Groups remain relentless in unmasking Reds-linked groups

MANILA – Groups of parents and other anti-communist organizations have again vowed to be more relentless in “unmasking” all legal front organizations of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army and the National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF).

Members of the League of Parents of the Philippines (LPP) or the Liga ng mga Magulang, Liga Independencia Pilipinas (LIPI), Sulong Maralita, and Yakap ng mga Magulang Movement, staged a protest rally in front of the Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City on Wednesday to denounce the deceptive schemes of the militant organizations that use of “red-tagging” issues to “strategically invite sympathizers.”

LPP chairperson Remy Rosadio said progressive organizations like Bayan Muna, Anakpawis, Kabataan, Act Teachers, and Gabriela were only busy overthrowing the government instead of providing solutions to the long-standing violence and atrocities of the CPP-NPA-NDF, mostly affecting the countryside.

Rosadio lamented many youths were still missing while others were found dead in the mountains, “but never did these progressive organizations have denounced it.”

In a joint statement, the LPP, LIPI, Sulong Maralita, and Yakap ng mga Magulang Movement, said they are determined to fight back against the “deceptive schemes” of the communist front organizations.

“Kasaysayan na ang nagsabi sa atin na may malawak n ugnayan ang militanteng grupo ng BAYAN MUNA, ACT, ANAKPAWIS,KABATAAN, GABRIELA, at ilan pang organisasyan sa TERORISTANG ORGANO NG CPP-NPA-NDF (The history speaks itself about the wide connection of the militant groups Bayan Muna, Act, Anakpawis, Kabataan, Gabriela and other organizations to the terrorist CPP-NPA-NDF),” they said, adding that the CPP Founder Jose Maria “Joma” Sison himself has described the crucial roles of these progressive organizations in pushing communist operations.

The groups said progressive organizations are only using the “red-tagging” issues to collect solaces “while moving the underground mass recruitment” to expand their memberships for the armed revolution.

LIPI spokesperson Nolan Tiongco said Sison himself has disclosed to the public everything about their allied sectoral organizations.

Tiongco said it is enough to say that “red-tagging” is not an issue.

“Nakakalungkot lang isipin na itong pondo ng gobyerno ay ginagamit ng mga organisasyon na ito sa recruitment ng mga kabataan at upang palakasin ang kanilang armadong grupo (The saddening part of this is that these organizations are using the government funds to recruit the youths and to strengthen their armed groups),” Tiongco said, pertaining to the incumbent party-lists belonging to the Makabayan bloc.

For a long-time seating in the government branch, Tiongco said "these party lists have done nothing but overthrow the government."

Tiongco said communists, through their legal fronts, have already infiltrated many sectoral organizations of the society.

During the rally, the groups also expressed support to several government officials of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) who are currently facing criminal charges over “red-tagging”—one of them is NTF-ELCAC spokesperson for sectoral concerns and Presidential Communications Undersecretary Lorraine Badoy.

Filed against Badoy were several criminal complaints on alleged red-tagging, and violation of the Anti-Graft Law and the code of conduct for public officials.

The CPP-NPA is listed as a terrorist organization by the United States, the European Union, the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the Philippines.

The Anti-Terrorism Council also formally designated the NDF as a terrorist organization on June 23, 2021, citing it as “an integral and inseparable part” of the CPP-NPA that was created in April 1973. (PNA)