CBCP head slams red-tagging, says even Jesus was red-tagged

Kalookan Pablo Virgilio David. President, Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines

MANILA, Philippines — Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) president and Kalookan Bishop Pablo Virgilio David denounced the red-tagging of certain individuals, saying that even Jesus Christ was red-tagged as a “subversive.”

“Siguro kaya Red ang kulay ng Biyernes Santo. Paalala din ito na ang ikinamatay ni Hesus sa krus ay red-tagging,” David said during his Good Friday homily at the San Roque Cathedral in Caloocan City.

(Maybe that’s the reason why Red is the color of Good Friday. To remind us that Jesus died on the cross because of red-tagging.)

“Organizer daw kasi siya ng mga poor fishermen sa Galilea, naglalagi pa siya sa mga liblib na lugar tulad ng mga disyerto at bundok, at related pa siya sa isang kilalang aktibistang propeta na si Juan Bautista at maanghang din magsalita. Ayun, subersibo daw,” the Bishop went on.

(He was an organizer of poor fishermen in Galilee, he went to remote places like deserts and mountains, and he was related to  John the Baptist, the activist prophet who was very critical. So he was accused of being a subversive.)

David also noted the arrest of Dr. Maria Natividad Castro who was a victim of red-tagging.

“Siyempre dahil napakatalino at napakagaling na doktor, dahil titulado, mataas ang credentials at pwedeng yumaman sa pagdodoktor, suspetsado kaagad siya porke’t pinili niyang sa mga dukha sa mga liblib na baryo magsilbi bilang doktor,” David said of Castro.

(Of course because she is a very smart and outstanding doctor, a titled one, who could be rich by practicing her profession, she was suspected because she chose to serve as doctor to the poor living in isolated barrios.)

The 53-year old doctor, who is also a human rights and public health advocate who served indigenous communities in Mindanao, was arrested for kidnapping. The charge was later dismissed.

David said: “Sabi nga ng isang madre, ‘Ba’t ba ganyan, porke’t nagsi-serve sa mga dukha, komunista kaagad? Di ba pwedeng ‘Kristiyano’ muna?’”

(Just like what a nun said: “Just because you are serving the poor, you are already a communist? Can’t we be a Christian first?”)

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