DILG chief Año slams Makabayan bloc for not denouncing CPP-NPA-NDFP

Interior Secretary Eduardo Año on Thursday slammed the Makabayan bloc in the House of Representatives for refusing to condemn the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) despite its "horrendous crimes."

In a press statement, Año said he is dismayed by the group's "blind eye to the thousands of atrocities committed by the atheist communist-terrorist group."

A former military chief, Año was referring to the CPP and its allied organizations, the New People's Army (NPA) and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP).

"If you cannot even condemn the perpetrators of these horrendous crimes against the people in your capacity as elected public officials, there is definitely something wrong," Año said.

He said the bloc's refusal to condemn and distance itself from the CPP-NPA-NDF and their crimes is "a clear and indisputable betrayal of public trust."

"As elected government officials receiving salary, emoluments and benefits from government, they are morally, ethically and legally required to denounce the communist terrorists whose main objective is to overthrow the government that they are part of,” he said.

During Tuesday's Senate hearing on the government's alleged red-tagging of individuals and groups, Bayan Muna party-list Representative Carlos Zarate and former lawmaker Teddy Casiño said they do not consider the communist groups as enemies.

For Casiño, declaring the communists as rebels is not proper while for Zarate, it would mean closing doors for discourse.

Año said the statements are clear attempts of the group "to wash their hands of the blood of the thousands of victims of CPP-NPA-NDF atrocities through the years."

“Nakakakilabot na tinatawag lamang nila ang walang habas na pagpatay ng mga inosenteng tao, mga pulis at sundalo bilang isang pamamaraan para kanilang tahasang maipahayag ang kanilang agenda,” Año said.

The DILG chief said the Makabayan bloc members, as elected officials,  are required under the 1897 Constitution to denounce the CPP-NPA-NDF.

He claimed that the CPP-NPA-NDF is the biggest violator of human rights in the country.

"Aside from killing soldiers, police and government officials, the party is also infamous for its internal purges which has killed some 3,000 to 7,000 lives including the Inopacan, Leyte massacre where 67 comrades were summarily executed upon orders of the CPP," Año said.

The Senate inquiry on alleged red-tagging will resume on December 1. —KBK, GMA News