Divide and crackdown vs oposisyon
RED-TAGGING SPREE, ‘POLITICAL WEAPON’ NG DUTERTE ADMIN

ni Rose Novenario

GINAGAMIT ng administrasyong Duterte ang walang habas na red-tagging bilang political weapon para hatiin ang oposisyon, ayon sa Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan).

Sinabi ng Bayan sa isang kalatas, ang red-tagging ay bahagi ng election-related crackdown laban sa oposisyon, kasama si presidential bet, Vice President Leni Robredo, mga progresibong mambabatas at ang lumalakas na support base ng opposition candidates.

Kinondena ng Bayan ang ‘coordinated red-tagging statements’ na pinakawalan ni Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte, ng National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC), at ilang kandidatong kontra sa kandidatura ni Robredo.

“The red-tagging spree is part of the Duterte government’s election-related crackdown targeting the political opposition, which includes Robredo, the Makabayan bloc and the growing support base of the Opposition candidates,” pahayag ng Bayan.

Anang Bayan, ang red-tagging statements ay walang basehan, iresponsable, at maaaring magdulot ng panganib sa buhay ng mga indibidwal at mga tagasuporta ni Robredo na ‘minarkahang komunista.’

Giit ng grupo, desperadong hakbang at maaaring bahagi ng malawakang pagmamaniobra ang red-tagging para idiskaril ang pagtaas ng popularidad ni Robredo habang papalapit ang araw ng halalan.

Tinukoy ng NTF-ELCAC ang pangalan ng ilang Bayan leaders kahit walang inilalabas na ebidensiya para suportahan ang bintang na mga opisyal sila ng Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP).

“Red-tagging could be part of an elaborate sinister maneuver to stem the momentum of Robredo’s campaign and prevent the opposition from gaining more support ahead of the elections,” sabi ng Bayan.

“Duterte and NTF-ELCAC has no credibility given their notorious record of using lies and fabricated evidence against activists and progressive groups. Nevertheless, it is worrisome that they continue to engage in red-tagging despite the documented pattern that this causes direct harm and violence,” dagdag ng grupo.

Dapat anilang panagutin ang mga opisyal ng pamahalaan sa paggamit ng kanilang tanggapan para pagbantaan ang mga lider-aktibista at mga tagasuporta ni Robredo.

“As public officials, they should be held accountable for using their office to threaten activist leaders and supporters of Robredo. They could be liable too for committing an election offense during the campaign period.”