Batas na naglalayong gawing kriminal ang nagre-red-tagging, labis na nakababahala at mapanganib para sa bansa

SINABI ng isang opisyal ng National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict na ang Senate bill na naglalayong parusahan ang red-tagging ay gagamitin lamang para patahimikin o busalan ang mga nagsisiwalat sa mga nagsisilbing legal fronts ng communist rebels.

Ayon kay NTF-ELCAC Spokesperson Undersecretary Lorraine Badoy na ang nasabing batas na naglalayong gawing kriminal ang nagre- red-tagging ay labis na nakababahala at mapanganib para sa bansa.

“This is precisely why the CPP-NPA-NDF (Communist Party of the Philippines -New People’s Army- National Democratic Front) have been able to abuse and cause suffering of our people precisely because of legal covers,” ayon kay Badoy.

Ayon sa Oxford Living Dictionary, ang “red-tagging” o red-baiting ay panliligalig o pag-uusig ng isang tao dahil sa “kilala o pinaghihinalaang simpatya sa komunismo.”

Kadalasan na nare-red-tagged ay inaakusahan din ng destabilization attempts laban sa pamahalaan.

Nauna rito, isang panukalang batas ang inihain ni Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon na magbibigay depinisyon o pakahulugan sa ‘red-tagging’ at magtatakda dito bilang isang criminal activity.

Sinagot naman n Senate President Vicente Sotto III ang mga pahayag ni Badoy kung saan ay sinabi nito na “Then she had better talk to NICA and tell their head to refrain from including the Senate in that practice. Otherwise I will support it.”

Tinukoy ni Sotto ang National Intelligence Coordinating Agency’s red-tagging sa unyon ng mga empleyado ng Senado, isang hakbang na naging dahilan para kay Senador Sotto na suportahan ang nasabing batas.

Sa naging pahayag naman ni Badoy, sinabi nito na “there is no such thing as red-tagging.”

“How is it possible that our own legislators ignore what the Court of Appeals and the Supreme Court have already made clear: that there is no such thing as ‘Redtagging’ because there is no danger to life, liberty and security when someone is identified as ‘member of the CPP NPA NDF’?” anito.

“That’s why it is worrisome that our senators, themselves, are using a word that our Supreme Court, the highest court of the land, said it doesn’t exist.  There is no such thing, this is a weapon used by CPP-NPA-NDF to silence those who blow the cover of the legal fronts,” dagdag na pahayag ni Badoy.

Ang naging sagot naman ni Drilon ay iimbitahan niya ang NTF-ELCAC official sa committee hearing para bigyan siya ng pagkakataon na ihayag ang kanyang saloobin.

“We seek to punish Red-tagging because it is worrisome and dangerous. It has a chilling effect. I will invite Usec. Badoy to appear during the committee hearing on this bill, as I am certain that there are strongly held contrary views. That will give her the chance to support her opposition to the bill,” ani Drilon.

Ani Badoy, umaasa ang NTF-ELCAC na titingnan ng Senate inquiry ang sinasabing “infiltration” ng communist rebels sa pamahalaan.

“It is really high time that we talk about it. The opportunity has presented itself. We really hope this Senate hearing into infiltration of the government by the CPP-NDF pushes through,” aniya pa rin.

Para naman kay Senator Panfilo Lacson, mayroon ng mga batas para tugunan ang red-tagging, subalit hindi naman maaaring pagbawalan ang isang senador na maghain ng batas na magpaparusa sa nasabing pagkilos.

“The defense committee’s recommendation as adopted by the senate in plenary is that there are sufficient laws and even legal procedures available to address red-tagging or any similar act,” ayon kay Lacson.

“However, we cannot also prevent any senator from filing any bill which will be read and referred to an appropriate committee. My position as Chairman of the Committee on Defense, Security, Peace and Unification doesn’t change—there is no need to criminalize red-tagging for reasons I have already stated,” dagdag na pahayag ng senador. (Daris Jose)