Angel Locsin took to social media to clarify that she and her family members are not part of the New People’s Army (NPA) or other ‘terrorist’ groups. This comes after an official of the government’s National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) claimed that her sister Ella Colmenares is part of NPA in Quezon.”
“The choice is yours Liza. And so with you Catriona. Don’t follow the path Ka Ella Colmenares (Locsin) took in the underground and NPA Quezon. I am sure Angel Locsin and Neri Colmenares will not tell you this,” Lt. Gen. Antonio Parlade Jr. said as she warned actress Liza Soberano to cut ties with women’s group Gabriela.
Locsin shared a photo of her wearing a red lipstick and said: “To set the record straight, hindi po ako parte ng NPA or any terrorist group 😅. Neither my sister nor my kuya Neri is a part of the NPA or any terrorist group.”
She stressed that “We live in a country where our freedom to speak and express ourselves are enshrined and protected by the Constitution” so having opposite opinions should be respected.
“May paniniwala ako, may paniniwala ka. At sa ilalim Ng Consitution, pareho tayong mayroon karapatan sa ating nga sariling paniniwala. Kung mag kaiba tayo, hindi ibig sabihin pwede mo na ako i-red tag. Hindi tayo magkakalaban dito. Hindi rin ako “red”. Magkaiba lang tayo ng paniniwala.”
Locsin urged the government to stop red-tagging and to use government funds more efficiently.
“Nanawagan po ako sa kinauukulan, na itama po ang mali na ito. Tigilan na po ang red tagging. The statement made is utterly false and places ordinary citizens like us, those who they swore to protect, in danger,” she said.
“Nakakalungkot po isipin na dito napupunta ang malaking halaga na P19.3B, sa mga paratang na walang basehan at pananakot na red-tagging. Sana ibigay na lang po sa ibang departamento ng AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines) katulad ng medical reserve corps o pagtaas ng sweldo at pension ng mga sundalo natin,” she added.
Known for her philanthropic work, Locsin suggested that the funds can be a great help for the COVID-19 relief programs and displaced Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW).
“Malaking tulong rin po for purchasing vaccines or other COVID response programs. Many of our countrymen need financial assistance. Mga OFW na nawalan ng trabaho. Madaming mas nangangailangan ng pera ngayon. Sana doon na lang ilaan at sana doon ibuhos ang oras.”
Locsin felt the need to speak and not brush off the issue since it involves her family members.
“By being vocal about my opinions and advocacies, I have always been attacked. Those I could ignore but this is a different level altogether. And so I have to speak up once again because this baseless and reckless red-tagging jeopardizes not only my safety, but also the safety of my sister and our family.”
She then urged netizens to support the likes of Soberano, Miss Universe 2018 Catriona Gray, and ‘all the others’ who were wrongfully red-tagged “just because they are expressing their beliefs peacefully.”
Prior to her statement, she hit back at Paralde’s accusation by posting a photo of her with her sister Ella who was dining with them yesterday, October 22.
“Happy birthday sa bunso namin [Angelo Colmenares] with our controversial sister na nasa underground daw sa Quezon,” Locsin captioned on her Instagram story.
Locsin’s sister also took to Twitter to clarify that she is not a part of NPA.
“Like many of you, I am an ordinary Filipino, a mother, living my life day to day, earning a living for my family for many years. I have been living peacefully until this peace has been destroyed by a statement, red-tagging me with no basis except for the words of a single man,” she wrote.
She also said that she does not need to defend herself from the allegations thrown at her since it is not true.
Banner image from Angel Locsin’s Instagram account and story.
