The Makabayan bloc in the House of Representatives on Thursday said it will file cases against red-taggers as it lauded the landmark Supreme Court decision recognizing that “red-tagging” and charges of “guilty by association” threaten a person’s right to life, liberty, or security.
At the same time, the bloc composed of Reps. France Castro of ACT Teachers, Arlene Brosas of Gabriela and Raul Manuel of Kabayaan reiterated its call for the abolition and defunding of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict in the next budget cycle.
Kabataan party-list Rep. Raoul Manuel said legal action is being readied to aid activists who have become victims of red tagging.
The Supreme Court’s ruling in favor of former Bayan Muna lawmaker Siegfred Deduro is a significant victory against the vicious practice of red-tagging, which has led to the persecution and even the killing of many activists and critics of the government, Castro said.
“We urge the government to take immediate action to stop the red-tagging of individuals and organizations, and to hold accountable those responsible for the harm and violence inflicted on innocent people,” she added.
For her part, Brosas said: “We hope that this decision will also push the government to abolish NTF-ELCAC and hold red-taggers accountable.”
Other lawmakers, however, said the abolition of the NTF-ELCAC is a decision that is purely up to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
Rep. Faustino Dy of Isabela, Ernesto Dionisio Jr of Manila, and Jude Acidre of TINGOG party-list group all agreed that the dismantling of the NTF-ELCAC is the President’s prerogative after the Supreme Court ruled that red-tagging is a threat to people’s lives, liberty, and security.
“I trust the decision of the President, also the Executive, as regards the abolition or not of the NTF-ELCAC. We leave it up to the Executive to decide on how do they will go about the proceedings,” Dy said.
For Dionisio, with the landmark SC decision declaring red-tagging as a threat, he encouraged government agencies such as NTF-ELCAC to do their job without trampling on people’s rights.
“Of course, it is the President’s decision as to what steps to take. It should be remembered that they do not have to trample on the rights of Filipino citizens in the commission of their jobs,” Dionisio said.
Acidre said the President may be weighing his actions on the calls as the matter is not as simple as it sounds.
“On the calls to abolish the NTF-ELCAC, I think the President is proceeding with more caution, the way I read it. Malacañang is proceeding conscientiously as to how to deal with the insurgency problem,” Acidre noted.
“They have not acted on this policy decision of the Executive. Congress will surely support whatever will bring the country benefit, whatever would produce long-lasting peace and an end in insurgency in the country,” he said.