Angat Pinas, Inc., a non-government organization, debunked allegations of a former anti insurgency spokesperson that they are supported by communist rebels and are recruiting the youth to join rebel groups.
Lorraine Badoy, a former official of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC), said during a television appearance that the NGO and its chairman, former vice president Leni Robredo are working to recruit communist rebels.
“They really are ano, working overtime with their recruitment, Angat Buhay ni Leni Robredo…” Badoy said in her program aired over Pastor Apollo Quiboloy’s network, SMNI.
“Mga kababayan natin ano, the people behind the Angat Buhay is CPP-NPA-NDF. In fact, there are now in social media, mga nanay na naghahanap ng mga anak nila na wala na, wala na. Hindi na nila makita at ito ‘yung sumali ng Leni Youth so…” she added.
The Robredo-headed NGO rejected Lorraine’s claims.
“We strongly condemn and unequivocally deny the allegations made by Lorraine Badoy against Angat Buhay last 04 July 2022 in a cable television program. Her claims are utterly baseless and completely false, and worse, encourage the harassment of our staff members, volunteers, and partners,” Angat Pinas executive director Raphael Magno said.
“As soon as our attention was called to the matter, we referred the same to our lawyers who are now in the process of preparing possible legal actions to protect the integrity of our organization and our work and, more so, to protect our volunteers and partners,” he added.
Magno assured their supporters and said they are not taking the matter “sitting down.”
“We will not allow these efforts to sabotage our work to prosper. The time to stand up to fake news and hold its purveyors to account is now,” he continued.
“We will continue our work as a private, non-government organization to empower marginalized communities and sectors. Our work is beyond personalities and politics. Our work is about fundamental values. Our work is about leaving no one behind,” Magno added.
— Ronald Espartinez