High survey ranking may lead to more red-tagging — Bayan Muna

MANILA, Philippines — Bayan Muna party-list has expressed fear that red-tagging and attacks against the group would intensify following its high survey ranking in the latest Pulse Asia survey.

Bayan Muna Rep. Carlos Zarate said they welcome the Pulse Asia survey showing they are the most preferred group in the upcoming polls , although they understand its implications.

“We are glad that many people recognize the hard work of Bayan Muna in fighting for higher wages, pension and benefits as well as doing all it can to stop power, oil and water rate hikes,” Zarate said in a statement on Thursday.

“We know that this survey would also mean that anti-democratic elements in the AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines), the PNP (Philippine National Police) and other similar groups would intensify their red-tagging and attacks against Bayan Muna,  the rest of the Makabayan bloc and senatoriable Neri Colmenares,” he added.

Recently, the group has been tagged by the military as one of the legal fronts of the Communist Party of the Philippines, New People’s Army, and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (CPP-NPA-NDFP), along with other party-lists in the Makabayan bloc.

Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) deputy chief for civil military operations Brig. Gen. Antonio Parlade Jr. also claims the military has truckloads of evidence against the group.

READ: AFP Deputy Chief of Staff for Civil Military Operations reacts to Bayan Muna Party-list Rep. Zarate

READ:  Parlade targeting Makabayan bloc to win AFP top post— Zarate

Despite the accusations, survey results released earlier have showed that Bayan Muna is leading in the party-list race with 8.50 percent voter preference, followed by Magsasaka (6.45 percent), Gabriela (6.04 percent), Ako Bicol (4.72 percent), and A Teacher (4.58 percent).

READ: Pulse Asia survey says Bayan Muna is most preferred party-list group

Meanwhile, Zarate reminded their supporters not to relax on the campaign trail, especially with just less than a month to go before the elections.

“Maraming, maraming salamat po sa mga susmusuporta sa Bayan Muna at sana ay magtuloy-tuloy po ang suportang ito hanggang sa eleksyon at maging sa pagkatapos nito,” he said.

“Sa mga kampanyador, supporters  ng Bayan Muna, hindi tayo dapat maging kampante dahil sa sarbey na ito. Dapat ay lalo pa nating paigtingin ang pangangampanya at tiyaking makaboto ang ating mga supporters at mabantayan ang mga boto para hindi tayo madaya,” he added. /muf