Akbayan, DOJ and Malacañang-COCIS conspiracy seen

Disqualification try against progressive party-list slammed by workers group

The Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU) Labor Center today hinted a conspiracy between Malacañang, the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Akbayan partylist in the push to disqualify progressive partylist like Anakpawis, Bayan Muna and Gabriela Women’s Party.

According to the workers group, Akbayan and Malacañang are employing desperate and vile tactics to sabotage their opponents for Election 2007. “The voice of the people shall drown the dirty tactics being used by Malacañang and Akbayan.”

“Just like the DOJ and Malacañang, Akbayan trembles at the prospect of another congressional term for genuine servants of the people. We are well aware of the same tune being harped on by DOJ Secretary Raul Gonzales and leaders of Akbayan. In the past 6 years, what benefit has the workers receive from Akbayan,” stated KMU Chairperson Elmer Labog.

According to Labog, there is no iota of evidence against the progressive party list regarding the “Bongabon Massacre” wherein Akbayan is pointing the finger at the New Peoples Army (NPA). “Akbayan has a penchant for accusing the progressive partylist of being communist fronts.”

The labor group further said that the hand of the Cabinet Oversight Committee in Internal Security (COCIS) could be the one that pushed Akbayan to file a petition to disqualify the progressive partylists. Under the COCIS are the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) which handles the Bongabon case.