Senators are seriously considering criminalizing the act of red-tagging amid condemnation of party lists allegedly being used as legal fronts of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army-National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF).
Senate Committee on National Defense and Security Chair Panfilo Lacson assures that “we will study and consider the matter, but the bottom line is that such a move will not violate our Constitution.”
Sen. Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan has disclosed that the proposal is “worth looking into.” He points out that “red-tagged individuals have also become targets of killings, harassment and threats, and the impunity persists because no one is punished for such acts.”
However, Malacañang disagrees that red-tagging of innocent individuals may put their lives in danger.
Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque has stated that “we do not agree na kapag red tagging ng inosente delikado. Pero as far as the President is concerned, ‘yung Bayan Muna party list group, kasama na si Cong. Zarate, it’s a statement of fact, and not red tagging. (We do not agree that if innocent people are red-tagged, they are in danger. But as far as the President is concerned, the Bayan Muna Partylist group including Cong. Zarate, it’s a statement of fact, and not red-tagging.” – Report from Mela Lesmoras
