Senator Jinggoy Estrada on Wednesday renewed his call to criminalize red-tagging, warning that publicly branding someone a communist sympathizer instantly puts that person’s life in danger.
Red-tagging, according to Estrada, is a practice “that has repeatedly led to harassment, human rights violations and the killing of activists, journalists, community leaders, and ordinary citizens.”
His proposed measure, Senate Bill No. 1071 or the Anti-Red-Tagging Act, aims to formally define the act under Philippine law and impose criminal penalties on individuals found guilty of engaging in it.
The bill was introduced on Aug. 6, 2025, and was read on first reading on Sept. 3, 2025, before being referred to the Senate committee on justice and human rights.
“The lives of human rights defenders and activists have long been at risk because of red-tagging, as it creates a chilling effect on legitimate critics and community leaders, including journalists, and sows fear across the country, and it has no place in a democratic society,” he said.
The bill anchors its legal basis on a Supreme Court ruling in Deduro v. Maj. Gen. Vinoya, which recognized that red-tagging and related practices threaten life, liberty, and security.
That ruling noted that such acts frequently lead to abduction, intimidation and even extrajudicial killings, reinforcing calls to address the issue through legislation.
Under the proposal, red-tagging includes public accusations made through statements, social media posts, tarpaulins, posters, declarations, public events or other platforms used to malign individuals or groups.
Violators under the bill could face up to 10 years of imprisonment and permanent disqualification from holding any public office if convicted.
“The security promoted by the State should protect people, not place them in danger, and advocacy is not a crime and dissent is not terrorism,” Estrada asserted.
The senator cited several cases to illustrate the deadly consequences of the practice, including the killings of Jose Reynaldo Porquia in Iloilo City and Zara Alvarez in Bacolod City.
Porquia, a Bayan Muna coordinator, and Alvarez, a paralegal for Karapatan, were both publicly linked to communist groups before they were shot dead in separate incidents.
Other victims cited include lawyer Benjamin Ramos of the National Union of Peoples Lawyers in Negros and Councilor Bernardino Patigas, whose images appeared on tarpaulins labeling them as communist personalities.
“This measure ensures that no Filipino life will be put at risk simply because of reckless and baseless accusations,” Estrada concluded.
