Camarines Sur Rep. Leni Robredo and Sen. Francis Escudero. CDN and INQUIRER FILE PHOTOS
MANILA, Philippines — Senatorial candidate Francis “Chiz” Escudero dubbed as “far-fetched and incredulous” allegations that Vice President Leni Robredo has forged an alliance with communist rebels.
Escudero said that while he and Robredo may have a different stance regarding the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC), he does not believe the Vice President has aligned herself with the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army-National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF).
“I am in favor of the retention of the NTF-ELCAC… and [Robredo] may have a different position but I find the allegation that she herself has entered into an alliance/agreement [with] the CPP-NPA-NDF both far-fetched and incredulous, to say the least,” Escudero said in a tweet.
I am in favor of the retention of the NTF-ELCAC & BDP & @lenirobredo may have a different position but I find the allegation that she hersef has entered into an alliance/agreement w/ the CPP-NPA-NDF both far-fetched & incredulous, to say the least… 💗 pic.twitter.com/n1cj6W4OPe
— Chiz Escudero (@SayChiz) March 15, 2022
President Rodrigo Duterte earlier claimed that he had received an intelligence report about a supposed conspiracy between communist insurgents, “yellow” forces, and another unspecified group to sow discord, especially this coming election.
Prior to this, presidential candidate Panfilo Lacson cautioned Robredo about a possible “communist infiltration” in her campaign and urged her team “to take appropriate action” against it.
The NTF-ELCAC, meanwhile, lambasted Robredo’s camp, telling them to stop insulting Filipinos by denying a deal with the CPP-NPA-NDF.
Robredo, however, has since denied the allegations.
Allies of the Vice President have also denied the allegations, with senatorial candidate Antonio Trillanes challenging Duterte and Lacson to name the communists who are allegedly part of Robredo’s campaign team.