LEFTIST Bayan Muna Representative Carlos Zarate grabbed the opportunity during the budget hearing on Tuesday, August 27, to confront Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana over the red-tagging of Makabayan bloc members.

"I'll take this time instead of registering my objection, in fact I take exception to the statement of the Defense Secretary of his blanket accusation of me and the Makabayan bloc are involved in violence to oust the government," Zarate said.

Lorenzana, who attended the hearing to defend the Department of Defense’s budget proposal amounting to P258 billion, was unfazed.

He said he will stop the red tagging and the military’s verification campaign against Zarate’s group if the latter would condemn the CPP-NPA.

"I will ask Makabayan bloc, condemn the CPP-NPA, hindi nyo kino-condemn eh. Kung saan marami ang NPA nandun din kayo," Delfin said.

"Meron tayong intelligence units dyan na nagmamanman sa buong bansa at alam natin kung anong mga ginagawa ng leftist organizations, mga front organization, mga legal organizations dyan. Condemn CCP-NPA. Stop this turbulence, stop these atrocities and we will stop," he added.

Zarate no longer had the chance to reply.

The exchange occurred during the hearing on the DND’s proposed budget for 2020 by the House committee on appropriations.

Aside from Bayan Muna, members of the Makabayan bloc are Acts Teachers, Gabriela and Kabataan. (Ryniel Berlanga/SunStar Philippines)