Armed Forces Chief Carlito Galvez’s claim that the Justice department has been infiltrated by communists for a supposed “Red October” uprising has surprised Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra.
“Personally, this is the first time I heard such allegation,” Guevarra said Friday.
“I will take it up directly with AFP [Armed Forces of the Philippines] Chief Galvez to get more info from him. We take this seriously,” he added.
The secretary made his statement after AFP Assistant Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations Brig. Gen. Antonio Parlade Jr. alleged the communists had infiltrated the Department of Justice and are helping in dismissing criminal complaints against the communist rebels.
Guevarra expressed confidence in his prosecutors’ handling of criminal complaints.
“Our prosecutors rely principally on the evidence submitted by our law enforcers and security personnel, including the AFP,” he said.
The military claims there are at least 18 schools where the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army is allegedly recruiting students as part of their plan to overthrow President Rodrigo Duterte.
In other developments:
• Senator Panfilo Lacson on Friday rebuked the military for releasing to the public the names of 18 schools in Metro Manila where the CPP is allegedly recruiting members for its ouster plot against the Duterte administration.
Senator Francis Escudero agreed with Lacson that any list that was “being validated” should not have been released to the public.
The schools were identified as University of the Philippines Diliman, UP Manila, Polytechnic University of the Philippines Sta. Mesa, Ateneo de Manila University, Dela Salle University, University of Santo Tomas, Adamson University, Far Eastern University, University of the East Recto and Caloocan, Emilio Aguinaldo College, Eulogio Rodriguez Institute of Science and Technology, San Beda University, Lyceum University, University of Makati, Caloocan City College, University of Manila and Philippine Normal University.
• The Federation of Free Workers expressed alarm over what it called a “baseless report” by the military that the communists had infiltrated the country’s leading educational institutions.
“Accusation appears to be making the military fall into the trap of communist psywar,” group president Sonny Matula said.
“The military is mouthing the communist propaganda that the insurgents forces are everywhere including in the academic institutions to show its sphere of influence.”
• The directors and producers of films about Ferdinand Marcos’ Martial Law on Friday denounced the AFP allegation that anti-Martial Law film screenings were grounds for recruiting students to the Communist Party of the Philippines.
In a press conference at the University of the Philippines Film Institute, the filmmakers, joined by artists, students, and teachers, read a joint statement to address what they called “red-baiting and slander.”
“This is red-baiting and slander of the worst kind. It impinges on our right to freedom of expression, speech, and assembly, and endangers us and our audience,” the filmmakers said in a statement.
• A concerned parent posted on social media a screenshot of her son’s school test paper that, she said, had a “disturbing content.”
The parent said it seemed inappropriate to use phrases like “policemen are abusive” and “policemen have pot bellies” in a school test on adjectives, especially for Grade 2 pupils who are still in their formative years. With Macon Ramos-Araneta and Vito Barcelo