CIDG complaint a desperate move to discredit activism — Anakbayan

The complaint filed by the Philippine National Police's Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) against Anakbayan on Wednesday over a missing student is a desperate move to discredit activism, the youth mass organization said.

“Desperate moves ito ni Duterte kasama ang militar at senado para i-discredit ang aktibismo, siraan ang paglaban ng mamamayan sa gitna ng tumitinding kalagayan ng bansa,” Anakbayan spokesperson Alex Danday told GMA News Online via text message.

Anakbayan also said that President Rodrigo Duterte, the Armed Force of the Philippines (AFP), and the Senate are faking concern for the welfare of the youth.

Danday noted that the participation in Anakbayan is voluntary.

“Meron mang Anakbayan o wala, nagiging radikal ang mga kabataan dahil sa kasalukuyang ginagawa ng administrasyon ni Duterte,” Danday said.

She also said that many young people have been prompted to join Anakbayan over several issues, including poverty, sovereignty, and killings.

The CIDG complaint filed against members of Anakbayan alleges that the group recruited a "missing" senior high school student.

Respondents were Charie del Rosario, Bianca Gacos, Jayroven Villafuente Balais, Anakbayan national president Vencer Crisostomo and Anakbayan secretary general Einsten Recedes.

The complaint accuses them of kidnapping and of violating the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2003; the Special Protection of Children Against Child Abuse, Exploitation, and Discrimination Act; and the Philippine Act on Crimes Against International Humanitarian Law, Genocide, and Other Crimes Against Humanity.

The student has said in a Facebook post that while she has become a member of Anakbayan, she is not missing. — BM, GMA News