ACT Teachers, party-list Representative France Castro called President Rodrigo Duterte the “king of red-taggers.”
This was after Duterte said in a televised briefing Monday night that the Makabayan Bloc, Bayan, and Gabriela are front organizations of the Communist Party of the Philippines, National Democratic Front of the Philippines, and New People’s Army.
“Siya yung talagang nagpapalakas ng loob dito sa militar, sa PNP at iba pang sektor ng national security forces para doon sa ginagawa nila ngayon na patuloy na red-tagging sa Makabayan Bloc, sa Bayan, sa mga progressive organizations,” she said.
“Itong mga statements ni President Duterte, hindi namin ididignify ito pero dahil sa mga walang basehan, parang lasing na nagsasalita na kung anu-ano lang ang pinagsasabi na walang basehan,” she added.
Meanwhile, Kabataan party-list Representative Sarah Elago said Duterte is “trying too hard” to ruin their reputation as lawmakers.
“They are trying too hard to intimidate the youth, to discredit our work attention away from legitimate issues and concerns represented by young people and students amid the pandemic and the onslaught of strong typhoons and flooding,” she said.
ACT Teachers party-list Rep. Castro calls Duterte ‘king of red-taggers’
Bayan Muna party-list Representative Carlos Zarate insisted that neither he nor his the Makabayan House members were members of communist groups.
“Muli, pinabubulaanan namin, sa Makabayan Bloc and personally, na kami ay front ng Communist Party of the Philippines, ng NPA, at ng National Democratic Front of the Philippines,” he said.
“Kami ay mga lehitimong, mga rehistradong mga party-list groups na lumalahok sa parliamentary arena at ngayon nga ay nakaupo kami hanggang ngayon sa 18th Congress,” he added.
Duterte on Monday said communists do not have an ideology and were only after money and power.
“There is no longer any ideology. Wala ‘tong mga komunista… Gusto lang nila umagaw ng gobyerno. Mga bobo naman and p– ina,” he said.
Duterte particularly slammed Jose Maria “Joma” Sison, the CPP founding chairman and NDF chief political consultant, and Bayan Muna Representative Carlos Zarate.
“Sino ang bright? Si Sison? Susmaryosep! iharap mo si Sison sa akin, mag-debate kami,” Duterte said.
“Alam mo sa totoo, Zarate, ‘pag nakikita kita sa TV para akong nakakita ng tae ng iro. Para akong nakakita ng tae ng aso, sa totoo lang,” he added.