Colmenares questions credibility of gov't witness in Senate red-tagging probe

Bayan Muna chairperson Neri Colmenares on Tuesday questioned the credibility of the security sector's "star witness" who linked Makabayan bloc representatives to the Communist Party of the Philippines.

Colmenares said the military's allegations against militant groups were baseless and merely dependent on testimonies made by witnesses like Jeffrey Celiz, who claims to be a former member of the New People's Army, the armed wing of the CPP.

A former lawmaker, Colmenares denied several allegations made by Celiz, including the claim that Makabayan bloc representatives are "hardcore" CPP cadres. 

"Sinabi niya rin may personal knowledge siya na ang Bayan Muna ay fronts ng CPP pero wala siyang patunay na inilabas," Colmenares said, referring to Celiz.

Colmenares mentioned the fact that Celiz was included in President Rodrigo Duterte's narco list in 2016, and that while the witness claims it was just part of a "government project," he sees another angle.

"Ang interpretasyon namin, Mr. Chair, hindi siya asset. Tingin namin nagsisinungaling siya na asset siya... Talagang na-involve siya sa drug list dahil may basis ang Presidente doon sa pag-involve niya sa drug list," he said.

"Pagkatapos niyang na-involve doon, saka siya na lang siya pumunta sa military at nagsabing puwede ba proteksyunan niyo ako sa tokhang pero magte-testify ako kung sino ang gusto ninyong i-testify ko. That is our interpretation and it's up for the Senate to interpret that," he added.

Human rights lawyer Jobert Pahilga also denounced Celiz's "malicious and baseless" accusations against him, and denied that he was a recruiter for the NPA.

Pahilga asked the Senate committee not to take Celiz's testimonies at face value as he also questioned the latter's credibility.

Celiz worked at the city government of Iloilo from 2010 to 2016, according to Pahilga, who is not convinced that the witness was part of the NPA National Operational Command.

"Ang katotohanan po, si Mr. Celiz ay nawala sa Iloilo nung pinangalanan siya ni Pres. Duterte nung August 2016 na isang drug personality," Pahilga said.

"Si Mr. Celiz, sa tingin ko po ay natakot mabiktima ng tokhang o kaya mabiktima ng drug war kaya po siya nawala at nagresurface bilang star witness ng NTF-ELCAC. Dapat po natin suriiin ang mga pinagsasabi ni Mr. Celiz," he added.

Celiz was among the witnesses presented by the security sector during the Senate probe last November 3.

In a separate press briefing, Celiz, also known as Ka Eric, said he decided to return to the fold of the law because his conscience could not take destroying the lives of his fellow Filipinos.

'Konsensya'

"Unang una po, kapag nakikita mo sa aktuwal na karanasan na ang pinapatay kapwa Pilipino, ang sinisira mo kapwa bayan mo, kapwa kababayan mo... ang nirerecruit mo kapwa kabataan mo noon na nasisira ang kinabukasan. Hindi po malayo na talagang babalikan ka ng konsensya mo at sisingilin ka," Celiz said.

"Our conscience will always catch up with us because it is our fellow Filipinos na siyang sinisira namin, winawasak ang buhay..." he added.

Celiz said social problems could be solved through peaceful dialogues and not by armed revolution.

"Napagtanto po naming lahat na ang aming sinisira ay sariling bayan natin. Hindi na po katanggap-tanggap ang armadong pakikibaka kung ang iyong binabagsak ay sariling gobyerno at ang iyong winawasak ay mamamayang Pilipino," he said.

Celiz also believes that the communist group would not succeed in their agenda.

"Malabo po, hindi sila magtatagumpay dahil hindi iyan kultura ng mamamayan," he said.

Colmenares believes that the state security forces' red-tagging is part of their plan to proscribe militant groups as terrorists under the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020.

"Di sila magpa-file sa korte pero gusto nilang mag-red-tag. Red-tag para ang publiko ay magsasabing terorista, komunista nga 'yan," he said.

"Ang ipa-file nila actually is proscription and designation under the terror law. Bakit? Mas madali kasi 'yan eh. Designation is only probable cause," he added.

The security sector and their witnesses will be given an opportunity to give their responses in the latter part of the hearing. — with Anna Felicia Bajo/KBK/BM, GMA News