WELL, it seems the “usual suspects”, you know, those “pseudo-communists” in Congress a.k.a. the so-called Makabayan bloc, are cooking something for the coming 2025 mid-term elections and it’s not pinakbet or adobo.
What could these “ersatz communists” – who vehemently insist they’re not – be up to these days aside from being convicted of child abuse as in the case of ACT party-list’s Rep. France Castro.
The Makabayan Coalition, in a program at Liwasang Bonifacio in Manila, announced its 10 senatorial candidates for the 2025 polls. And they are:
* Jocelyn Santos Andamo, a registered nurse and secretary general of Filipino Nurses United
* Mody Floranda of transport group PISTON
* Mimi Domingo, secretary general of urban poor group Kadamay
* ACT Teachers’ Rep. France Castro
* Gabriela’s Rep. Arlene Brosas
* KMU secretary general Jerome Adonis
* Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas chair Danilo Ramos
* former anti-poverty czar, Gabriela’s Liza Maza
* Pamalakaya vice chair Ronnel Arambulo
* former Bayan Muna representative Teddy Casiño
According to Bayan Muna chairman and Makabayan co-chairperson Neri Colmenares, the slate represents their “unwavering dedication to the principles of nationalism, democracy, and social justice.”
Likewise, Bayan chairperson Renato Reyes expressed excitement for the Makabayan Coalition’s slate of senatorial candidates, saying they come from the ranks of the masses, as opposed to the traditional and rich politicians.
The Makabayan Coalition said it would field a full 12-person Senate slate for the 2025 elections so we should not be surprised – rather expect it – if Sen. Risa Hontiveros’ name is included in that list.
Of course, we’re just speculating on Senator Hontiveros’ joining her cohorts as she is, after all, a prominent member of Akbayan, another one of those so-called left-leaning socialist political party.
I’m quite surprised that former Bayan party-list representative Satur Ocampo is not included in that 10-man senatorial line-up of the Makabayan Coalition as he’s been one of the most recognizable activists (who, of course, is according to himself not a communists). Perhaps that recent conviction of child abuse has sent a chilling effect on him and he decided to sit this one out.
At first glance, the Makabayan senatorial line-up is your “who’s who” list of the people you will always see on the forefront every time there’s a rally wearing usually red-colored t-shirts emblazoned with either Chairman Mao’s or Che Guevara’s picture and a hammer and sickle alongside the “useful idiots” carrying placards and streamers bearing the usual boring slogans.
Take note that communism is an obsolete and irrelevant ideology and those folks mentioned above are not communist and neither connected or affiliated with the CPP/NPA/NDF, or so they claim; they just won’t condemn the atrocities committed by that internationally declared terrorist triumvirate, nor will they speak ill of them.
Taking a second look at the senatorial line-up of Makabayan Coalition, this motley crew has about the same chance of winning a seat in Senate as the Philippine men’s football team winning the next FIFA World Cup. In other words, highly improbable.
Which brings us to this question: Why are they standing up for election?
In a democracy, anybody has the right to make fools of themselves or not. So perhaps these Makabayan Coalition candidates are just exercising their right of full suffrage.
Meanwhile, of the 89 active CPP/NPA/NDF fronts, the AFP/NTF-ELCAC successfully dismantled 78, reducing their strength to just 11 weakened fronts, and by this time these 11 severely weekend fronts would be nil.
The death of all top CPP/NPA/NDF leaders is the final straw in their demise. They’re now running around like headless chickens. With their ideology no longer able to sustain them, they turned to banditry.
Meaning, this election thingy is a last-ditch desperate move to resurrect the dying insurgency by reviving or reorganizing new guerilla fronts in the guise of campaigning/organizing supporters for the coming elections, including raising funds ostensibly for election purposes.
But of course, the Makabayan Coalition is not a CPP/NPA/NDF urban operations front and Jimi Hendrix is not dead but very much alive as Morgan Freeman./PN
