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Senate union denies link to CPP, hits NICA chief's red-tagging bid


A union of Senate employees on Tuesday denied allegations that the group is affiliated with the Communist Party of the Philippines and the New People's Army.

In a statement, Sandigan ng mga Empleyadong Nagkakaisa sa Adhikain ng Demokratikong Organisasyon (SENADO) condemned National Intelligence Coordinating Agency (NICA) director general Alex Paul Monteagudo's Facebook post insinuating that the group has links to the CPP-NPA. 

“We vehemently deny any affiliation/connection with the CPP-NPA-NDF [National Democratic Front]  and being their ‘eyes and ears’ in the Senate to hijack plans and programs of the government,” SENADO said.

Likewise, the union said that Monteagudo's Facebook post is malicious, baseless, and dangerous.

On Tuesday, Monteagudo shared a graphic linking the union, as well as the Confederation of Unity Recognition and Advancement of Government Employees (COURAGE) to the CPP-NPA.

Earlier, an internal memorandum of the Department of the Interior and Local Government claim that COUARAGE is associated with the rebel groups.

According to SENADO, the “attack” against their union is a response to their position denouncing the DILG memorandum on “red-tagging of legitimate and progressive organizations and public sector unions” and supporting COURAGE.

“We are apprehensive that our leaders will now be subjected to vilification, harassment, arrest as they did to other union leaders affiliated with COURAGE, and worst, killing which is happening now against unionists,” SENADO said.

SENADO has demanded Monteagudo to take down his post and apologize to all Senate officials and employees for disrespecting the institution “that is the stalwart of democracy and human rights.”

“We urge the Senators to conduct an investigation regarding this blatant attack against the SENADO and other public sector unions and organizations,” the union said.

Earlier, Senate President Vicente Sotto III told reporters that Monteagudo must have been misinformed. “I would be the first to sense of such, if ever. I’ve been there since 1992."  —Joviland Rita/LBG, GMA News

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