlos Isagani Zarate, for his part, said Duterte's "red-tagging" during the election period was "clearly a partisan, political ploy."

He stressed that such remark was not only an attack to the Makabayan bloc, but to the entire opposition particularly of Vice President Leni Robredo, the opposition's standard bearer in the May 2022 elections.

Duterte earlier said he has received information regarding "working relations"  between communist rebels and "dilawans," a term used to refer to the opposition. Robredo said the information has no basis.

Comelec

Meanwhile, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) said it can look into accusations that some party-lists have links with communist insurgents as long as there is a disqualification case filed with the poll body.

"We highly respect of course the statement of the President and maraming nari-receive na intelligence reports ang ating Pangulo. At this point, ang Comelec nangangako na we can always look into these accusations or allegations definitely lalung-lalo na doon sa mga na-accredit nating partylist," said Comelec Commissioner George Garcia in an interview with reporters.

(We highly respect of course the statement of the President. He receives many intelligence reports. At this point, the Comelec vowed that we can always look into these accusations or allegations definitely especially against accredited party-lists.)

"Ngayon po sa ating mga kababayan we have to understand na since na-accredit na sila, siyempre meron na po silang tinatawag na vested rights. And so until and unless may mag-file ng disqualification ng cancellation ng kanilang registration for violation then we will have to respect yun pong initial na naibigay sa kanila na pribiliehyio na makappag-participate sa partylist," he added.

(We have to understand that since they have been already accredited, then they have what is called vested rights. So until and unless someone files a disqualification for the cancellation of their registration, then we will have to respect that.)

Garcia, however, said the poll body continuously monitoring party-lists for possible violations under the Republic Act 7941 or the Partylist System Act. 

"Hindi naman po porket ang isang party-list ay na-accredit na at nagpa-participate na several times sa ating election eh perpetually na po sila na accredited. Lagi pong patuloy ang ating screening process para sa kanila,” he said.

(Screening does not end when a party-list is accredited. We continue to monitor them.) —with Richa Noriega/KBK, GMA News