President Rodrigo Duterte will provide protection for a judge who was allegedly red-tagged after freeing two activists and clearing them of charges.
This was after photos showed a tarpaulin at the corner of Shaw Boulevard and Edsa “thanking” Mandaluyong Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 209 Judge Monique Quisumbing-Ignacio for her “speedy release” of “comrades.”
The logo of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) appeared at the bottom of the tarpaulin.
Later in the day, Duterte said communist rebels are bandits and they should be exterminated if they are armed.
“I told the military, kill them if they are armed. I did not see any achievement by the communists. No progress. They became a group of bandits,” he said during the joint meeting of the National Task Force – Regional Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict in Eastern Visayas in Tacloban City, Leyte.
“I don’t like to see the soldiers in coffins,” he added.
Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque urged the public not to jump into conclusions that judge Ignacio was indeed red-tagged, stressing that “enemies” may have put up the tarpaulin to pin the blame on the Duterte administration.
“Let us not conclude that Judge Ignacio was red-tagged and authorities are investigating already this incident,” he said in a virtual press briefing.
The Integrated Bar of the Philippines on Thursday also denounced the red-tagging of Quisumbing-Ignacio after she dismissed the illegal possession of firearms and explosives charges against journalist Lady Ann Salem and trade unionist Rodrigo Esparago.
IBP President Domingo Egon Cayosa said members of the judiciary should be spared from red-tagging.
“We enjoin all litigants, parties, and sectors not to unduly drag our magistrates into their political, ideological, or operational battles or agenda,” Cayosa said in a statement.
He made the appeal after tarpaulins appeared with a thank-you message to Judge Ignacio for dismissing the illegal possession of firearms and explosives charges against the journalist and labor leader.
Roque expressed confidence that available CCTV footage will help law enforcement determine who is responsible for putting up the tarpaulin.
“We will investigate that because it’s possible that enemies of the government are behind it to pin the blame on us. I am not saying that it’s the truth but let’s wait for results of the investigation),” he added.
The President called on law enforcers to kill armed communists last March 5. Two days later, at least nine activists in Calabarzon died during separate police operations
Police claimed that those who were killed were armed, but witnesses to the bloodshed maintained the victims were unarmed.
Roque, however, assured that the President and his administration would provide protection for Ignacio if red-tagging allegations are true.
“If it’s true Judge Ignacio was red-tagged, the President himself will provide her with necessary protection. That’s the President’s assurance,” he said.
Ignacio, in her Feb. 5 order, granted the motion to quash the search warrant issued by a Quezon City Court that led to the arrest of Salem and Esparago.
“There are not enough facts and circumstances which would lead a reasonably direct and prudent man to believe that an offense has been committed and that the objects sought in connection with the offense are in the place sought to be searched,” she said.
Human rights group Kapatid denounced the red-tagging of the judge warning that Independent, fair-minded judges are under attack.”
House Deputy Minority Leader and Bayan Muna Rep. Carlos Isagani Zarate urged the Supreme Court “to publicly condemn” and investigate the incident.
According to Cayosa, it is “crucial that judges decide fairly, free from fear, pressure, intimidation, threats or harm.”
“Instead of terrorizing or attacking the judges, bring before them the best evidence and arguments so that they may discern the truth and act solely based on facts and the applicable laws,” he stressed.
The IBP president said he believes that “our judges will have the courage to do what the law requires them to do, though dangerous or unpopular, and the integrity to remain unswayed by identity, race, gender, relationship, wealth, or politics.”
He said the IBP Rizal-Pasig Chapter had requested local authorities to take down the tarpaulins.