Incoming Security Adviser Carlos on red-tagging: Let's not use labels

Incoming National Security Adviser (NSA) Clarita Carlos on Thursday expressed disapproval of red-tagging, saying nothing can be gained from it, and that the Marcos administration would instead focus on addressing the root causes of insurgency.

“Siguro [perhaps] let's not use labels. Wala naman tayong mahihita nang ganyan [we gain nothing if] we keep on labelling people,” she said in an interview on GMA News’ Unang Balita.

Instead of accusing personalities as communist rebels, she said the next administration under President-elect Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. would address the lack of opportunity and injustice that are inspiring insurgency.

“Pakialaman na lang natin, let's put our energy on operational aspects of really rooting, looking at the roots of insurgency, yung lack of opportunity, yung injustice na hindi naa-address,” she said.

(Let’s put our energy on operational aspects of really looking at the roots of insurgency, like the lack of opportunity, the injustice, which are not being addressed.)

A former University of the Philippines professor, Carlos emphasized that national security also covers the “economic life” of the country, saying that human, food, energy, and water security should all be considered.

Carlos pointed out that it was wrong for the Philippines to copy the concept of national security from the United States, which mainly focuses on military perspective.

“National security is human security. Ano yung threat sa buhay mo [What is a threat to your life] as an individual,” she said.

“I'm sure right now, malayo sa isip mo yung contested South China Sea, malayo sa isip mo yung Quad [the contested South China Sea, the Quad are far from your mind]. They are too far away from your existence from day to day,” she added.

Quad refers to the informal alliance made up of Japan, the United States, India and Australia.  —KBK, GMA News