Año vows gov’t won’t tolerate cops ‘red-tagging’ anyone under anti-terror bill

Interior Secretary Eduardo Año.
INQUIRER FILE PHOTO / NINO JESUS ORBETA

MANILA, Philippines — The government will not tolerate red-tagging activities of police officers against progressive groups and other individuals once the anti-terror bill becomes law, Interior Secretary Eduardo Año said on Wednesday.

“It has never been a government position. We always respect our citizens’ right or freedom of expression,” Año said during a Kapihan sa Manila Bay online forum on anti-terror bill when asked about dangers of abusing the anti-terror bill as some policemen call progressive groups and even members of the Congress as terrorists.

“As long as they are not committing any crime or inciting to sedition or rebellion, they can actually express their grievances through peaceful means of course. So, hindi natin tino-tolerate or pinapayagan yan (We are not tolerating or allowing this. [red-tagging]),” Año added.

To recall, Bayan Muna flagged screenshots of posts from Facebook page of police offices in Caraga Police Regional Office -13 which showed faces of Bayan Muna Rep. Carlos Zarate as an example of activists linked in terrorism.

Commission on Human Rights (CHR) Commissioner Gwen Pimentel-Gana warned that red-tagging is rampant among police officers who will implement the proposed measure.

“‘Yun nga ang ano yung red tagging, rampant ngayon. Sometimes, unfortunately, it is the law enforcers who are doing it, so we are trying to avoid the provisions, restrictions (in the anti-terror bill) can actually result in red tagging,” Gana said during the same online press conference.

(Red-tagging is rampant right now. Sometimes unfortunately, it is the law enforcers who are doing it, so we are trying to avoid the provisions, restrictions in the bill that can actually result in red tagging.)

The Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020 is now up for the President’s signature after Congress sent the copy to Malacañang last June 9.

JPV