THE Makabayan bloc will file charges against some officials of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and Philippine National Police (PNP) for engaging in partisan, political activities this election period.
Bayan Muna party-list representative Karlos Ysagani Zarate said calling to boycott their group is an act of engaging in partisan, political activities.
“We will not take this sitting down, tun-an namo kay kining ginahimo sa mga officials, is clearly partisan, political activity (We will study their activities, because it is clearly partisan). Ang AFP ug PNP dapat dili moapil ug pangampanya, pero ilang ginahimo karon nga iboycott, dili botohan ang Makabayan bloc is a partisan, political activity (The AFP and PNP shouldn’t engage in political campaigns but calling to boycott us and not vote for us is a partisan, political activity),” Zarate said in a press conference Tuesday, April 9.
Zarate lamented that Makabayan bloc has become the target of a systematic vilification and black propaganda campaign throughout the country, in social media and other platforms.
He said the law enforcement agencies, including the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) is pressuring local government officials to declare persona non-grata against militant groups, tagged as front of the communist rebels.
“The declaration, however, is not surprising since this happened before,” Zarate said.
“There is really pressure and directives coming from Secretary Año himself. But even in areas we are so called persona non-grata, there are still the farmers and workers who support our causes and advocacies that are supporting us,” he said.
“We will continue to be the voice of the poor and marginalized to the Congress,” he added.
Captain Reggie Go, spokesperson of Army’s 4th Infantry Division (4ID) meanwhile welcomed the move of the Makabayan bloc and challenged them to show evidence.
Go maintained that the army is a neutral institution and practices extreme caution during the election period.
“They are always free to file a complaint, if they have evidence that they can prove their claims. But of course we know, it’s also a black propaganda, it’s their style to destroy the image of our soldiers,” he said.