Esperon hits Reds; CEAP denies NPA link

MANILA, Philippines — National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon has slammed the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) for allegedly peddling lies over the controversial P16.4-billion Barangay Development Program (BDP).

The CPP and its armed unit New People’s Army have been propagating falsehoods against the BDP through their chief information officer
Marco Valbuena, Esperon said.

The BDP is one of the administration’s programs undertaken by the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC).

Valbuena alleged that the BDP is being run by the military-dominated NTF-ELCAC and is taking over functions of civilian agencies.

“For the CPP to publish this erroneous report by Mr. Valbuena on the Barangay Development Program is an evidence of their increasing desperation. True to the communist playbook of agit prop, the CPP-NPA intentionally sows intrigue, conflict and division to advance their goals,” Esperon said in a statement over the weekend.

Some sectors and lawmakers earlier expressed opposition over the billions of pesos allotted for the BDP but Esperon claimed this would be for the development and progress of barangays leading to the dismantling of the CPP-NPA in many areas.

There are currently 82 barangays that will get the P20-million BDP assistance this year.

“Through the partnership of civilian agencies and private-sector organizations, needs-based programs are to be provided to identified communities. In the fulfillment of the whole-of-nation approach, private-public sector partnership is the foundation of nation-building as espoused through the NTF-ELCAC’s goals,” Esperon said.

CEAP: No ties with CPP-NPA

Meanwhile, the Catholic Educational Association of the Philippines (CEAP) yesterday denied allegations by the NTF-ECLAC that they have ties with the CPP and NPA.

CEAP issued a statement after Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Southern Luzon Command chief Lt. Gen. Antonio Parlade Jr. and NTF-ECLAC implicated the organization of Catholic schools and some Catholic higher educational institutions (HEIs) in CPP-NPA recruitment activities.

“It has been said before, and we affirm it once more: we do not support the CPP and NPA,” the CEAP said.

Responding to the statements mentioned by Parlade, also the task force spokesperson, in a Facebook post on Jan. 25, the group’s officials clarified that they met with representatives from the AFP and the Philippine National Police (PNP) in October 2018 and not 2019, when 18 universities, including HEIs were reportedly dragged in the “Red October” plot.

CEAP added that they only had one meeting with the NTF-ELCAC on Oct. 24, 2018.

“Parlade also mentioned that the same universities have failed to disclose such information to their constituents or address the problem despite giving their word. We would like to assert that no concrete proposals nor agreements were made and no follow-ups were done,” CEAP said.

The group stressed that their schools are compliant with the government regulations of the Commission in Higher Education and the Department of Education and they have strict protocols in accrediting student organizations and activities to ensure that they are compliant with government regulations and policies.

It suggested that instead of red-tagging schools that might place the welfare of students and teachers at risk, the government should focus on addressing the causes of insurgency such as poverty and marginalization. – Evelyn Macairan