MANILA, Philippines — The order of the Supreme Court (SC) to look into allegations of harassment and “red tagging” of members of rights groups Karapatan, Gabriela, and Rural Missionaries of the Philippines (RMP) is just standard operating procedure, Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said Thursday.
Guevarra, who was named government caretaker by President Rodrigo Duterte while he is in Japan for a four-day working visit, issued the statement after the High Court granted the writs of amparo and habeas data in favor of the cause-oriented groups against what they claimed to be threats against their lives and liberty coming from state forces.
The SC also ordered the respondents, which include Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana, National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon Jr., Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo, and Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Chief of Staff Gen. Benjamin Madrigal Jr. to comment on or before June 13.
READ: SC orders probe on ‘red tagging’ allegations vs gov’t
“That’s SOP. It’s simply an order to comment,” Guevarra told reporters in a text message.
“It doesn’t rule on the merits of the petition as yet,” he added.
The case stemmed from the groups’ allegations that they have been threatened, harassed, and red-tagged by the government due to their advocacies.
In the same ruling, the SC ordered the Court of Appeals to conduct a hearing on the merits of the case on June 18 and decide the case within 10 days after it is submitted for decision. (Editor: Eden Estopace)