Zarate clarifies: NTF-ELCAC is witch hunting, not Lacson's Senate panel | Inquirer News

Zarate clarifies: NTF-ELCAC is witch hunting, not Lacson’s Senate panel

/ 05:01 PM December 02, 2020

Bayan Muna Rep. Zarate

Bayan Muna Rep. Carlos Isagani Zarate. INQUIRER.net file photo / Noy Morcoso

MANILA, Philippines — Bayan Muna Rep. Carlos Zarate on Wednesday said he did not accuse the Senate or its defense committee of engaging in “witch-hunting” during its investigation into the issue of red-tagging.

“I did not refer to the Senate and the Senate committee led by Sen. Ping Lacson as engaged in witch-hunting,” Zarate said in a statement.

Article continues after this advertisement

“I was clearly referring to the NTF-ELCAC (National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict) and the security sector,” he added.

FEATURED STORIES

This, after Lacson, who led the inquiry as chair of the Senate defense committee, hit the Makabayan bloc over Zarate’s remark that the Senate defense committee hearing “has been reduced to a venue for witch-hunting.”

But Zarate said he and his colleagues in the Makabayan bloc acknowledged the efforts of Lacson and the committee for giving them an opportunity “to highlight the plight of the victims, to state our position and vehement objections on the red-tagging and terrorist-tagging issue.”

Article continues after this advertisement

“We pointed out, though, that the Senate hearings were being used by the NTF-ELCAC as a platform to further vilify us with sweeping and baseless accusations, false statements, and malicious innuendos,” he said.

Article continues after this advertisement

In a Nov. 30 letter informing Lacson that he and Kabataan Rep. Sarah Elago would skip Tuesday’s resumption of the investigation to attend to their duties as House lawmakers, Zarate said that the hearing is supposedly being used by NTF-ELCAC to “vilify” them.

Article continues after this advertisement

“As it is, instead of looking at the deadly effects of red-tagging and terrorist-tagging especially on its victims, the Senate hearings are being used by the NTF- ELCAC as a platform to further vilify us with sweeping and baseless accusations, false statements and malicious innuendos,” the letter read.

“The Senate hearing has been reduced to a venue for witch-hunting. We hope that this travesty will no longer be allowed and will be stopped,” he added.

JPV
Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again.
Your subscription has been successful.

Subscribe to our daily newsletter

By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.

TAGS: Nation, News

Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again.
Your subscription has been successful.

Subscribe to our newsletter!

By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.

© Copyright 1997-2024 INQUIRER.net | All Rights Reserved

This is an information message

We use cookies to enhance your experience. By continuing, you agree to our use of cookies. Learn more here.