FILE PHOTO: The plenary hall of the House of Representatives. (Philippine Daily Inquirer)
MANILA, Philippines — The Makabayan bloc urged the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to look into the alleged involvement of uniformed personnel in spreading black propaganda against progressive party-list groups and two senatorial bets.
Makabayan called on the Comelec to hold accountable personnel of the Philippine National Police and the Armed Forces of the Philippines who engaged in partisan political activity.
“We implore the Comelec to make the necessary investigation for many violations of the election code, uniformed personnel systematically engaging in partisan political activity, falsification of documents among others and make those responsible accountable,” the bloc said.
In a statement on Monday, the House of Representatives’ Makabayan bloc denounced the spread of text and social media blasts and printed materials slandering party-list groups and their supported candidates.
“We strongly condemn the lies and black propaganda of these individuals and groups connected to the AFP, PNP, and the National Task Force to End the Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-Elcac) as well as the machinery of administration candidates,” Makabayan stressed and urged the public not to give credence to the claims against the party-list groups and senatorial candidates Neri Colmenares and Elmer Labog.
They cited a text blast allegedly from an AFP official in Pagadian City campaigning against the Makabayan bloc and its supported senatorial candidates, including Colmenares and Labog.
“It is clear that the military and the police should not engage in partisan activities but they continue to commit violations,” they claimed, adding that blatant violations were emboldened by President Rodrigo Duterte’s and his agency’s open dislike toward progressive party list groups.
Bayan Muna Rep. Ferdinand Gaite noted that many social media accounts linked to the NTF-Elcac started appearing on May 7.
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