IBON files raps vs. Esperon, Parlade, Badoy for red-tagging

Independent think tank IBON Foundation on Monday filed an administrative complaint against a military general and two government officials for red-tagging or identifying the research group as terrorists.

Named respondents in the complaint filed before the Office of the Ombudsman were Southern Luzon Command chief Major General Antonio Parlade, Jr., Presidential Communications and Operations Office (PCOO) Undersecretary Lorraine Badoy, and National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon.

IBON, represented by Executive Director Sonny Africa and IBON Board of Trustees Chairperson Bishop Solito Toquero, accused Parlade, Badoy and Esperon of violating the Ombudsman Act of 1989 and Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees for abuse of authority, negligent performance of duties as public officials and exhibiting conduct that is grossly disregardful of the public interest, politically biased, unresponsive to the public, distorting nationalism and patriotism and undemocratic.

IBON said that these individuals have been red-tagging them for over a year now in at least 20 instances, including in the recent television interview of Badoy when she responded to IBON’s calling out of the PCOO’s report on joblessness and infrastructure data by calling IBON as communists.

Likewise, IBON also cited that Parlade, in his recent visit to Australia, had tagged IBON for terrorist financing without basis.

“IBON formally wrote the Armed Forces of the Philippines and National Security Council (NSC), as well as had a meeting with the latter, to ask for the so-called evidence for the allegations. However, despite repeated requests, the Armed Forces and NSC have refused to provide anything despite showing these to media, diplomats, government agencies, and even private sector groups,” IBON said in a statement.

“IBON maintains that it is nothing more than a SEC-registered foundation that publishes its sociopolitical-economic analysis for all the public to see. Its research work enjoys a reputation of being independent, evidence-based, and credible. IBON promotes nationalist and progressive ideas, as well as explores alternatives and promotes policies that serve the interests and aspirations of the people. [And in] doing these, it has never advocated for the taking up of arms to overthrow the present government nor any past governments,” IBON it said in its complaint.

In addition, IBON said its research work on social justice, real economic development, environmental sustainability and democracy, among others, are widely used by various non-government and people’s organizations in the pursuit of their own advocacy work.

“Respondents do not only malign, discredit and dishonor IBON’s integrity and reputation built over decades of hard work and service to the people. They have also put our lives and security at risk. We, thus, come before this Honorable Office to seek accountability from the Respondents for their actions. We strongly feel that Respondents should be held administratively liable for violating the law, otherwise, they will be further emboldened to keep completely disregarding our rights and the rights of others, ” IBON said in its complaint.

IBON then underscored that such red-tagging inflict multiple injuries on its members such as: monetary damages in the form of legal expenses in having to come to the Ombudsman to seek accountability from the respondents; of beefing up the organization’s security; of lost opportunities; of tarnished reputation; of anxiety and sleepless nights over concerns for their safety given the present climate of impunity.

“It is our hope that, with this complaint, we are also able to remind not only the respondents but our government officials of their oath of office and the norms of conduct to which they must always adhere to; the basic requirements of the rule of law, due process and fairness; the essence of democracy; and of the lesson of history,” it added. —KBK, GMA News