Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Deputy Chief-of-Staff for Civil-Military Operations, Major Gen. Antonio Parlade, Jr.,
MANILA -- A ranking official of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) on Thursday challenged progressive militant groups to denounce the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDF) Panay for publicly linking them to the communist movement.
"The Kamatayan (Makabayan) bloc led by Atty. Neri Colmenares of Bayan Muna, (Rep. Carlos) Zarate, Sarah Elago of Kabataan must be so enraged with NDFP Panay spokesperson for revealing to the public what this Kamatayan bloc has been denying all these time," Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Deputy Chief-of-Staff for Civil-Military Operations, Major Gen. Antonio Parlade, Jr., said in a message to reporters.
Parlade was referring to statements made last April 24 by NDF Panay spokesperson Concha Araneta on the 46th anniversary of the NDFP.
"On their 46th NDFP anniversary last 24 April, Concha Araneta practically admitted that all these organizations under the NDF umbrella are all one and the same with the CPP-NPA (Communist Party of the Philippines-New People's Army) in the armed revolution. Araneta proudly proclaimed last Tuesday, the 46 years of NDFP's contributions as they 'celebrate with heads high the indispensable role in advancing the Philippine revolution'. NDFP Panay is so proud for 'inflicting casualties of not less than 50 enemies' in Panay. Indeed, 'the NDFP have continually filled the ranks of the CPP-NPA', as NDF (Panay)'s Concha proudly proclaims," he added.
The CPP-NPA is listed as a terrorist organization by the United States, European Union, United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the Philippines.
"She (also) stated that 'members of the Kabataang Makabayan, Makibaka, PKM, Revolutionary Council of Trade Unions, and allied organizations of the NDF have continually filled in the ranks of the NPA and CPP, immersing themselves with the masses in the countryside and cities while others perform underground work in urban areas," the military official added.
The organizations mentioned by Araneta, he said, are not allied organizations of the "Kamatayan Bloc or the NDF" but underground mass organizations (UGMOs) embedded in legal front organizations.
"They are, in fact, the underground mass organizations (UGMO) embedded in these legal front organizations. Why undeground? Because they know they are doing illegal activities to topple democracy, violent terrorist actions against the people, and seditious acts that can put them in jail," he added.
Parlade said other NDF allied organizations include Bayan Muna, Anakpawis, KMU, ACT, ANAKBAYAN, MAKABAYAN, MIGRANTE, LFS, Gabriela, Kabataan, Karapatan, Katribu, Kalikasan, Courage, Kadamay, IBON, PISTON, NUPL, NFSW, Pamalakaya, PDG and so many others, most of which are also members of the International League of Peoples Struggles (ILPS), which is chaired by CPP founding chair Jose Maria "Joma" Sison.
"The Kamatayan Bloc members running for office are cadres of the Communist Party of the Philippines. They cannot represent any of the Party Group of the UGMO if they did not take an oath to the CPP,” he added
He said Kabataan party-list Rep. Sarah Elago is a cadre of Kabataang Makabayan (KM), the underground mass organization (UGMO) of Anakbayan while, France Castro of ACT is cadre of the its UGMP KAGUMA and CONTEND.
“Just like Atty. Edre Olalia, Neri Colmenares is also a cadre of the underground mass organ LUMABAN or Lupon ng mga Manananggal ng Bayan, hiding under the CPP front NUPL. Again, it's not a typo. They are true blood-suckers who cannot denounce the CPP and the NPAs for their terroristic acts," Parlade said.
The NTF ELCAC official also scored Colmenares and other progressive group leaders for having the temerity to run for national office as senator and yet having no qualms in destroying democracy which allowed them to participate in the electoral process.
"You are all running for national office and aspire to be a senator of the land. Whose interest will you represent? Why don't you explain to the people this duplicity of yours? You join the democratic process thru the party-list and then destroy democracy. You join the legislative, get elected and use your funds to destroy your country. How do you reconcile your oath to this democratic state with that of the CPP Constitution's establishment of a 'proletarian dictatorship'? (Art 3 Section 7 of CPP Constitution and Programs series May 2016). You are using the democratic process to establish a dictatorship. And what are your agenda in your campaign: anti-dictatorship, anti-fascist, pro-people?" Parlade said.
He added that this a classic revolutionary dual tactics.
"It's time the voting public should know everything about you. You cannot hide truth by running to the Supreme Court. Truth is the only way to freedom and these is what the people are craving for now. It's time you lay down your cards," he said. (PNA)
