Incoming NICA chief says state forces never red tag, Joma does

Incoming National Intelligence Coordinating Agency (NICA) Director-General Ricardo de Leon said Thursday that state forces do not resort to red-tagging personalities and groups critical of the government.

Interviewed on ANC, De Leon denied claims that the government is linking personalities and groups to the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP), saying its founding chairman, Jose Maria Sison, did it.

“First, let me clarify that...the government forces, we do not do red-tagging. Binibigyan natin ng emphasis. Sino ba yung nagsabing mang-red tag, 'di ba si Joma Sison?” he said.

(Let me be clear ... the government forces, we do not do red-tagging. Who says let's do red-tagging, isn’t it Joma Sison?)

According to De Leon, they have videos showing Sison naming groups affiliated with the communist rebel group.

Earlier, the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) ordered internet service providers to block websites allegedly linked to the CPP at National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon Jr.'s request.

Asked about the inclusion of independent media outlets Bulatlat and Pinoy Weekly in the list of websites provided by Esperon to the NTC, De Leon said the blocking of these sites has no basis.

“My take on that is that I presume and I assume really that knowing Secretary Jun Esperon, kung gumawa siya ng request, these are validated reports at saka may bases,” he added.

(My take on that is I presume, knowing Secretary Jun Esperon, that if he made a request, these are based on validated reports and with enough bases.)

While acknowledging that the groups should be given the chance to refute the allegations before blocking their websites, De Leon maintained that the NTC just followed its process.

On Thursday, the CPP said only seven out of the over 20 websites ordered blocked by the NTC are affiliated with the party.

Earlier this month, incoming National Security Adviser Clarita Carlos expressed disapproval of red-tagging, saying nothing can be gained from it.

Instead of accusing personalities as communist rebels, she said the next administration under President-elect Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. would address the lack of equal opportunities and the injustices that inspire insurgency.

Outgoing Senator Panfilo Lacson said there is a legal basis if the websites that were ordered to be blocked are related to the financing of the CPP and its armed wing, the New People's Army (NPA).

"If the blocked websites had to do with financing the activities of the CPP-NPA which the Anti-Terrorism Council had already designated as a terrorist organization, there is legal basis under the law for such action undertaken by the NTC," Lacson, principal author of the Anti-Terrorism Law, said in a text message.

"That being said, the action may be challenged before the court because it is the basic right of an 'aggrieved' party to do so as it has something to do with the interpretation of the law," he added.

Senator Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa, meanwhile, lauded the NTC for "exercising its regulatory powers over organizations that are inimical to national security."—with Hana Bordey/LBG/VBL, GMA News