PRESS RELEASE
April 9, 2022
The Council for People’s Development and Governance slams the arrest of peasant leader and Anakpawis Partylist 4th nominee Isabelo Adviento.
“This is just the latest reprehensible act by the Duterte government in the run-up to the coming elections,” Council for People’s Development and Governance (CPDG) spokesperson Liza Maza stressed.
“Adviento’s arrest is another evidence of the government’s cowardice. It shows not only their fear of critical voices but is also a pathetic attempt to scare the people, especially that the opposition is gaining ground,” Maza pointed out.
The start of the campaign period for the May 2022 elections saw a rise in State-sponsored and government-led smear propaganda against critical groups, candidates, and most especially partylists that represent marginalized sectors.
Maza pointed out that if the government is confident that they have the majority of the public’s support, they should stop redtagging and vilifying their bets’ opponents—”fight fair and square and not use weaponized laws against the so-called ‘enemies of the State’.”
CPDG insists on the government institutions’ responsibility to remain non-partisan and condemns all government efforts against the opposition and its supporters.
“Let us all emulate the struggle of our valiant ancestors who fought for sovereign and democratic rights, freedom, and social justice—and let it guide us in voting the right leaders on the May 9 polls” Maza ended. #