Lorenzana says linking Makabayan Bloc to Reds now has basis

Linking the progressive group Makabayan Bloc to the communist group already has basis following the killing of the daughter of Bayan Muna Representative Eufemia Campos Cullamat in an encounter with troops, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said on Monday. 

"Actually dahil sa nangyari ngayon, anak pa ng congresswoman na Makabayan 'yung namatay... 'yung red-tagging namin ay may basis ano. May basis na sila ay sumusuporta, 'yung Makabayan, sinusuportahan nila itong CPP-NPA (Communist Party of the Philippines-New People's Army) at saka 'yung tinatawag na armed struggle ng NPA," Lorenzana said in an ambush interview. 

GMA News Online has already contacted the Makabayan bloc for comment.

However, at a Senate hearing last Tuesday, Bayan Muna party-list Representative Carlos Zarate denied being a member of the Communist Party of the Philippines as he denounced the military's red-tagging of the Makabayan bloc in the House of Representatives.

Jevilyn Campos Cullamat was killed in a 45-minute gun battle in Barangay San Isidro in Marihatag last November 28. 

She was reported to have served as a medic of the NPA. 

The military said five high-powered firearms, explosives, and other documents and paraphernalia of the communist group were recovered after the encounter. 

Meanwhile, after photos of Jevilyn's lifeless body ended up on some media outlets, Lorenzana said it is "normal" for the military to show photos of enemies killed during clashes.

"Normal naman 'yung ginagawa ng military eh, ever since eh pinapakita natin 'yung mga namamatay," he said, adding the military has done it with fatalities from the Abu Sayyaf, the Moro National Liberation Front and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front.

"I have directed the AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines) to look into how we can treat this, 'yung mga namamatay sa encounter, better," Lorenzana added.

The elder Cullamat said she was not surprised that her daughter joined the NPA because she saw and experienced the "abuses" of the Armed Forces of the Philippines. 

She believes that the death of her daughter could embolden the military to "spread lies" against the Bayan Muna and the Makabayan Bloc. —KG/KBK, GMA News