Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, November 3) — Senator Risa Hontiveros on Tuesday urged the government to reallocate a portion of the proposed budget of the task force working to end communist insurgency in the country to relief and rehabilitation efforts in communities battered by Super Typhoon Rolly.
“Magreallocate din tayo para sa mga kababayan nating mga nasalanta,” Hontiveros said during a Senate hearing on alleged red-tagging of certain personalities.
[Translation: Let’s reallocate funds for our fellow Filipinos who have been badly hit by the typhoon.]
Hontiveros pointed out that the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict that is notorious for red-tagging personalities received a bigger share of the national budget than other agencies and departments. NTF-ELCAC got a P19-billion allocation, around P16 billion of which was earmarked for its barangay development program. Officials said the funds will be released to support livelihood projects in villages ravaged by armed attacks.
“We are holding this hearing on the heels of the strongest typhoon of the world for 2020. Iyang 16 billion na budget ng (That P16 billion budget for) NTF ELCAC barangay development program, I will call for a portion of it to be reallocated to typhoon rehabilitation,” Hontiveros said.
“Unahin nating bigyang-tulong at pondo ang mga nabiktima ng kalamidad, hindi ang mga ahensiya na puro pagre-redtag at pagkakalat ng fake news ang ginagawa,” she added.
[Translation: Let’s prioritize providing help to and funds for victims of calamities, not agencies which keep on red-tagging personalities and sharing fake news.]
Hermogenes Esperon, vice chair of the NTF-ELCAC, defended the allocation for their barangay development program.
“Kung wala kang ilalagay development program para maiangat ang buhay ng mga tao, babalik balikan ng NPA iyan,” Esperon said.
[Translation: If you don’t allocate funds to uplift the lives of the people, the NPA will return there.]
Opposition lawmakers skip Senate hearing
Makabayan lawmakers skipped the hearing on alleged red-tagging as they are on separate relief missions, their legal counsel Maneeka Asistol Sarza told senators. Some military officials have claimed members of the Makabayan bloc which consists of Representatives Sarah Jane Elago, Carlos Zarate, Eufemia Cullamat, Ferdinand Gaite, Arlene Brosas, and France Castro, are linked with the Communist Party of the Philippines. The lawmakers have denied the allegations, with Zarate branding them as “lies and fake news” without the backing of evidence that can stand up in court.
Committee on National Defense and Security, Peace, Unification and Reconciliation chairman Sen. Panfilo M. Lacson held the hearing on the issue of red-tagging after NTF-ELCAC spokesman Antonio Parlade told actress Liza Soberano she could end up dead if she continues to associate herself with women’s rights group Gabriela Youth, which has alleged communist ties.
During the hearing, several former NPA members claimed that the party list groups in the Makabayan bloc were involved with communist rebels. Jeffrey Celiz, also known as Ka Eric, claims he has documents supporting this allegation. But he was unable to share them with the panel since they supposedly needed “clearance” from the military. Esperon in turn, told the senators they will submit the documents to them.
Parlade gave the same warning to Miss Universe 2018 Catriona Gray. Meanwhile, he red-tagged the sister of actress Angel Locsin, Ella Colmenares. He alleged that Locsin’s sibling is working with the NPA in Quezon – something the actress has denied.
