Marcos should endorse SC decision vs. red-tagging — Human Rights Watch

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. should publicly endorse the Supreme Court ruling that red-tagging is a threat to a person’s life, liberty, or security, the Human Rights Watch (HRW) said Thursday.

In a statement, the HRW said Marcos should also adopt measures to end red-tagging, such as the abolition of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict, and discipline or prosecute officials who engage in such acts.

“The Marcos administration should abandon red-tagging, including eliminating the abusive task force promoting the practice,” HRW Asia researcher Carlos Conde said.

“Foreign governments that have spoken out on this issue should press the government to put the Supreme Court ruling into effect,” he added.

GMA News Online sought Malacañang's comment on the statement of HRW but has yet to receive a reply as of posting time.

In its ruling, the SC granted a writ of amparo in favor of former Bayan Muna lawmaker Siegfred Deduro, who said he was tagged by state forces as a ranking member of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army (CPP-NPA).

It said that being associated with communists or terrorists makes the person “a target of vigilantes, paramilitary groups, or even state agents.”

“The Supreme Court’s important ruling affirms that red-tagging is a dangerous form of harassment that violates people’s rights. This decision acknowledges the suffering of countless victims of this government policy,” Conde said.

According to the HRW, the government used red-tagging as part of its efforts against communist insurgency. 

It said targeted individuals include leaders and members of leftist activist groups and human rights organizations, as well as religious, indigenous, and environmental groups.

Further, the group said that red-tagging intensified after then President Rodrigo Duterte issued Executive Order 70 in 2018, which created the NTF-ELCAC.

Meanwhile, human rights group KARAPATAN welcomed the decision of the court and similarly called for the abolition of the task force.

“We strongly demand justice for all victims of red tagging and all human rights and international humanitarian violations,” KARAPATAN said in a separate statement.

“We denounce and call for the abolition of the NTF-ELCAC, as the most notorious red-tagging machinery of the Marcos-Duterte administration,” it added.

In February, National Security Council Assistant Director General Jonathan Malaya said it would "not be proper at this time" to abolish NTF-ELCAC following the call of United Nations Special Rapporteur Irene Khan.

In a separate statement, Confederation for Unity, Recognition, and Advancement of Government Employees (COURAGE) expressed hope the SC ruling will translate to the granting of protection writs to more victims of red-tagging and other forms of vilification, especially trade and public sector unionists.

"Public sector unionism have long suffered the attacks made against unions and leaders, most of which are cases of red-tagging...COURAGE, hence, calls for the end of red tagging and vilification campaigns against unionists that are mostly initiated by elements of the state armed forces," it added.

It also urged Marcos to enact policies guaranteeing the right to self-organize, to collectively bargain and negotiate, and to peaceful concerted action including the right to strike of public sector unionists.

"COURAGE also calls for the immediate release of all political prisoners," it added.

Meanwhile, the Free Legal Assistance Group (FLAG) called on the executive department and the Civil Service Commission to direct all public servants to refrain from engaging in red-tagging as well as to hold accountable those who do so.

It also expressed hope that the Supreme Court will include such pronouncements into the Rule on the Writ of Amparo.—AOL, GMA Integrated News