National Intelligence Coordinating Agency (NICA) director-general Alex Paul Monteagudo said the CPP-NPA-NDF organizations like Bayan, Anakbayan, and the Makabayan bloc are teaching the youth to become rebels.
“Walang ipinanganak na rebelde. Ang mga kabataang ito ay nagsimula lang bilang mga aktibista at kalaunan ay naging rebelde… Sino ang nag-uudyok sa kanila? Walang iba kundi ang front organizations ng CPP-NPA-NDF. Kagaya ng Bayan, Anakbayan, at iba pa,” Monteagudo said during the continuation of the Senate hearing on alleged red-tagging.
“Si Rochelle at Jevilyn ay kabilang na ngayon sa mahabang listahan ng mga kabataang nasawi dahil sa walang saysay at madugong ideolohiya na itinuturo ng Makabayan bloc representatives at ng CPP-NPA-NDF,” he added.
Jevilyn Cullamat, the daughter of Bayan Muna Representative Eufemia Cullamat, was killed in an encounter between the military and the NPA on Sunday.
“Kung di po namin isisigaw ang katotohanan tungkol sa CPP-NPA-NDF at ang kaugnayan ng representatives ng Makabayan bloc sa teroristang grupong ito, marami pa pong kabataan ang malalason ang isip, masisira ang kinabukasan at mamamatay nang walang kabuluhan,” he said.
Meanwhile, former Bayan Muna Representative Teddy Casiño refuted the allegation against militant groups on recruiting activists to become part of communist armed groups.
NICA chief: Makabayan bloc teaching youth to become rebels
“Yun ang problema, Mr. Chair. Wala naman sila pruweba na inudyukan namin… Ang tinuturo namin ‘yung katotohanan eh. We need nationalism, we need to defend human rights, we need to uphold our democratic values. ‘Yan po ang laman ng aming plataporma at programa sa Bayan at Bayan Muna. Masama ba ‘yun? Pag-uudyok ba ‘yun?” Casiño said.
“Bakit ang mga organisasyon namin ang inyong pinag-iinitan? Ni hindi nga kami nag-aarmas. Tinataniman ninyo nga kami ng armas… Namamatay po ang mga miyembro namin dahil dito! Paghihinalaan, sisiraan ang pangalan, tapos mangyayari patay na,” the former lawmaker said.
Casiño dared the government to show anyone they have recruited to be part of NPA.
“Show us! Sino bang NPA ang na-recruit ko? Sino bang NPA ang na-recruit ni Neri [Colmenares]? ni [former] congressman [Antonio] Tinio?” he asked.
National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon responded: “The testimonies of our former rebels will show that there is recruitment by the organizations… It may not be personally Mr. Casiño or Mr. Colmenares, but it is their organizations.”