Makabayan bloc files complaint vs officials of AFP over ‘red-tagging’

PHOTO by FAYE ORELLANA / INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines — The Makabayan Bloc filed a complaint-affidavit on Wednesday at the Commission on Elections (Comelec) against high ranking officials of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) for “red tagging.”

Kabataan party-list Representative Sarah Elago, ACT Teachers party-list Representative France Castro, and Gabriela party-list Representative Emmi De Jesus filed the complaint-affidavit before the law department of the Comelec in Intramuros, Manila.

The document was filed against Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana; AFP Chief of Staff General Benjamin Madrigal Jr.; Major General Bienvenido Datuin, Commander of the Civil Relations Service (CRS) of the AFP; and “any official and employee under their orders who are responsible for the acts complained herein.”

The complaint of Makabayan bloc stemmed from the Facebook post of AFP-CRS last April 13, tagging the group as a “house fronts” of the Communist Party of the Philippines, the New People’s Army, and the National Democratic Front.

According to the post, “the Makabayan bloc in Congress is the extreme-left bloc at the House of Representatives and at the same time, is considered as the legal front of the CPP-NPA, and performing tasks as part of the revolutionary movement‘s tactic to exploit the Legislative branch of the government.”

“Partylist groups Bayan Muna, Anakpawis, Gabriela, ACT and Kabataan have advocacies consistent with the aims of the CPP-NPA,” the post added.

In its 11 page complaint-affidavit, the Makabayan bloc accused the said respondents of coercion, threats, intimidation, and terrorism, partisan political activity or intervention of public officers and employees, and use of public funds and equipment and facilities for an election campaign in violation of Article 261 of the Omnibus Election Code.

“It is high time that we call up the PNP and the AFP, especially its civil relations service, for vilifying Makabayan and this youth representation for standing up for people’s interest,” Elago said in an interview.

“Ginagamit ang pulis at militar para siraan at maliitin ang panawagan ng taong bayan para sa makabuluhang reporma, kasama na ang pagtigil sa pamamaslang, sa pag-abuso, at sa impustisya, lalong lalo’t na sa paggamit ng mga taong nasa kapangyarihan para maatake mismo ang grupo na nagsusulong ng kanilang mga batayan,” she added. 

Under the complaint, the group said that the Facebook post, that is still available as of this writing, meant to “cripple” and “sabotage” the campaigning process of the Makabayan party-list member ahead of the midterm polls.

Aside from this, the group contested that the post puts a “dirty and dangerous tactic of red-baiting” among its members.

Castro also echoed the call of Elago that the Facebook post is a form of “electioneering” given that it is using the office of the AFP to red-tag the Makabayan bloc.

“Maling-mali na sabihin na kami sa Makabayan ay terorista, ang pinaglalaban lang talaga natin ay iyong mga hinaing ng mga mamamayan na magkaroon sila ng boses sa Kongreso,” she said.

With this, De Jesus said that the post affects the campaigning of members of the Makabayan bloc in such a way that it might soon bring fear to the public.

Nevertheless, she said that the public still has a positive perspective for Makabayan.

She also urged Comelec to probe red-tagging incidents happening in the country as election day comes near.

“Ito ay pagkalampag na rin sa Comelec na may gawin rin kasi bilang agency na dapat nangangasiwa doon sa maayos at demokratikong proseso (ng eleksyon) na talagang nilolook forward ng mamamayan,” De Jesus said.

“Pagkatapos parang babalewalain lang ng Commission on Elections itong mga ganitong kaganapan, na mayroon talagang nire-redtag, mayroong mga kaguluhan,” she added.

Apart from Makabayan bloc, it could be remembered that an alliance of Catholic religious congregations in Mindanao has also been involved in red-tagging incident by the PNP. /je

READ: Religious leaders slam government for red-tagging missionaries