THE Makabayan Bloc in Congress is composed of the ACT Teachers Partylist, Gabriela Women’s Party, and Kabataan Partylist.
This group of congressmen has long been accused of being operatives of the terrorist group CPP-NPA-NDF.
On Monday, ACT Teachers Rep. France Castro and former Bayan Muna Rep. Satur Ocampo were found guilty of child abuse for transporting 14 indigenous children from Talaingod, Davao del Norte to Maco, Davao de Oro in 2018.
This is a significant victory according to the spokesperson of the legal cooperation cluster of NTF-ELCAC.
When asked about Castro’s colleagues in Congress, one of those mentioned by Atty. James Clifford Santos was the Kabataan Partylist.
A petition to cancel this leftist partylist is still pending with the Comelec, as according to Atty. Santos, Kabataan has filed multiple motions that seem like delaying tactics.
However, he said, they are merely afraid of being fully exposed.
“The Kabataan Partylist is afraid of the Republic presenting evidence because we really have a strong roster of witnesses who will be testifying about what is happening with the partylists associated with the CPP-NPA-NDF. They are afraid to speak in the proper forum because it will be very damaging against them,” said Atty. James Clifford Santos, Spokesperson, NTF-ELCAC Legal Cooperation Cluster.
According to Atty. Marlon Bosantog, former official of NTF-ELCAC and now national coordinator of the IPRA Center, the evidence against the Kabataan Partylist is strong.
“There has been a plethora of evidence coming from testimonies of witnesses under oath, even during congressional and senate investigations, that the partylist nominees themselves were selected because they are high-ranking members and all nominees are high-ranking members of the CPP-NPA-NDF,” said Atty. Marlon Bosantog, National Coordinator, IPRA Center.
Bosantog also challenged the Kabataan Partylist to take legal action if it is untrue that they are part of the terrorist CPP-NPA-NDF, as testified by former cadres.
“That is my challenge to them. If you think that FRs (former rebels) like Alma Gabin, for example, founder of Anak ng Bayan, precursor of Kabataan Partylist, are lying, why don’t you file a case against them?” added Bosantog.
Meanwhile, for Dr. Lorraine Badoy, former spokesperson of NTF-ELCAC, the day has come for the state’s recognized enemies to feel the force of the law and to end the insurgency in the country.
“Their day has come. And it’s wonderful to hear this for a case like this to have happened. My faith in the judicial system is further strengthened. Because they had the audacity, they were the ones filing complaints, using this system, our judicial process. We welcome it with open arms. We embrace it,” said Dr. Lorraine Badoy, Former Spokesperson, NTF-ELCAC.
