Justice secretary ‘disturbed’ by Red-tagging

The recent incidents of Red-tagging has become “quite disturbing” to Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra and these may have possible links to the controversial Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020. He said it was “very possible” that the controversial antiterror law may have emboldened security forces to commit acts that are considered “reckless engangerment” in democratic countries. Guevarra said Congress should come up with a bill criminalizing Red-tagging. “If Congress is minded to investigate and prosecute actual acts which are loosely called Red-tagging at this time, then appropriate legislation should be enacted,” Guevarra said. Guevarra pointed out that at present, those involved in Red-tagging can only be charged for other offenses since there is no law that can punish exactly the acts considered as Red-tagging. However, Guevarra said he believed President Duterte was not likely to certify it as urgent, saying it did not fall in the administration’s legislative agenda. —TINA G. SANTOS