By CORDILLERA PEOPLES ALLIANCE-MT. PROVINCE
www.nordis.net

February 17, 2010
We are alarmed by the upsurge in black propaganda being spread against us by our detractors this election season.

This is seen in make-shift streamers and graffiti painted along Mt. Polis-Bontoc Road, Naguilian Road and Marcos Highway linking partylists of the Makabayan Coalition and its senatorial bets to the CPP-NPA.

We have also received reports from our chapters in the municipalities in the province that progressive partlists and peoples organizations are being branded as fronts of the CPP-NPA or are being linked to the armed rebels.

Much earlier, elements of the military had been reported showing videos branding partylists of the Makabayan coalition and peoples organization as “enemies of the state”. In fact, on February 5, PNP along with personnel from the LGU in a symposium in Belwang National High School, called on the audiences not to vote for partylists. In MPSPC, speakers from the AFP 501stbrigade and 54thIB were Lts. De Vera, Sta. Maria, Bulosan and from Sadanga LGU . They equated CPA and student organizations as CPP members even if they are “Legal” organizations. Many other symposia similar to the above mentioned have been conducted in the province.

This is not something new as they have already done this in the past. What concerns us now is that this may precede another wave of human rights violations because by making and even repeating these unproven allegations about our status, our detractors put the lives of our members in harms way.

We would not have taken all this trouble if our members have not become targets of armed and unarmed attack after this black propaganda being spread by our detractors like what happened in the past.

We would like to remind them that we are legitimate organizations duly recognized by the COMELEC or registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

If they have anything against us, they can go to court instead of spreading lies and innuendos. This kind of behavior does not help in making a healthy atmosphere for democratic debate and contestation during this election.
They –the AFP and PNP— undermine democracy.

Having mentioned the above, should anything untoward happen to our members, we will hold the Arroyo administration and the head of its security agencies in the province and at the national level, responsible. # nordis.net