Former Bayan Muna congressman Neri Colmenares strongly condemned the nationwide black propaganda and red-tagging operations being conducted by the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) against progressive partylists and candidates in the upcoming elections.
The former lawmaker’s statement follows reports from various regions showing coordinated distribution of materials red-tagging Bayan Muna and other Makabayan bloc candidates, in clear violation of COMELEC rules against black propaganda.
“This systematic red-tagging campaign using government resources is not only a blatant violation of election laws but also puts the lives of our candidates and supporters in danger,” Colmenares said. “The NTF-ELCAC is desperately trying to prevent progressive voices from gaining seats in Congress because they know these representatives will hold them accountable for their abuses.”
Bayan Muna documented evidence of the coordinated operations, and questioned the use of public funds for these illegal activities.
“Bakit takot na takot na manalo ang Bayan Muna? Bakit todo ang paninira kahit na bawal na ito ayon sa COMELEC?” Colmenares asked. “Gumagastos sila ng pera ng taumbayan para sa ganitong desperate tactics. Public funds ba yan? Galing sa intelligence funds?”
[Why are they so afraid of Bayan Muna winning? Why resort to black propaganda when COMELEC has explicitly prohibited this? They are spending people’s money on these desperate tactics. Are these public funds? Are they using intelligence funds?]
Colmenares called for a thorough investigation and documentation of all incidents across the country.
“We have seen enough pictures to know it is a nationally coordinated operation,” he added. “Dapat na ilantad ang NTF-ELCAC at ang mga iligal na gawain nito. Hindi hiwa-hiwalay o tingi-tingi na mga insidente ang nangyayari kundi koordinado. Kailangang malaman ng lahat na sinasayang nila ang pera ng bayan tulad ng ginawa ni VP Duterte. Hindi dapat magpaloko at magpasindak ang mamamayan dito at bagkus ay dapat silang papanagutin.
Makikita ang red tagging at black propagandang ito sa Kalinga,Nueva Ecija, Mandaue City, Carbon Market, Cebu City, Malolos City & Calumpit in Bulacan, San Fernando & Angeles in Pampanga, Lucena City, Quezon, Iloilo City, Antipolo City, Welcome Rotonda, QC, other parts of NCR, Laguna, Marasbaras,Tacloban City,Cotabato City, Lagao, General Santos, and Cagayan de Oro, at marami pang iba. It is all over the country and is obviousy coordinated,” Colmenares added.
[We must expose the NTF-ELCAC’s operations forcefully, not as isolated or piecemeal incidents.
The Bayan Muna nominee called on the COMELEC to take immediate action against these illegal operations and hold accountable those responsible for this flagrant abuse of government resources.
“The people’s right to freely choose their representatives is being undermined by a state agency using taxpayer money to conduct black operations. This is not just election fraud—it’s a direct attack on our democratic processes,” Colmenares concluded. #
