Zarate sees political motive behind plans to disqualify Makabayan bloc from 2022 polls

Bayan Muna party-list Representative Carlos Zarate on Friday said the plan to seek disqualification of the members of the Makabayan bloc to participate in the upcoming elections could be fueled by the administration’s motive of holding onto power.

“Talagang may bahid-pulitika ito dahil ang isa naming nakikitang tunguhin dito ay gusto nilang pilayan at i-demobilize, i-paralyze ang progressive groups na hinidi naman kaila ay isang malaking bloke pagdating sa eleksyon,” Zarate said at an online press conference.

“Sigurado na sa 2022 elections ang progressive movement, kabilang na ang Makabayan bloc, talagang titindig ito at mangangampanya para sa oposisyon,” he added.

National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict vice chairperson and National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon reportedly said earlier this week that the there is enough evidence to seek disqualification of the Makabayan bloc before the Commission on Elections.

This came after President Rodrigo Duterte accused the Makabayan bloc of being “legal fronts” of the Communist Party of the Philippines—an allegation denied by the representatives.

Condemning how the militant groups are being “demonized” and “vilified,” Zarate said the Makabayan bloc will not cower but rather face this threat of disqualification, which he said was not a first since there were previous attempts to do so in the past.

“We will face it as long as it is filed in the proper forum at hindi itong nagkakalat sila ng mga kasinungalingan, disinformation dito sa publiko na wala naman silang pinapakitang eidensya na competent, credible, and acceptable sa korte,” he said.

ACT-Teachers party-list Rep. France Castro mocked Esperon for making such threat.

“Itong ginagawa ni Esperon na ito, galawang loser at pikon kaya harapin natin ito at seseryosohin natin kasi magging disservice ito sa mga constituents namin sa House of Representatives. Haharapin natin itong mga loser,” she said.

The lawmakers asserted that the records in Congress would show how active their groups had been in introducing bills with the goal of ushering in meaningful social reforms for the country. -MDM, GMA News