Militant lawmaker accuses Arroyo ally of fomenting military unrest

MANILA, Philippines—A militant member of the House of Representatives  is accusing avid followers of former president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo on Tuesday of fomenting unrest in the military by depicting President Benigno Aquino as anti-military and pro-communist.

Bayan Muna Representative Teodoro Casiño pointed to Norberto Gonzalez, former national security adviser and defense secretary of Arroyo, as one of the main agitators a day after Senator Antonio Trillanes IV claimed that ex-military officers were recruiting active soldiers to their cause to oust Aquino.

“All these rumors about Joma Sison coming home and being offered a Cabinet post, and of the Communist Party entering into an alliance with the Aquino government and eventually taking over power all come from the same source—the Arroyo camp. They are sowing these rumors so that the military would withdraw support from Aquino, attack activists and sabotage the peace talks,” Casiño said in a statement.

“During Arroyo’s regime it was Norberto Gonzalez who was the most active in this type of psy-war operations and reliable sources tell us that he is at it again. It was proven that he was wrong then, he may yet eat his words again,” said Casiño

Casiño said part of the Arroyo camp’s propaganda was the alleged return of communist leader Jose Ma. Sison to take a Cabinet post and his alleged inclusion on the Liberal Party 2013 senatorial slate as part of the concessions to the National Democratic Front.

“She (Arroyo) is trying to launch a propaganda offensive so that she can attack her critics and consolidate her right wing followers,” said Casiño.