BAYAN Muna leader said Philippine Army official allegedly fabricated issues against a militant’s involvement in a rebel group.
Bayan Muna vice president for Mindanao Joel Virador said "General del Rosario fabricated all the charges against Alvin. He invented those lies when he was still the commander of the 73rd Infantry Batallion of the Philippine Army. He played dirty games just to be promoted in the military institution," Virador said in an interview.
Brigadier General Eduardo Del Rosario, in a recent interview with Sun.Star Davao, said the public appearance of Luque, with rebel leader Jeorge Madlos alias Ka Oris during the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) anniversary is proof that militant organizations are in cahoots with the rebel group.
Del Rosario repeated his statement Saturday in a Bombo Radyo program at 9:30 a.m. saying he received information that Luque now holds a high rank in the National Democratic Front (NDF) in Mindanao.
These developed after Luque, former secretary general of Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan), showed up during the 41st anniversary of the CPP in a hinterland sitio somewhere in Mindanao last December 26.
Virador confirmed Luque's participation with the rebel movement.
"I don't know about his position in the revolutionary movement but I salute and respect him. I consider him as one of the brightest sons of the Filipino people in the service of the poor," Virador said.
"He's no longer connected with Bayan but we recognize his outstanding contributions to Bayan, Bayan Muna and the progressive movement as a whole," Virador said.
In his statement, del Rosario said Luque's participation in the CPP anniversary with Madlos "had morally proven the rebellion and arson charges we have filed against him in 2002."
"Likewise, it has also bolstered the AFP’s (Armed Forces of the Philippines) position that the CPP/NPA (New People’s Army) and the NDF organizations and party list groups belong to one organization, which aims to supplant democracy with communist through armed and legal struggles,” del Rosario told Sun.Star Davao.
"The alleged progressive leader's true color is now unmasked. They must stop from deceiving the people by simply following Luque’s footsteps. When Alvin was issued with a warrant of arrest, he simply vanished and joined the underground [group] where he truly belongs. Alvin even attempted to become councilor in 2001. This is exactly the same intention of (Joel) Virador, (Ariel) Casilao, and Librado in 2010," del Rosario said.
Virador gave his defense. "Alvin is on the right side of our history because what he is fighting is for the good of the Filipino people while del Rosario will be condemned in history for defending this oppressive system. And despite the attack of del Rosario since his stint as Batallion Commander of the 73rd Infantry Batallion of the Philippine Army, Bayan Muna and other progressive parties continues to win seats at the House of Representatives," Virador said.