Congress urged to investigate red-tagging at UP, hold officials accountable for allegations

Several groups are urging the Congress to investigate the recent red-tagging of students at University of the Philippines and hold government officials accountable for their “baseless” accusations.

“Kita naman na maling-mali na ’yung nire-red-tag nila. That policy is being laid out as an experiment in relation to UP na ’pag nag-succeed sa UP, talagang roll out ’yan,” Theodore Te of Free Legal Assistance Group (FLAG) said during the Usapang KP (Kalayaan sa Pamantasan): Mga Terror, Hindi Terrorista webinar on Thursday.

Last month, the Armed Forces of the Philippines published a list of individuals who were allegedly UP students who joined the New People’s Army. The military later took down the list and released an apology for its “inconsistencies.”

“That’s why important UP asserts. Hindi pwede mangyari ’yan. Tama lang na igiit ang academic freedom, institutional autonomy,” he said.

According to Te, members of the Congress have already filed bills that safeguard the university’s institutional autonomy, but it might be better if they inquired into the national policy that allows red-tagging to occur in the first place.

“Mabilis silang magpa-hearing sa iba’t-ibang bagay but itong dito, direct threat to freedom of expression, ’di man lang magpa-hearing into this particular instance,” said Te.

Soledad Deriquito-Mawis, Lyceum of the Philippines University College of Law dean, said red-tagging belittled constitutional rights.

“It belittles the constitutional right na presumption of innocence,” she said.

“Mababasa mo na lang sa isang umaga red ka na. Hindi mo alam bakit ka red. De-defend sarili mo na hindi mo alam paano ka naging ganoon. Bakit nagkakaroon ng pangwawalang-bahala sa constitutional rights?”

Mawis recalled how during the reign of dictator Ferdinand Marcos, those who were against him were easily red-tagged.

“Hindi ka red. Naninindigan ka kasi may paniniwala ka,” she said.

Te said the red-tagging incident brought about a war on truth and accountability.

“War on accountability—no one is being held accountable for this disinformation. Hold them accountable administratively, legally, accountable for their untruths in the public sphere,” he said.

READ: What is the DND-UP accord and why does its termination matter?

In January, the Department of National Defense unilaterally terminated its agreement with UP that prohibits the entry of military and police officers without prior notice to school officials.

Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana, who ended the pact without consulting UP, claimed that the university had become a breeding ground for communists.

Following this, the AFP published its list, which it later retracted, saying they would investigate how the information got released. – RC, GMA News