Ibon denies channeling funds to NPA, says gov’t out to control economic analysis

Research group Ibon Foundation has denied being a conduit for funding of the New People's Army.

“The Duterte government’s accusations against IBON are baseless and aim to stifle economic analysis that is inconsistent with its preferred narrative of growth and development,” Ibon said in a statement.

Executive director Sonny Africa said the government attacking IBON was an attempt to stop the organization’s efforts on economic research and analysis.

Brigadier General Antonio Parlade Jr. has said that several organizations including Ibon were linked to "communist terrorist groups."

He also accused these organizations of funding terrorism.

Among those Parlade named were Ibon and the human rights group Karapatan.

“We are not funding terrorism,” Africa said during a press briefing.

He said Parlade had no evidence to prove that IBON foundation is funding communist armed groups.

Africa said that Ibon had written the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and National Security Council (NSC) to seek clarification on their statements.

Ibon officials met the representatives of the NSC last week to discuss the matter.

But, according to Africa, they were told, “Sumunod na lang kayo.”

“Meaning, sumunod na lang kayo sa Presidente. Medyo nabastusan kami doon. Napakalinaw ng aming sulat. Humihingi kami ng paliwanag. Pag-upo namin doon. Walang sinabing bago,” Africa said.

“In the end nag-file kami ng complaint sa Commission on Human Rights,” he also said.

In a press conference on Wednesday, Parlade also hit IBON Foundation over its report that President Rodrigo Duterte’s administration has the worst job generation since Ferdinand Marcos’ administration.

“Noong tsinek namin sa PSA (Philippine Statistics Authority) at saka sa DOLE (Department of Labor and Employment), napakalayo po hindi po iyan iyong accurate representation,’ Parlade said.

But according to Africa, they also obtained their information from the PSA and claimed that the figures that Parlade showed in the press conference are not accurate.

IBON Foundation executive editor Rosario Bella Guzman said that their information came from government sources and other institutions.

Guzman also said that their research designs are reviewed by research scholars for their methodological and sociological soundness.

“The one that’s being cited is an EU funded research which we did in Mindanao. It was reviewed by Mindanao State University for soundness and the results are validated,” Guzman said

“But accusing IBON of presenting the public fake data  by the Armed Forces of all entity without actively  verifying this, is we believe the lowest point of government,” Guzman added. —NB, GMA News