Bayan Muna threatens to sue Army spokesman over campaign funding issue

MANILA, Philippines - The militant party-list group Bayan Muna threatened yesterday to sue an Army spokesman over a statement that communist rebels were supporting and funding some party-list organizations and senatorial candidates.

“We challenge Capt. Gene Orense (spokesman for the Army’s 8th Infantry Division) to present evidence. Otherwise we will file a case against him before the Ombudsman for electioneering,” Bayan Muna Rep. Neri Colmenares said.

He said Orense also violated a circular issued by Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin “prohibiting vilification of party-list groups and red baiting.”

Orense, however, refused to name names.

Bayan Muna is one of several militant groups represented in the House of Representatives.

Outgoing Bayan Muna Rep. Teddy Casiño is an independent senatorial candidate. – With Marvin Sy, Artemio Dumlao