By MARIO B. CASAYURAN
Former party-list Congressmen Neri Colmenares and Teodoro Casiño on Tuesday reiterated that they are not members of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) but their political belief targets them out in a parliamentary arena seeking economic and political overhaul of the current political system.
Casiño, a member of the Bayan Muna party list, said he believes in the fundamental changes in the system such as electoral reforms, reforms in the mining industry and abolition of the pork barrel system.
When asked by Senate President Vicente C. Sotto III whether they advocate a change in the current democratic system of the Philippines, Colmenares said the current presidential form of government is “mahina’’.
A parliamentary form of government may be a better option, he added.
“There are basic problems. I don’t advocate armed struggle,” he told Sotto in today’s public hearing on the “red-tagging” issue presided by Senator Panfilo M. Lacson, chairman of the Senate national defense and security committee.
At the start of the public hearing at 10 a.m. Tuesday, Lacson asked Colmenares and Casiño to rebut allegations of rebel returnees that point to their sympathies to the CPP.
Colmenares dared the government to file a criminal case against them if they have a strong evidence.
Lacson earlier dared leaders of the militant organizations tagged by the military as front organizations of the CPP/New People’s Army/National Democratic Front (CPP/NPA/NDF) to denounce atrocities of the NPA if they really abhor NPA atrocities.
Colmenares said it is his political belief that armed struggle is a “legitimate option’’ recognized in the world over.
He said failure to denounce NPA atrocities is not a crime and does not violate their oath of office as elected party list congressmen.
