IBP president Cayosa urges gov't policy to stop red-tagging

The Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) on Monday urged the government to have a “firm and clear” policy against red-tagging to finally put an end to the “unfair" and “illegal” practice.

Speaking on “The Mangahas Interviews,” IBP National President Domingo Cayosa said a policy against red-tagging would help exact accountability in instances where individuals are wrongfully tagged as terrorists or rebels.

“Nakikita po natin na ang red-tagging, it prejudices the subject. Nate-threaten sila, their reputation is besmirched. It causes tension, anxiety, and threats. Hindi lang po sa kanila kundi pati sa kanilang mga mahal sa buhay [at] kaibigan,” he said.

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) recently came under fire for publishing on Facebook a list of University of the Philippines graduates who it claimed joined the armed rebel group New People’s Army (NPA) and died or were captured in encounters.

The list included several professionals who have denied any involvement with the NPA.

The AFP has taken down the list and apologized for inconsistencies.

“Hindi puwedeng palagi na lang sorry nang sorry,” Cayosa said. “We are urging government… to make a clear and firm policy against red-tagging.”

“Alam po natin ang totoong pagso-sorry, inaamin mong mali ka at nangangakong hindi na mauulit. E ito pong red-tagging paulit ulit e,” he added.

Cayosa said those who were wrongfully accused of being NPA members could either accept the apology or file administrative, criminal, or civil cases against authorities.

The IBP chief also slammed the red-tagging by the AFP as “reckless” and warned that it could put people’s lives at risk.

“Kung ‘yan ang mangyari sa ordinaryong Pilipino.... Imagine the terror and the prejudice that will befall them because of that red-tagging,” he said.

“They don’t have the chance or the capacity to clear themselves. Bago pa magawa ‘yan, sila ay na-threaten na, maaaring naatake na, at yung iba napapatay na by misguided and unscrupulous elements. Tama po ba ‘yun? It’s unfair, it’s illegal.” -NB, GMA News