FACT CHECK: Party-list groups under Makabayan bloc are not declared terrorist
Claim: A Facebook post containing a supposed “Resolution No. 65A (2024)” by the Anti-Terrorism Council (ATC) claims that the party-list under the Makabayan bloc, which are Bayan Muna, Kabataan, ACT Teachers, Gabriela, and Health Workers, have been designated as terrorist organizations.
Rating: FALSE
Why we fact-checked this: A Facebook page with 1,400 likes and followers posted the claim on May 10.
The post reads, “Alert! The Anti-Terrorism Council (ATC), under Resolution No. 65A (2024) has designated the following Partylist as Terrorist Organizations: Bayan Muna Partylist; Kabataan Partylist; ACT Teachers Partylist; Gabriela Partylist; and Health Workers Partylist. ATC cited their linkage to CPP-NPA-NDF based on verified reports, document, testimonies and other evidence.”
The facts: ATC has not released any resolution or official statement designating Bayan Muna, Kabataan, ACT Teachers, Gabriela, or Health Workers partylists as terrorist organizations.
The referenced Resolution No. 65A (2024) is being misrepresented. The actual resolution, along with a related document on financial sanctions, pertains to the exclusion of eight individuals from the terrorist list on the basis of death and the maintained designation of 11 other individuals. Nowhere in either document are any of the party-list groups mentioned.
Moreover, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) has made no declaration linking these groups to terrorist activities. In fact, Comelec previously clarified that allegations regarding Bayan Muna’s disqualification due to supposed terrorist links were baseless.
Not terrorists: All mentioned party-list groups are accredited by the Comelec, which means they do not go against the Section 6 of Republic Act No. 7941 or the Party-List System Act. The said provision excludes from registration any organization that “advocates violence or unlawful means to seek its goal.”
Similar fact checks: Rappler has previously debunked false claims targeting the Makabayan bloc:
- FACT CHECK: Bayan Muna party-list group has not been disqualified
- FACT CHECK: ‘News reports’ on Bayan Muna disqualification are fabricated
– Jeanne Marie B. Quiñanola/Rappler.com
Jeanne Marie B. Quiñanola is a Rappler intern. She is a graduating BS Mathematics student at Mindanao State University-Iligan Institute of Technology.
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