The Robredo People's Council - Cavite condemned the lawmakers who red-tagged the youth who joined the grand rally for Vice President Leni Robredo in General Trias on Friday.
"Mapaminsala ang bintang na ang mga kabataan/estudyante na lumahok ay aktibista, makakaliwa, at sinanay ng NDF (National Democratic Front)," said the council in a statement.
(The accusation saying that the youth/students who participated in the rally are activists, leftists, and trained by the NDF is destructive.)
"Ang iresponsable at mapanirang konklusyon na ito lalo pa't nagmumula sa iginagalang na mga pinuno ng bansa ay sadyang makapaminsala sa moral at dignidad ng mga kabataan Caviteño na ang nais lamang ay iwasto ang pamamalakad sa ating pamahalaan," it added.
(This irresponsible and destructive conclusion, especially coming from respected leaders of the country, are destructive to the morale and dignity of Cavite’s youth who only want to correct how the government is run.)
The council's remarks came after Cavite 7th District Rep. Jesus Crispin "Boying" Remulla claimed that some participants of Robredo's grand rally in Cavite looked like they were trained by the NDF.
"Ang dami nilang mga estudyante, mukhang mga aktibista… Kaliwa, mga trained ng NDF… May dalang mga bandera pero pink," he said in a DZRH radio program.
(There were a lot of students, they looked like activists… Leftists, trained by the NDF… They carried flags but in pink.)
Presidential candidate and Senator Panfilo Lacson then said the situation was "worrisome."
"This is worrisome. A coalition government with the CPP/NPA/NDF will set back the gains of the government's efforts to end the country's decades-old insurgency problem," he said in a tweet, referring to the Communist Party of the Philippines and the New People's Army.
According to Robredo People's Council - Cavite, the participation of the youth in the grand rally is a sign of awareness from them that wants to select a leader who will push for advocacies for them.
"Ang kabataang Caviteño ay hindi makakahon, marami sila at iisa lamang ng kanilang pasyon — makatagpo ng liwanag sa nagdidilim na nasyon," it said.
(The Caviteño youth cannot be boxed. There are many of them and they only have one passion — find the light in a darkening nation.)
