Former members of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army-National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF) dropped bombshells on the so-called “KABAG” party-list bloc in the House of Representative with their revelation that all of its nominees are diehard operatives of the Communist Terrorists Groups (CTGs).
Some 13 former communist rebels revealed this at the weekly press conference of the National Task Force to End Local Communists Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) at the National Press Club.
They were one in saying the “KABAG” bloc—an acronym for the Kabataan, Anakpawis, Bayan Muna, Act-Teachers, and Gabriela party-list organizations—was created by the Central Committee of the CPP-NPA-NDF headed by Jose Maria Sison to be their so-called “legal fronts.”
According to Jeffrey Celiz alias Ka Eric, they were all recruited using the same formula, “first, as an activist” by way of the legal fronts created by the CPP-NPA-NDF, “and eventually as NPA fighters.”
Celiz, who back in 1987 was a member of Partido ng Bayan, said he has personal and intimate knowledge on how the CPP-NPA-NDF found a way to infiltrate the government through the party-list system, fielding first Bayan Muna that played a part in toppling the presidency of Joseph Estrada.
It was during this time that Celiz claimed to become close with other CTG leaders such as Teddy Casiño, Satur Ocampo and Neri Colmenares.
Jade Cinco, alias Ka JR from Samar, explained that he started in 2015 as a recruit of Kabataan Partylist and became its Secretary General after a couple of years.
He, too, became a recruiter for the communist movement and persuaded young students, farmers, teachers and even mothers to join the CTGs.
Cinco said that he personally knows Sarah Jane Elago and Neri Colmenares, as he had coordinated with them during assembly meetings to prepare for elections.
“Di ito red-tagging. Si Elago nagsabi, kayong mga taga-Samar, Region 8 pumunta na kayo sa kanayunan at humawak ng baril. Dapat magrecruit pa tayo sa armadong pakikibaka,” Cinco said, quoting Elago.
He added that she saw Colmenares gave an envelope full of money toLuna Sevilla for their group’s activities.
Alma Gabin alias Ka Janel, the former 3rd highest ranking official of Eastern Visayas, talked on how the selection process on who would be the nominees of any of the KABAG party-lists, and how the hierarchy of the CPP-NPA-NDF established strategic alliances with national and local candidates.
“There is a national electoral committee and regional electoral committee that discuss the nomination (for the party-list nominees).
There is the National United Front Committee that talks to the candidates,” Gabin explained.
Lady Desiree Miranda, alias Ka Shane, said she was recruited when she was only 14 years old to join Anakbayan by a University of the Philippines student who was already an NPA.
She later joined the Kabataan Partylist and personally witnessed how its nominees were elected, from Raymond Palatino to Terry Ridon.
“In 2012, Kabataan was able to build the Central Luzon Youth Development Center that was used to house young recruits who will be trained to become NPAs later,” she added.
“Tama na ang inyong pagpapanggap na wala kayong koneksiyon sa CPP-NPA-NDF. Di kami magsasakripisyo ng ganito, kargo ng aming mga konsensiya ang patuloy na pagkamatay ng mga kabataan kapag may nauulilang mga magulang,” Miranda said.
All 13 of them, two of whom joined the presscon virtually, warned voters to watch out for the deceitful tactics of the CPP-NPA-NDF through their legal fronts, the KABAG bloc in Congress.
They said the CTG’s ultimate purpose is to topple any administration and to install a communist form of government.
They also warned national and local candidates against forming alliances with the KABAG bloc, which they also described as the “Kamatayan Bloc” for being instrumental in causing the deaths of tens
of thousands of soldiers, policemen and civilians, explaining that its members are core organizations of the CPP-NPA-NDF.
They all vowed they will help the government, especially the NTF-Elcac, in bringing to justice all the people behind these legal fronts of the CPP-NPA-NDF, and to stop them from continuing
exploiting, deceiving, and destroying families and communities through their deceptive propaganda.
They added they are prepared to stand as witnesses to the criminal cases the government has filed and will be filing against the members of the KABAG bloc, likening them to an illness to society.
When asked how they are going to prove their revelations, the former rebels said their testimonies based on their personal experiences with the CTGs are their proof, plus they have documents and photographs showing the participation of the KABAG bloc leaders.
For his part, Associate Provincial Prosecutor Flosemer Chris Gonzales, Acting NTF-ELCAC Spokesperson on Legal Affairs, said the government will fully abide by the law and due process in the filing of cases against the members of the KABAG bloc.