Panelo: Let law takes its course on red-tagging complaint

MANILA, Philippines — Government officials accused of “red-tagging” the Ibon Foundation, a policy research group, are constitutionally presumed to be innocent and observing regularity in performing their duty.

Malacañang said it would let the law take its course and let the Ombudsman probe the Red-tagging raps lodged against three key officials of the Duterte administration.

“We will let the law take its course. The Ombudsman is an independent body, a constitutional body at that. And it will perform its task,” presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo told a press briefing on Tuesday.

The Ibon Foundation has filed a complaint against Presidential Communications Undersecretary Lorraine Badoy, National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon Jr. and Southern Luzon Command chief Maj. Gen. Antonio Parlade Jr.

The think tank alleged that the three officials abused their power and authority for their vilification campaign against the Ibon Foundation, tagging it as a leftist front.—Julie M. Aurelio