Ex-rebel's claims vs. House bloc lack personal knowledge —Colmenares

Former Bayan Muna representative Neri Colmenares on Sunday expressed doubts over the claims of a supposed ex-New People’s Army member that some groups in Congress are part of the Communist Party of the Philippines.

Interviewed on Dobol B sa News TV, Colmenares pointed out that Jeffrey Celiz lacks personal knowledge to make his accusations substantial.

"Personal knowledge ang hinahanap diyan sa ebidensya mo kasi madali lang naman sabihin na ‘’Yan, ‘yan siya (NPA).’ Paano mo nalaman? Nag-meeting ba kayo? Saan? Kailan?” Colmenares said, adding, "...May problema tayo dyan.”

According to Colmenares, Celiz should just file a case before a court if he really has enough evidence to prove his allegations.

Members of the Makabayan bloc in the House of Representatives on Tuesday skipped a Senate committee's hearing on the alleged red-tagging by the military and also encouraged them to just file a case against their groups.

“For years na 'yan e, the same allegation, the same answer namin ... paulit-ulit,” Colmenares said.

“In the end, sabi namin kung talagang insistent kayo, kasi hindi totoo 'yan, ... kung talagang tingin niyo totoo 'yan, may ebidensya kayo, bakit hindi kayo magsampa ng kaso sa korte,” he added.

Colmenares, who is also the chairperson of National Union of Peoples Lawyers (NUPL), said they prefer taking the matter to court instead of discussing it in a public debate, where allegations can be made without evidence.

In a separate interview, Celiz, who claimed working with the NPA-National Operation Command for seven years, called for the disqualification of these groups in Congress.

“Ipinapanawagan natin ang disqualification and pagbabasura ng participation ng CPP party-lists sa loob ng Kongreso kasi nasasayang ang ating pondo ,” he said.  —LBG, GMA News