MANILA, Philippines — Senate Francis Pangilinan on Tuesday raised concerns over what he said is the security sector’s “sweeping generalization” against student activists.
During a Senate hearing on the alleged red-tagging activities of military officials, the security sector presented a video flashing images of slain young activists allegedly recruited by communist rebels.
“I’m very concerned about some of the video materials presented particularly the matter of students activists… It may be true to a certain extent, student activists ended up being killed because they have become the NPA (New People’s Army) or part of the NPA,” Pangilinan said.
“That may be partly true but that is not the whole truth. The simplistic, sweeping generalization, I feel, is presenting half truths up to a certain extent,” he added.
Pangilinan said this as he pointed out that he and fellow opposition lawmaker, Senator Risa Hontiveros, were both student activists during the Marcos regime.
“Senator Risa Hontiveros and myself, we were both student activists, we were both student leaders during the Marcos regime… Senator Risa and myself were student activists. We are in the Senate now,” he added.
Before this, Hontiveros also called out the security officials for presenting such a video.
“Speaking as a mother, speaking as a long-time peace advocate as well since the past three decades, but mostly speaking as a mother, tama po ba talaga na magpakita tayo ng mga ganyang mga video tungkol sa mga bata mga anak ng kapwa magulang natin who are now dead and cannot speak for themselves?” she said.
Senator Panfilo Lacson, who is leading the hearing as chair of the Senate defense panel, said he understood where Hontiveros is coming from but said that the issue of student activists is part of the hearing’s discussion.
“This is part of the discussion. This is part of the red-tagging issue raised against the Armed Forces of the Philippines and they’re here to present their side of the issue,” Lacson said.
“It’s just unfortunate and sad that the militant groups are not present here this morning so that they can rebut immediately what is being presented by the security sector,” he added.