Former Bayan Muna Congressman and executive vice president Carlos Isagani Zarate slammed National Security Council Assistant Director General Jonathan Malaya for red-tagging and vilifying progressive groups like Bayan Muna, following the former lawmaker’s criticism of the acquisition of the BrahMos missile system by the Philippine government.
“Ang hirap sa mga opisyal na tulad ni Jonathan Malaya ay hindi malaya mag-isip. Walang matibay na paninindigan at palaging sumasama kung saan lang dinadala ng opportunistic political wind,” said Zarate. “Noong nasa Duterte administration siya, kailan ba niya binatikos ang sagadsagaring maka-Tsinang mga patakaran ni Duterte? Hindi ba’t isa siya sa pinakamalakas pumalakpak noon sa mga pahayag ng kanyang among si Duterte?”
Zarate hit back after Malaya accused Bayan Muna of parroting China’s propaganda, calling the group a “mouthpiece of Beijing” for opposing the P100-billion missile procurement spree amid widespread poverty and social services crisis.
“Malaya is once again proving that he is more loyal to his current foreign master than to the Filipino people. Dahil bumaliktad na ang hangin, pivot to Uncle Sam na naman siya. Kung dati sa panahon ni Dutete ay tikom ang bibig sa mga agresibong aksyon ng China sa West Philippine Sea, ngayon naman ay tagapagsalita na siya ng US military-industrial complex,” Zarate said.
Zarate emphasized that Bayan Muna has long held a consistent position: opposition to all forms of foreign military intervention and domination, whether from China or the United States.
“Bayan Muna has always been clear and consistent: we oppose the interference of both imperialist powers—China and the US—in our country’s affairs. We don’t want the Philippines to be used as a theater of war. We don’t want our scarce resources wasted on an arms race that only benefits corrupt officials and foreign defense contractors,” he said.
“What we need are more hospitals, schools, and social services, not missiles and war machines. Public funds should serve the people, not the war games of imperialist powers.”
Zarate also condemned what he called a “dangerous and dishonest narrative” being pushed by Malaya and the NSC to justify the increasing militarization in the country and the region.
“Malaya cannot fool the people into thinking that buying missiles and hosting U.S. weapons systems will protect us. These actions escalate tensions in the region and make us a target. They do not defend our sovereignty—they undermine it,” Zarate stressed.
“Hindi solusyon sa agresyon ng China ang pagluhod sa US. Ang tunay na solusyon ay ang pagtataguyod ng tunay na independiyenteng foreign policy at pagbuwag sa mga kasunduang nagpapaalipin sa ating bayan,” he added.
Zarate also asked Malaya to stop using anti-China rhetoric as a smokescreen for promoting U.S. military interests in the Philippines.
“Stop using nationalism as a cover for your subservience to another imperialist. You don’t get to lecture progressives on patriotism while selling out the country to another foreign power.”
“Ang tunay na pagtatanggol sa bayan ay hindi nakasalalay sa mga dayuhang sandata o base militar. Nasa pagkakaisa ng mamamayan, tunay na reporma, at makabayang pamumuno ang susi sa pambansang seguridad,” Zarate concluded. ###