Bayan slams Malacaňang’s ‘Makapili’ tactic

Like the Black and White Movement, the leftist group Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) slammed Malacaňang for using "Makapili" tactics to harass President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo's critics. In a statement, Bayan questioned the credibility of Jaime Fuentes, the first witness presented by the police and the justice department who linked Bayan and former social secretary Corazon Soliman, a member of Black and White Movement, to rebellion. "The presentation of the witness was reminiscent of the hooded collaborators during the Japanese occupation of the Philippines. Having run out of any credible evidence to support their charges of rebellion, the administration is now resorting to hooded witnesses who are ready to implicate anyone and everyone in the alleged plot to topple the regime," said Renato reyes Jr, Bayan secretary general. Reyes added Bayan remains a legal organization and will continue to assert its legitimacy "despite the concocted stories peddled by Mr. Fuentes." "We are however concerned that the administration has embarked on a vilification campaign aimed at linking legal groups to the armed revolution. This is dangerous because it makes legal organizations open targets as well by the military and police," he said. Meanwhile, Bayan chairwoman Carol Araullo said the group will intensify calls for the release of Rep. Crispin Beltran (Anakpawis), saying the government is making a mockery of its own judicial system by twisting legal processes.-GMANews.TV