Activist hopes SC ruling on red-tagging will also benefit other victims

FILE PHOTO: The Supreme Court logo. (INQUIRER/LYN RILLON)

MANILA, Philippines — Activist and former Bayan Muna representative Siegfried Deduro expressed optimism on Thursday that a Supreme Court (SC) ruling which declared that red-tagging and other similar actions can threaten a person’s life, liberty, and security will benefit others with similar cases as him.

“I hope that this landmark SC ruling will benefit thousands of other activists and political dissenters, like me, who are victims of political persecution and red-tagging,” Deduro said in a statement.

READ: Supreme Court: Red-tagging threatens one’s right to life, security

“I am glad that the Supreme Court en banc decided in favor of my petition for the Writ of Amparo, which was earlier dismissed by the RTC (Regional Trial Court) Judge of Iloilo,” he added.

In a decision on Wednesday, the high court said that victims of red tagging, vilification, labelling, and guilt by association can avail of a writ of amparo.

A writ of amparo is issued to individuals whose right to life, liberty, and security was violated or threatened by another person.

In 2020, military officers alleged that Deduro was a member of the insurgent group Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army, which prompted Deduro to file a petition for a writ of amparo to the Iloilo RTC.

READ: Red-tagging a threat to life and liberty – SC

The Iloilo RTC dismissed Deduro’s petition, but in the Supreme Court’s decision released on Wednesday, the decision of the Iloilo RTC was reversed.

The RTC was also ordered to conduct a summary hearing, the decision added.