The Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (BAYAN) – Panay slammed the red-tagging of its spokesperson and other progressive group leaders and lawyers in Iloilo City. Posters bearing faces of progressive group leaders and lawyers were seen hanging in several places in Iloilo City branding them as members of the CPP-NPA-NDF and that they are qualified to avail of the government’s Enhanced Community Livelihood Integration Program (E-CLIP) for the rebel returnees. Bayan Panay deputy spokesperson Bryan Bosque, expressed concern over this new round of red-tagging of himself and his colleagues as it jeopardizes their safety and security.
According to Bosque, this is not only malicious but also aims at silencing them. He also pointed out most of their slain comrades were subjected to red-tagging before they were killed. “If they were not killed, they were jailed or filed with trumped-up charges just like what happened to Bayan Panay’s secretary general Elmer Forro,” he added. Bosque also called the act a ‘cowardly deed’ as the people behind this red-tagging spree are masking themselves in what he called a non-existent organization. The militant leader also believes that these recent vilifications on them are done because of the upcoming celebration of International Labor Day, where activists and militants are expected to march the streets in demand of workers and people’s rights.
BAYAN-Panay again calls on local government officials to investigate these acts that put their lives in danger and hold accountable who is behind this senseless and baseless red-tagging of activists in Iloilo City. They likewise challenged the city government to defend activists and human rights defenders because it has now become a trend, especially when you call out several government officials and policies. According to Bosque, the intervention of the City Government of Iloilo in this red-tagging incident is very much needed as no one is spared from these malicious attacks. He pointed out that even community pantry organizers are red-tagged. For him, it seems like, for the eyes of the red-taggers, everyone else is red or a communist or a terrorist.
Reference: BRYAN BOSQUE Deputy Spokesperson, BAYAN Panay
