NUPL asks Ombudsman to dismiss Esperon et al over 'red tagging'

The National Union of Peoples' Lawyers (NUPL) has asked the Office of the Ombudsman to dismiss from the service three officials of the government's anti-communist insurgency task force for "red-tagging" its members.

In an administrative complaint filed Wednesday, the NUPL accused National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon, Jr., Southern Luzon Command chief Lt. Gen. Antonio Parlade, Jr., and Communications Undersecretary Lorraine Marie Badoy of violating the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees.

All three officials are part of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC).

The lawyers' group asked the Ombudsman to suspend the three pending an administrative investigation and to eventually dismiss them from the service with forfeiture of their benefits.

NUPL president Edre Olalia said this is the fifth complaint filed against the perpetrators of "red-tagging," or the practice of labelling activists and progressive personalities and organizations as communist terrorists or fronts.

Many activists accused of communist links have reported being harassed and surveilled by state forces, and some, including NUPL founding member Benjamin Ramos, have been killed.

"In this case, respondents have abused the offices they hold and have taken advantage of the positions by persecuting and espousing lies and unfounded accusations and false attributions against NUPL and its members," the NUPL said in a 47-page complaint.

The lawyers' union said Esperon, Parlade, and Badoy have waged a "smear campaign" and persecuted activists, advocacy and civil society organizations, labelling them as communist rebels or fronts "without any credible, competent and admissible evidence."

"Hiding behind their status as public officials and appearing to justify their actions as having been made pursuant to the functions of the NTF-ELCAC, respondents also acted in breach of libel laws and, as discussed above, violated ethical standards set by R.A. 6713," the NUPL said.

The group accused Parlade in particular of making "rabid statements" against its members, including former congressman Neri Colmenares, on various platforms.

It also claimed that the NTF-ELCAC went on a "red-tagging spree" against people's organizations as soon as it was created.

The group said the actions of the three officials violate their lawyer-members' rights to life, liberty and security and hamper the exercise of their profession.

Citing attacks against its members, the NUPL last year asked for legal protection. Though the Supreme Court issued the writ of amparo, the Court of Appeals, which heard the case, dismissed their suit.

The NUPL is appealing before the High Court. -NB, GMA News