Hontiveros eyes bill criminalizing red-tagging after killing of 9 activists

MANILA, Philippines — Senator Risa Hontiveros said Monday she is considering filing a bill that would criminalize red-tagging following the “cowardly crackdown” by police and military forces in separate raids over the weekend that resulted in the death of nine activists.

In a statement, Hontiveros slammed the killings, saying that Southern Tagalog “lost nine of its community organizers because of this administration’s high level of disrespect towards basic human rights.”

“There is no denying that this scale of violence, injustice, and impunity is being perpetrated by this administration. The President’s recent televised threats of red-tagging and outright murder are unbridled human rights violations that must be held to account,” she said.

“I am calling for a thorough investigation by the Commission on Human Rights. We will also consider filing a bill penalizing red-tagging as a separate and distinct crime because those fighting to protect our basic rights should not be silenced,” she added.

Earlier, the Senate defense committee said there is no longer a need to criminalize red-tagging in the Philippines since there are already legal remedies available to an aggrieved party.

But the Makabayan bloc at the House of Representatives had expressed its belief that current legal remedies against red-tagging are “insufficient, defective and lacking.”

On Sunday, at least nine people were killed and six others were arrested in simultaneous police operations across Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, and Quezon) region, according to police.

Activist group Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (BAYAN) said among those killed in the crackdown was their Cavite coordinator Manny Asuncion, while their Laguna spokesperson Mags Camora was among those who were arrested.

BAYAN said the house of their Batangas coordinator Lino Baez was also raided.

Hontiveros said that freedom of speech and expression and freedom of assembly are guaranteed under the 1987 Constitution.

“Hindi pwedeng ipawalang-bisa ng pamahalaan ang mga karapatan na ito kahit kailan,” she said.

“We share our deepest condolences and sympathy with the families of the victims of this event, and pay tribute to their courage and commitment. We also hope for the release of all those unjustly detained,” she added.

EDV