The Makabayan bloc in the House of Representatives denied President Rodrigo Duterte’s claim that the Reds would be willing to die for him.

In a press briefing at the House of Representatives on Wednesday, the militant lawmakers said they were only willing to die for the marginalized groups, and not for the president, even though the administration has opened up the negotiations for peace talks with the Communist Party of the Philippines.

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“No, we are not ready to die for the President. Alam naman niya na i-a-alay ang buhay namin para sa mga inaapi at pinagsasamantalahan na Pilipino (He knows we are only willing to offer our lives for the oppressed and marginalized Filipinos),” Act Teachers Rep. Antonio Tinio said.

“Our track record speaks. We serve the people, we die for the people,” Anakpawis Rep. Ariel Casilao added.

Bayan Muna Rep. Carlos Zarate said Duterte’s remark may just be part of his hyperbole.

READ: Duterte’s men downplay threat as mere hyperbole

“It’s part of another hyperbole of the President. Alam niya na prinsipyado ang mga progressive organizations (He knows the progressive organizations have principles),” Zarate said.

Zarate said the Left’s support for Duterte is anchored on his pro-people policies and independent foreign policy.

Duterte’s approval to give the dictator Ferdinand Marcos a hero’s burial at the Libingan ng mga Bayani was also not enough for the Left to break away from its alliance with the President, the lawmakers said.

The peace talks with the communist-led National Democratic Front remains the primary factor for the Left to continue with its alliance with Duterte despite the President’s moves which the Left is critical of, they added.

“Sinasabi natin na ng isang malinaw na isyu ang pinagbabatayan pa rin ng so-called alyasansa, ay yung peace talks. Nagpapatuloy pa naman ‘yung peace talks (What we are saying is that clearly, the main basis for our so-called alliance is the continuing peace talks),” Tinio said.

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“‘Yung dalawang matibay na batayan ay ang usapin ng peace process, ‘yung usaping pag-uugat sa root causes ng armed conflict (The two main bases are the talks for a peace process, as well as the talks to address the root causes of the armed conflict),” Zarate also said.

READ: Duterte: ‘Yellows’ want me out because they can’t accept defeat

In a speech during a business forum at Malacañang on Monday, Duterte said it was the “yellows” — or those affiliated with the erstwhile ruling party, Liberal Party — was plotting his ouster, and not the Left, who he thinks would be willing to die for him.

“Let me tell you frankly, in every demonstration, it’s the yellow who’s shouting for my ouster. But you will never hear it from the communists because I am the president belonging to the left actually,” Duterte said.

“The Reds would never demand my ouster. They will die for me, believe me. That’s the reason why I was able to convince them for a talk,” he added.

The Left retained its alliance with Duterte despite the President’s refusal to release 130 political detainees, whom he called his “alas” or bargaining chip in the peace talks, and his government’s rejection of the Red’s demand for a withdrawal of troops in the countryside in the middle of a ceasefire. JE

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