Anti-communist tarps, posters taken down in Cavite

The Philippine National Police in Cavite took responsibility for the anticommunist tarpaulins displayed in some areas in the province, which Gov. Juanito Victor “Jonvic” Remulla ordered taken down a day after his heated exchange with a military official.

Remulla on Tuesday ordered the posters hung at Bacoor City police station removed, while his office continued to receive reports of the same propaganda material seen in Silang, Maragondon and Ternate towns.

In a series of tweets on Tuesday, Remulla said the rift between him and Lt. Gen. Antonio Parlade Jr., head of the military’s Southern Luzon Command, had been settled with a phone call from the Army officer.

The governor, however, maintained his position on the military’s Red-tagging. “Cavite is an insurgency-free province so no need for unnecessary propaganda. Focus should be on pandemic efforts, economic recovery, education, connectivity, etc.,” he said.

Parlade is also spokesperson for the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict, which drew criticisms for branding outspoken celebrities as leftist supporters or communist sympathizers.

‘Better phrasing’

In a phone interview, Col. Marlon Santos, Cavite police director, said the tarpaulins bearing the logos of the Communist Party of the Philippines, New People’s Army and National Democratic Front of the Philippines (CPP-NPA-NDFP) and labeled “Hari ng Terorismo! Dakilang Manloloko!” (King of Terrorism! Great Fraud!) were the initiatives of local police stations.

“We’d just replace them with a better phrasing,” Santos said. “I mean, even with the text, why would you even flaunt very large logos (of the CPP-NPA-NDFP) in a government office or a police station?”

He said he realized the posters might “arouse curiosity,” especially among the youth, about communism.

—Maricar Cinco