Makabayan coalition condemns red-tagging of candidates

The Makabayan coalition has spoken out against the red-tagging of its senatorial candidates during their campaign in the Bicol Region. This incident occurred as they wrapped up their campaign on March 22. In a recent statement, Makabayan claimed that the Philippine Army had blocked volunteers from their partner group, Kilusang Magbubukid of Bicol. However, after a conversation with military officials, the volunteers were allowed to join a forum and campaign activities. Moreover, Makabayan reported that flyers labeling their senatorial candidates, Teddy Casiño and Jerome Adonis, were found dumped at the gates of their Camarines Sur office. The coalition has denounced the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) for promoting these accusations against their candidates and other progressive activists. Makabayan Bicol urged supporters not to be afraid and called for unity in the face of rising prices for essential goods and services. They conducted their campaign from March 20 to 24, alongside other party-list groups like Bayan Muna, Gabriela Women’s Party, and Kabataan Partylist. In related news, PISTON national president, Mody Floranda, stressed the importance of protecting jeepney drivers' livelihoods and called on local officials to support a resolution against the phase-out of jeepneys. Liza Maza, another candidate, highlighted the need to regulate oil prices to ensure affordable basic goods and services. The Makabayan coalition also aims to abolish regional wage boards. They expressed concern over worsening poverty due to high inflation rates affecting the prices of essential needs in the country.