The Commission on Elections (COMELEC) has announced it will proceed with hearings on a disqualification case filed by the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) against Kabataan Partylist, reigniting tensions between the youth sector and the Marcos Jr. administration.
The notice, released on October 16, confirms that the petition seeks to remove Kabataan Partylist from Congress, alleging links to communist organizations—a claim the group has repeatedly denied.
Kabataan Partylist Representative and Assistant Minority Leader Atty. Renee Co condemned the move, calling it a “clear directive from Malacañang.”
“Malinaw na utos ito ng Malacanang. Iniisa-isa nila ang mga kabataan, sa lansangan man o sa Kongreso, na matapang na nagpapanagot sa lahat ng sangkot, kasama si Marcos mismo na nasa tuktok ng korap na sistema,” Co said in a press briefing Tuesday.
She criticized the use of public funds for what she described as “fabricated cases, subpoenas, surveillance, red-tagging, and other operations” by NTF-ELCAC.
“Sayang ang pondo ng bayan sa mga gawa-gawang kaso, subpoena, surveillance, redtagging at iba pang operasyon ng NTF-ELCAC laban sa ordinaryong mamamayan. Dapat buwagin na ang NTF-ELCAC, protektor ng korap!” Co added.
The disqualification case against Kabataan is not isolated. Co revealed that NTF-ELCAC is also pushing for a separate petition to disqualify Gabriela Women’s Party, another progressive bloc in Congress.
“Unang tinira nila ang mga maralita, sunod mga estudyante, ngayon mga mambabatas. Hindi sila titigil hanggang matanggal ang oposisyon,” ani ni Rep. Co, laluna tinutulak din ng NTF-ELCAC ang hiwalay pang disqualificatiob case para ipatanggal ang Gabriela Women’s Party sa Kongreso,” she warned.
Co likened the current political climate to the dark days of dictatorship.
“History is repeating itself. Kapag di na nila kayang i-daan sa panloloko ang krisis at galit ng masa, kakapit uli sila sa diktadura,” Co said.
In a fiery call to action, Co urged young Filipinos to resist what she called a systematic attempt to erase dissent.
“Dapat tanggalin ang mga kawatan, hindi ang boses ng kabataan. We call on the youth to fight back! Magkapit-bisig tayo sa masang anakpawis at magpalaki pa ng protesta. Babaguhin natin ang bulok na sistema. Laban, kabataan, para sa bayan, para sa ating kinabukasan!”
Kabataan Partylist has vowed to contest the petition and mobilize public support. (ZIA LUNA)
