A LAWMAKER urged Congress on Sunday to swiftly pass two measures seeking to criminalize red-tagging in the country to exact punishment on those taking part in it.
In a statement on Sunday, Party-list Rep. France L. Castro deplored how red-tagging continues, citing a recent seminar conducted by the Philippine military at a school in Rizal province where it allegedly insinuated that social and political activists were communists.
“The government should focus on providing quality education and protecting our youth, not spreading fear and misinformation,” she said.
Earlier this month, the Supreme Court came out with a ruling that red-tagging is a threat to a person’s right to life, liberty, and security. Ms. Castro said it is about time Congress passed the bills against red-tagging that have been pending before the House Committee on Justice since 2022 be passed.
The supposed seminar held by the military disregarded the High Court ruling on red-tagging, she said. “[This is] a blatant disregard of the Supreme Court’s ruling that red-tagging is a dangerous practice that puts lives in peril,” she said. — Kenneth Christiane L. Basilio
