A reel on Facebook claimed that progressive party-lists are “NPA (New People’s Army) partylist”, and urged people not to vote for them. This is false. Organized groups cannot be registered as a party if they advocate for violence, per the party-list law.
Uploaded on April 30, the text on the erroneous video read:
“PAALALA, wag IBOTO ang mga ito (Reminder, do not vote for these)”
A list of groups supposedly affiliated with the NPA followed: Bayan Muna, Anak Bayan, Anakpawis, Gabriela, Kabataan, Piston, Kadamay, Katribu, Migrante, “Magasaka”, Kalikasan, League of Filipino Students, Kilusang Mayo Uno, Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas, Kalumihan, Pasaka, Partido Manggagawa, Aksyon Health Workers, ACT-Teachers, Courage, Karapatan and Alyansa ng Maralitang Pilipino.
Of these, only Bayan Muna, Gabriela, Kabataan and ACT Teachers are vying for congressional seats in the May 12 elections.
These are all registered party-lists, running under the a partylist coalition known as the Makabayan bloc.
According to Section 6(2) of Republic Act No.7941 or the Party-List System Act, advocating for “violence or unlawful means to seek its goal” is ground for refusal or cancellation of a group’s registration as a party-list.
Read the full story on VERA Files Fact Check.