The commander of the Western Command (WESCOM) is supporting calls for the cancellation of the registration of the party-list groups with alleged links to the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army (CPP-NPA).
“We really agree in declaring these party-lists as supporters ng CPP-NPA. Payag kami for that na [ma-cancel ang registration] nila,” Vice Admiral Rene Medina said.
“Instead na sa gobyerno sila mag-suporta, doon sila sa kabila. Kaya we are very supportive for red tagging of these party-list [sic],” Medina added.
On April 26, a petition was filed by Angela Aguilar before the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) to cancel the registration of progressive party-list groups supposedly linked to the rebel movement.
The party-list groups were identified as the Makabayang Koalisyon ng Mamamayan (MAKABAYAN), Bayan Muna, Anak Pawis, Kabataan, Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) and General Assembly Binding Women for Reforms, Integrity, Equality, Leadership, Action (GABRIELA) and senatorial aspirant Neri Colmenares as the lone individual respondent.
Aguilar, secretary general of the Kababaihang Maralita, claimed
that she has a personal knowledge that Makabayan party-list groups, Colmenares and other groups are connected with the NPA as she was once a CPP “kadre” and ACT member.
In her petition, Aguilar cited the COMELEC’s motu propio powers under Republic Act 7941 or Party-List System Act’s Section 6, Paragraphs 2 and 5 as reference which allows the Comelec to cancel the registration of any groups that “advocates violence or unlawful means to seek its goal” and “violates or fails to comply with laws, rules or regulations relating to elections.”
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