Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said Wednesday there was nothing wrong if groups aligned with the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army would express their support to a political candidate or party participating in the May 9 elections.
But Guevarra warned that the Anti-Terrorism Council would step in if these groups would engage in violent and terrorist activities that would disrupt the electoral exercises.
“There’s nothing unlawful for any groups associated with the CPP/NPA to support any political party or individual in the forthcoming elections,” Guevarra said in a text message.
“It is when they commit acts of violence to sow terror and destabilize public order in the guise of exercising their political rights that will prompt the Anti-Terrorism Council to take action,” he added.
Guevarra made the statement after reports alleging that the camp of Vice President Leni Robredo, who is running for president, had coalesced with communist rebels. Robredo already denied this allegation.
Robredo early on denounced the efforts to link her to the CPP-NPA, describing the fake news as a ploy to stop what she called the momentum of her campaign.
In a Facebook post on Sunday, March 13, Robredo posted the screenshots of the malicious text blasts claiming she allegedly endorsed Joma Sison, founder of the CPP-NPA, as “a true patriot of the country” and that Sison had supposedly endorsed her presidential bid.
Robredo said she has been told that so many people have received these malicious text messages red-tagging her and her volunteers.
Robredo reiterated she did not believe in violence as a solution to problems and that she would oppose anyone who would use arms to push their agenda.
She said all her colleagues are aware of this, including those in the uniformed services who appeared to also be the target of this type of disinformation and propaganda.
Cavite Gov. Jesus Crispin Remulla earlier alleged that some of those who attended Robredo’s sortie in their province were either paid or members of the communist groups.
Even Senator Panfilo Lacson, who is also running for president, said that there were intelligence reports on the alleged presence of CPP-NPA at Robredo’s rally.
Last March 13, President Rodrigo Duterte said he received an intelligence report about an alleged conspiracy between communist insurgents and “yellow” forces to sow discord especially during the May 9 elections.
The ATC had designated the CPP, NPA, and the National Democratic Front as terrorist groups.