ANG mga paratang mula sa mga nagpakilalang dating Marines ay isang diversionary na taktika lamang para ilihis ang atensyon ng publiko mula sa pagdinig ng International Criminal Court (ICC) laban kay dating Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte at sa nalalapit na impeachment proceedings ni Vice President Sara Duterte, sinabi ng tatlong dating kongresista na mula sa Makabayan bloc noong Martes.

Sa kanilang joint statement, iginiit nina dating party-list Reps. France Castro ng ACT Teachers, Arlene Brosas ng Gabriela Women’s Party at Raoul Manuel ng Kabataan na hindi sila nakinabang sa umano’y kickback mula sa mga kuwestiyonableng flood control project.

Anila, ang mga alegasyon ng mga dating sundalo ay “a desperate attempt to divert attention from the serious criminal charges facing Rodrigo Roa Duterte at the International Criminal Court (ICC) and the upcoming impeachment proceedings against Vice President Sara Duterte.”

“Mariin naming pinabubulaanan ang mga paratang na ito. Malinaw ang track record ng Makabayan na hindi nagpapayaman sa pwesto. These are fabricated charges designed to intimidate us and to undermine the people’s quest for truth and accountability,” pahayag nila.

Sinabi rin nila na ang pagpapakalat ng “unsigned statement” ng mga ito ay “highly suspicious and reveals its true purpose: to discredit the legitimate investigations against the Dutertes by making it appear that these are politically motivated and funded by their political opponents.”

“This is a classic Duterte playbook — when cornered by evidence of their crimes and corruption, they manufacture lies and attack their accusers,” anila.

“It is telling that the statement specifically targets Makabayan representatives who have been active participants in the Quad Comm hearings and House investigations that exposed the Dutertes’ corruption and abuses,” dagdag nila.

“Ito ay malinaw na paghihiganti at pagtatangkang patayin ang kredibilidad ng mga kumilos upang ilantad ang katotohanan. The accusations are nothing but tsismis and guilt by association, devoid of any concrete details or evidence,” saad pa nila.

Binigyang-diin nila na ang statement na walang lagda “has no legal value and exposes the desperation of those behind this black propaganda.”

Pahayag nina Castro, Brosas at Manuel: “Why release this now, precisely when Duterte faces ICC proceedings and Sara Duterte faces impeachment?”

“The Filipino people will not be fooled by these diversionary tactics. The Dutertes cannot escape accountability for their crimes by manufacturing lies against those who dare to speak truth to power. Makabayan will not be silenced. We will continue to fight for justice and to hold the corrupt and the powerful accountable, no matter how many false accusations they throw at us,” diin nina Castro, Brosas at Manuel.