Health workers’ group seeks CHR intervention over NTF-ELCAC exec’s alleged red-tagging

(REUTERS)

 MANILA, Philippines — A group of healthcare workers filed a complaint before the Commission on Human Rights (CHR), against anofficial of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC), for alleged red-tagging.

 The Alliance of Health Workers filed a complaint against NTF-ELCAC spokesperson and Presidential Communications Operations Office Undersecretary Lorraine Badoy, who allegedly linked the health workers to the communist armed movement.

 “We are saddened by this red-tagging issue, that in the midst of pandemic wherein we risk our lives and health in fighting the deadly virus, some of our fellow health workers have already died just to combat the COVID-19 and yet we are being maliciously attacked and accused of being terrorists by Ms. Badoy and the entire NTF-ELCAC,” AHW secretary general Benjamin Santos said.

 AHW National Treasurer Myleen Tiangco urged Badoy — a medicine graduate herself — to instead help combat COVID-19 amid a surge in the number of infectioms.

 “We call on the attention of Usec Badoy as a medical doctor, stop red-tagging us your fellow health workers. Instead, join us in battling the COVID-19 to speed up its suppression,” Tiangco said.

“Your malicious statement against our organization and your fellow health workers will cause our lives in danger and peril. We are just happily and faithfully serving the people here and no malicious intention of terrorizing our government,” Tiangco added.

Last April 10, AHW also urged the Civil Service Commission and the Office of the Ombudsman to probe Badoy for red-tagging health workers.

 The group was referring to an April 7 column by Badoy for the Philippine News Agency, wherein she said that the AHW is among the organizations or supposed legal fronts created by the Communist Party of the Philippines, thereby having links to the New People’s Army and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (CPP-NPA-NDFP).

 AHW urged CHR to issue a statement of support while clearing the names of the organizations tagged by Badoy as communist fronts. 

According to the group, it is a legitimate organization, registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission and consulted by various government agencies like the Department of Health.

 “We vehemently deny these allegations against us by Usec. Badoy and the NTF-ELCAC […] We cannot allow Usec. Badoy to malign, insult and demean our leaders and our organization,” AHW national president Robert Mendoza said.

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