Bayan
Muna is at the receiving end of all sorts of violence during the campaign
period. As though that is not enough, it has also been the subject of a
black-propaganda campaign by other party-list groups such as Akbayan and PDSP
that have been spreading lies and innuendoes against the group.
By
TONYO CRUZ
Reading from the threads of anti-Bayan Muna items in various email groups, we are worried that the outpouring of support and goodwill in favor of this fledgling party may be lost due to mere innuendoes, blatant lies, shameless fraud and physical violence.
During the 90-month campaign, Bayan Muna was at the receiving end of documented reports of state harassment. Some of the cases documented by the Task Force Detainees of the Philippines, Karapatan and the Ecumenical Movement for Justice and Peace are the following:
1) Arbitrary arrest of Wilfredo Recto, a Bayan Muna coordinator, in Danawan, Libmanan, Camarines Sur, on Feb. 21 by elements belonging to Bravo Company, 42nd IB Philippine Army.
2) Arbitrary arrest and illegal detention of Bayan Muna coordinator Vilma dela Cruz and Bayan Muna volunteer Ridrigo Viray in Dinalupihan, Bataan, on March 7 by plainclothes men. They were later found in the custody of provincial PNP intelligence forces.
3) Forced disappearance of Bayan Muna coordinator Christopher Suelo in Pila, Laguna, on March 9 by plainclothes men. Victim surfaced eight days later, bearing signs of torture (bruises on the neck, hands and feet).
4) Arbitrary arrest of Bayan Muna coordinator Jun Pili in Marilog District, Davao City, on April 1 by elements belonging to the 73rd IB Philippine Army.
5) Assasination of Bayan Muna coordinator Ramon "Bong" Ternida in Calapan City, Mindoro Oriental, on April 15 by a certain Boyet Jocson, a known drug user and asset of Col. Rodrigo Foja, PNP intelligence chief.
6) Harassment and intimidation of Bayan Muna volunteer Bong Bermejo in Baclaran, Paranaque City, on April 17 by plainclothes armed men who introduced themselves as policemen and aboard a vehicle with plate number PFK 368.
7) Forced disappearance of Bayan Muna coordinator Dennis Menidilla in Barangay Halayhayin, Siniloan, Laguna, on April 18 by elements of the Charlie Company 1st IBPA. He is now reportedly forcibly used as a guide in military operations.
8) Physical assualt of Bayan Muna members Danilo Traballo, Christopher Bermas in Malaya, Labo, Camarines Norte, on April 24 by elements of the 31st IBPA.
9) Assasination of Bayan Muna member Isidro "Peter" Manlangit in Purok 5, Pandan, Ligao City, Albay, by two armed men wearing bonnets.
10) Assassination of Bayan Muna member and reelectionist Councilor Peter Dangiwan in Balbalan, Kalinga, on April 30 by still unidentified men.
As we condemn these dastardly acts, Bayan Muna lawyers are now studying legal remedies in favor of the victimized Bayan Muna members and volunteers.
These documented cases point out that Bayan Muna -- the standard bearer of the "subversive" Politics of Change that favors the oppressed classes and sectors -- is in fact at the receiving end of all sorts of election-related violence. We are concerned that these violent acts may translate in vote-shaving operations that aim to cut down the perceived lead of Bayan Muna in the party-list race.
At the same time, we are concerned about reports by the steering committee of the Partido Demokratiko Sosyalista ng Pilipinas and supporters of Akbayan regarding Bayan Muna's alleged use of armed men in its campaign. We are dismayed by these reports that are being circulated endlessly and systematically across various email groups without even sending formal complaints to Bayan Muna's national secretariat.
For the record, no complaint has been filed against Bayan Muna nor has it received any formal communication directly from either PDSP or Akbayan.
It is a curiosity that these letters about various "atrocities" allegedly committed by Bayan Muna came out at the homestretch of the campaign, when various survey outfits showed the party in the lead for the party-list elections. Is this part of efforts to whip up yet again the tired old "Red scare," anti-communist hysterical statements by certain groups against Bayan Muna?
We know and witnessed first hand the enthusiastic response of the people toward Bayan Muna -- its platform, candidates and campaign. In spite of the state's armed assaults and our rivals' allegations, we are confident that the people's votes, vigilance and militancy will catapult Bayan Muna to victory at the end of the counting.
Bayan muna, hindi ang iilan! Bayan muna, hindi ang dayuhan!
(The author is the
public information officer of the Bagong
Alyansang Makabayan.)