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Albayalde to Anakbayan: ‘Sabihin nila nasaan ‘yung mga anak’


Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Police General Oscar Albayalde on Thursday dared leftist group Anakbayan to answer the accusation of the mothers of some missing students, from various campuses in Metro Manila, who were allegedly recruited by the group.

Albayalde underscored that Anakbayan must tell the parents the whereabouts of the students who have gone missing for a long time, saying that the left-leaning group must not put the blame on security forces as regards the reason why the students went missing.

"Ito ang sinasabi ko, bakit hindi nila sagutin 'yung mga allegations o sinasabi ng mga magulang? Bakit kami ang sinasabi nila? Bakit kami ang may sala dito? Hindi po kami," Albayalde told reporters.

"Sagutin nila 'yung mga magulang, hindi 'yung sinasabi nila always in general, pakana na naman ito ng gobyerno, ng AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines) at saka PNP... bakit di nila sagutin isa-isa 'yung sinasabi ng mga magulang kahapon? 'Yun ang challenge natin sa kanila, sagutin nila at sabihin nila nasaan 'yung mga anak ng magulang na umiiyak at nagdadalamhati?" he added.

On Wednesday, mothers of the missing students had gone emotional before a Senate inquiry as they recounted how their children were supposedly recruited by the Anakbayan. They also narrated how the recruitment supposedly affected the attitude of the students.

The PNP chief feared that the students are now in the mountains joining communist rebels.

"Ang kinakatakot natin dito, baka ito ay nasa bundok na, baka madamay ito sa sinasabi na naman na sa engkwentro between AFP-PNP and the rebels... sasabihin na naman nila it's a human rights violation," Albayalde said.

According to Albayalde, charges have already been filed against those who were identified by mother Relissa Lucena who had recruited her child: "Yes, as of August 1 we have filed charges against those who were identified."

'Not missing'

But in a Facebook post, Lucena's daughter said she is not missing and confirmed that she indeed joined Anakbayan.

"Gusto kong makita ang kahalagahan ko sa pamilya ko at sa lipunan. And so I joined Anakbayan. Siguro, sasabihin ng iba na kabaliwan na sa aktibismo ko yo’n hinanap. Pero simula nang sumali ako sa org, nahanap ko yung sarili ko bilang parte ng lipunan at hindi hiwalay dito. Nakita ko ang sarili ko sa bawat masa na hindi pinakinggan ang kanilang mga kahilingan. At hindi ko talaga kayang manahimik sa panahon ng kanilang ligalig, knowing the feeling of being oppressed," the daughter said.

Asked if the PNP would deploy additional cops in schools and universities to avoid recruitment of left-leaning groups, Albayalde said he already asked Senator Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa to review the agreement between authorities and the campuses as some institutions, according to him, do not want uniformed personnel in their vicinities.

"Isa 'yon, actually ginagawa na natin 'yan. But you know, some of these campuses they don't like uniformed personnel," Albayalde said.

"It's as if they have autonomy and I've already asked the good senator to review the memorandum of understanding and memorandum of agreement between DND (Department of National Defense) and UP (University of the Philippines)," he added.

Anakbayan, for its part, said President Rodrigo Duterte, the security forces and the Senate are faking concern for the welfare of the youth.

Anakbayan spokesperson Alex Danday called the filing of the complaint a "desperate" move by Duterte, with the help of the security forces and the Senate, to discredit activism.

"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," Danday said on Wednesday.

Danday said participation in Anakbayan is voluntary, claiming many Filipino youth join Anakbayan over various issues, including poverty, sovereignty, and killings. — RSJ, GMA News

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