NATIONAL Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon dared the Makabayan bloc to show courage and face them in another Congressional hearing to show who are telling the truth in the red-tagging issue.
Esperon slammed the militant solons for their absence from the Senate hearing and stressed that it is very suspicious.
“At dahil sa hindi ninyo pagpunta sa hearing ng Senado ay nagkakaroon ako ng hinala na kaunti na lang ang gusto ninyo aminin kung sino talaga kayo. Kung hindi ninyo maamin okay lang sa amin,” Esperon said in a virtual press briefing.
According to the vice chairman of the National Task Force End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC), the Congressional hearing could be the best opportunity for both camps to clarify things about red-tagging.
“Eh lagi nyo sinasabi na fake news kami, Eh kayo hindi lang kayo fake news, no news pa kayo. No show pala. Eh anong mas mahirap? Yung no show o yung talagang gustong magpakita doon,” Esperon added.
The Makabayan bloc, composed of , Bayan Muna Reps. Carlos Isagani Zarate, Eufemia Cullamat and Ferdinand Gaite; Gabriela Rep. Arlene Brosas; ACT Teachers Rep. France Castro and Kabataan Rep. Sarah Jane Elago sent a letter to Senator Panfilo Lacson explaining the reason of their absence in the hearing and accused Esperon’s group of using this avenue to continue linking them to New People’s Army (NPA).
They were represented by Atty. Maneeka Asistol Sarza who said that the militant lawmakers attended a relief operation for the victims of Typhoon Rolly. They appealed to the Senate not to use this hearing to give the generals the chance to red-tag them as well as their supporters.
Esperon reiterated that the NTF-ELCAC never red-tagged the Makabayan solons stressing that the term itself came from the communist organization.
