‘Judicial affidavits’ to damn Makabayan Bloc– Parlade

SOUTHERN Luzon commanding general, Lt. General Antonio ‘Jun’ Parlade bared the government is now in possession of more than 500 pieces of “judicial affidavits” executed by former cadres and leaders of the Communist Party of the Philippines and its terrorist wing, the New People’s Army (CPP-NPA), of which some can establish the direct link to these terrorist groups of the officials of the ‘Makabayan Bloc’ who are now members of Congress.

In a talk with Pinoy Exposé, Parlade said presently in the government’s hands are the judicial affidavits of 120 former CPP-NPA members and leaders in his “AOR” (area of responsibility), 123 judicial affidavits from former CPP-NPA members in Iloilo and 278 more judicial affidavits from former CPP-NPA members in Capiz, also in the island of Panay.

“And there also those coming from Mindanao,” he added.

Prior to this, Armed Forces chief of staff, Gen. Gilbert Gapay, announced that the AFP is now also looking at “legal recourse” in going after the leaders and members of the Makabayan Bloc for their direct connection to the activities of the CPP-NPA.

It should be further noted that for the longest time, known members and leaders of the Makabayan Bloc had been taunting the government and the military to “present evidence” to substantiate their claim that the group are front organizations of the CPP-NPA and file the appropriate charges in court.

And that barring such evidence, the government and the military had better shut up.

For the longest time too, the Makabayan Bloc had been claiming that accusations linking them to the two terrorist organizations (CPP-NPA) is just part of a bigger government plan to stifle legitimate dissent, justify human rights violations and expose them to assassinations in order to perpetuate a “fascist regime” by all administrations, past and present.

But according to Parlade, the affidavits now in their possession would be able to give a “detailed account” as to where and when these so-called ‘rebel returnees’ had mingled with the leaders of the Makabayan Bloc, thus giving evidence to the group’s direct link to the CPP-NPA.

“And not only affidavits, there are also pictures of them (returnees) in the company of the Makabayan Bloc,” the official added.

Presently in the 18^TH Congress, the Makabayan Bloc is composed of the following:

Rep. Carlos Zarate, Rep. Eufemia Cullamat and, Rep. Ferdinand Gaite, Bayan Muna; Rep. Sarah Elago, Kabataan; Rep. France Castro, ACT-Teachers; and, Rep. Arlene Brosas, Gabriela.

Parlade also expressed confidence that once presented with the “evidence” of the Makabayan Bloc’s culpability, House Speaker Lord Allan Velasco would “take action” to investigate the group, despite their being his fellow lawmakers and among his supporters in the Lower House.

He said the presentation to Velasco and other House leaders would be done by the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC), where he also acts as the spokesman.

“We are confident that once presented with the evidence, Speaker Velasco would take action,” Parlade said.

Velasco last October 27, 2020, cautioned Parlade from accusing the Makabayan Bloc of having links with the CPP-NPA.

In a statement at the time, Velasco said, “General Parlade should be more circumspect and cautious in issuing statements against House members whose lives he may place at great risk and danger sans strong evidence…

“[T]hese lawmakers are duly elected representatives of the people, and implicating them on issues that have yet to be substantiated is uncalled for.”

But with recent developments, especially the result of the Senate hearings conducted on the issue of red-tagging that was concluded last December 8, 2020, Parlade said they are now confident that Speaker Velasco would form another opinion about the issue.