UP professors: Red-tagging happened during Marcos, Arroyo administrations

Some professors from the University of the Philippines say that red-tagging by the military is not a new tactic.

UP Film Institute and College of Mass Communication Professor Roland Tolentino said the Armed Forces of the Philippines also used this tactic during the late strongman Ferdinand Marcos' Martial Law and the administration of former President now Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

"Nagpatuloy itong vilification nung panahon ni Pangulong Arroyo na kung saan mismo yung United Nations special rapporteur on human rights ay nagsabi na systemic ang nagaganap na political killings sa panahon na ito dahil vini-vilify muna ng AFP ang mga progressive sectors. I-ne-name sila bilang komunista para sila ay mapatay," Tolention said during a press conference Friday.

"Nagpapatuloy ito sa kasalukyan. Ang mismong AFP ay nagrerevert back na naman sa napakalumang taktika na red scaring at red baiting," he added.

The AFP earlier identified schools where the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) is allegedly recruiting students for the supposed Red October ouster plot.

The University of the Philippines was among the schools mentioned.

Brigadier General Antonio Parlade Jr., Armed Forces deputy chief of staff for operations said that some schools "notorious" for school activism even have a film screening of the dark years of Martial Law.

Professor Rose Roque, who teaches Filipino, defended the film screenings, saying that films are an effective way of teaching their students.

"Nakikita namin to sa loob man ng klase o sa labas ay epektibong paraan para matuto ang studyante," she said.

"Malaki ang papel ng pelikula, para makita nila ang ugnayan ng wika, kultura at lipunan," she added.

Roque said that as teachers, they are obligated to teach their students.

She also said they have a right to academic freedom and freedom of expression.

"Hindi na to bago kaya hindi na rin kami gulat na gulat na merong ganitong red-tagging. Ang amin lang naninidgigan kami sa academic freedom, sa freedom of expression," she said. — RSJ, GMA News