2 Panay activists ask Ombudsman to sanction soldiers for red-tagging

ILOILO CITY, Philippines — State forces, who are usually taking to court militants they accuse of colluding with communist rebels, are now on the receiving end of a complaint lodged by two activists from Iloilo and Aklan provinces on Panay Island.

Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) Panay secretary general Elmer Forro and Bayan-Aklan spokesperson Kim-Sin Tugna filed the administrative complaint against two military officers who allegedly linked them to the rebel movement on their blocktime radio programs last year.

The two, in a complaint mailed to the Office of the Ombudsman in Quezon City, named Staff Sergeants Nathan dela Cruz and Ernel Mallan of the Philippine Army’s 3rd Infantry Division (3ID)-3rd Civil-Military Operations Battalion as respondents.

READ: A slap in the face of red-taggers

Forro and Tugna, in their Dec. 20, 2024 complaint only made public recently, asked the antigraft office to cite Dela Cruz and Mallan for grave misconduct for linking them to the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) and its armed wing, the New People’s Army (NPA), and political front, the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP).

They also sought the suspension of Dela Cruz and Mallan pending the investigation of the case and for the soldiers.

“This culture of vilification and harassment has extended beyond verbal attacks. Military units under the 301st Infantry Brigade engaged in surveillance operations, posted defamatory statements, and spread fear within communities in Panay by deploying troops in civilian communities,” Bayan said in a statement Monday on the complaint filed.

It added: “Such actions infringe on free speech, freedom of assembly, and freedom of association enshrined in the Philippine Constitution and recognized under international law.”

The Inquirer tried to get a statement from 3ID, but it has yet to receive a response as of Tuesday.

‘Recruiters’

Dela Cruz and Mallan were accused of repeatedly Red-tagging the complainants, tagging them as alleged “recruiters” of the CPP-NPA-NDFP, in their radio programs—“Spearhead Times” in K5 News FM Kalibo and “Sundalo Ako Ng Bayan” (I am a Soldier of the Nation) over Radyo Todo Kalibo—between May and October last year.

The complaint cited the 2023 case of Deduro vs Vinoya, publicized by the Supreme Court in 2024, which considered red-tagging as a threat.

The case also involved an activist from Iloilo, former Bayan Muna Rep. Siegfred Deduro.

“By repeatedly red-tagging complainant Tugna, other activists, and Bayan, the respondents intentionally and deliberately, in conspiracy with one another, with malice, and in a highly oppressive and discriminatory manner, in contravention of law, rules, and standards as discussed below, and in violation of the victims’ civil and political rights,” Forro and Tugna said.

The repeated Red-tagging, the complaint said, “threatened and endangered their lives, liberty, and security, as well as that of their family members and colleagues.”

Forro and Tugna also accused the two Army soldiers of violating Republic Act No. 11313, or the Safe Spaces Act, when they called activist Rovelyn Tugna a “sexytary” during their Aug. 25, 2024 broadcast.