ACT denounces terrorist-tagging of people’s orgs to EU, calls for international solidarity

Press Release
April 1, 2019

QUEZON CITY – The Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) called the Duterte government ‘anti-democracy’ after it again wrongly accused several organizations as fronts of the Communist Party of the Philippines and the New People’s Army (NPA) before the European Union (EU). The teachers’ federation called for support from the international community amid state attacks against people’s democratic rights.

“This is part of the militaristic Duterte regime’s bogus counterinsurgency program, which in reality is a crackdown and vilification campaign against groups critical of its anti-people and fascist policies. But the Filipino people know best our record of genuine public service and unwavering dedication to democracy, peace, and justice,” says ACT National Chairperson Joselyn Martinez.

The teachers’ federation says that this desperate and failed attempt by the administration to discredit ACT and other organizations among its members, partners, and the public at large. They further asserted that the state will be held accountable for its irresponsible slandering and baseless accusations of legal and legitimate organizations.

Martinez also pointed out the irony in the government’s claim that there is no human rights crisis in the Philippines but carries out a crusade to impede the international community from assisting local peoples’ organizations efforts to better the lives of the people. These efforts, added Martinez, should be encouraged by a government known to fall short on its duty to the people, such as the provision of free, quality, and accessible social services, among others.

“The very move to brand us as CPP-NPA fronts in their recent visit and correspondence with EU is testament to the persecution suffered by people’s organizations who forward just demands to the government, which adds to their growing and intensifying attacks in the form of imprisonment and downright killing of farmers, unionists, and ‘drug suspects’,” added Martinez.

ACT, however, asserts that the Filipino people continues to fight amid worsening political and economic crisis in the country. The group urged the global community to side with genuine representatives of the sovereign Philippines and not with the repressive Duterte government.