Former representative and Bayan Muna Chairman Neri Colmenares. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO / NINO JESUS ORBETA
MANILA, Philippines — Bayan Muna chair and senatorial candidate Neri Colmenares said on Tuesday moving up in the survey rankings proves that the administration’s black propaganda against him and the rest of the Makabayan bloc has no bearing.
According to Colmenares, who ranked in 21st (19-23) in the latest Pulse Asia survey, the increasing approval and awareness indicate that the efforts of the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) were futile.
“The survey also proves the failure of the PNP’s and AFP’s black propaganda against me and the Makabayan bloc because more people are seeing that I walk the talk and would deliver on my promises to fight for the betterment of the majority of our people,” he said in a message to reporters.
READ: Poe still leads senatorial survey; Bong Go barges into 3rd place
The PNP and AFP have continuously traded barbs with left-leaning organizations regarding several issues. In 2018, Makabayan lawmakers questioned former AFP Chief of Staff Carlito Galvez Jr. after an army lieutenant was caught on video advocating for the destruction of Salugpungan schools in Bukidnon.
AFP officials claimed that the schools were being used as training grounds for future members of the New Peoples’ Army, the communist revolutionary armed movement that is part of the Communist Party of the Philippines.
READ: AFP chief defends Army commander in controversial video
Makabayan bloc also criticized the government forces for the arrest of ACT Rep. France Castro and former Bayan Muna Rep. Satur Ocampo, who allegedly tried to kidnap indigenous people from Davao del Norte. They also called out the PNP for profiling public school teachers who are members of ACT party-list.
READ: House Makabayan bloc to PNP: Stop profiling, red-baiting or face raps
Big improvement
Colmenares noted that the improvement is big for them, especially since they have less to spend for the campaign advertisements.
“Considering that we have very minimal ads and almost all those ahead of me and those behind my rank in the survey already have TV ads, it’s really great that we moved to the 19th-23rd spot,” he explained.
“This means that our hard work paid off and I thank my team for this […] Now the challenge is for us to double and even triple our hard work to ensure a Senate seat,” he added.
In Pulse Asia’s June 2018 nationwide survey, Colmenares placed 32nd, well outside of the Magic 12. But in the January 2019 survey, he ranked 26th, before jumping five spots for February. /jpv