Latest news with #HouseBill213
GMA Network
04-07-2025
- Politics
- GMA Network
NTF-ELCAC urges House to reconsider bill penalizing ‘red-tagging'
The National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) on Friday called on the House of Representatives to reconsider the bill penalizing 'red-tagging.' In a statement, the anti-insurgency task force's Legal Cooperation Cluster (LCC) pointed out that the possible punishment for red-tagging may be used against legitimate government actions against rebels. 'The NTF-ELCAC, through the LCC, therefore urges Congress to carefully reconsider House Bill No. 213,' the task force said. 'Instead of introducing vague new offenses, we call for the strengthening of existing legal remedies and support for institutions that protect both national security and civil liberties,' he added. Red-tagging is the practice of accusing people and groups of having ties to communist rebels or terrorist groups. The NTF-ELCAC said that without clear legal standards, the bill risks punishing constitutionally protected speech and creating a 'chilling effect' on lawful disclosures, especially those with verified intelligence and testimonies from former insurgents. 'By seeking to criminalize this term without statutory clarity or proof of actual harm, the bill invites abuse, misapplication, and political weaponization,' the task force said. 'Such an approach risks shielding genuine threat actors behind legal ambiguity while penalizing public servants for performing their sworn duties,' it added. The NTF-ELCAC stressed that public officials are duty-bound to warn communities about security threats. 'Criminalizing such disclosures weaken national security efforts and obstruct the government's mandate to maintain peace and order,' it said. In House Bill 213, party-list representatives Antonio Tinio of ACT and Renee Co of Kabataan cited the Supreme Court's ruling in 2024 that red-tagging poses "threats to a person's right to life, liberty, or security." 'This judicial affirmation validates the lived experiences of activists and the long-held position of human rights advocates that red-tagging is a direct and credible threat that warrants decisive legislative action,' the lawmakers said. —Joviland Rita/ VAL, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
01-07-2025
- Politics
- GMA Network
Bill penalizing public officials for red-tagging filed
A bill penalizing red-tagging has been filed in the House of Representatives. Red-tagging is the practice of accusing people and groups of having ties to communist rebels or terrorist groups, and during the Duterte administration was wielded against government critics, including lawmakers, activists, progressive groups, private citizens, and schools. Several deaths have been linked to red-tagging, and in 2024 the Supreme Court ruled that it poses "threats to a person's right to life, liberty, or security." In House Bill 213, Party-list Representatives Antonio Tinio of ACT and Renee Co of Kabataan cited the high court's ruling. 'This judicial affirmation validates the lived experiences of activists and the long-held position of human rights advocates that red-tagging is a direct and credible threat that warrants decisive legislative action,' the lawmakers said. Under the bill, a public official, employee, and/or their agent who red-tags any individual will be meted a jail time of six months to six years. If the individual was injured by reason or by any cause arising from the red-tagging by a public official, employee, and/or their agents, the public official, employee, and their agents will be punished by a degree higher than those in accordance with Articles 262 to 265 (Physical Injuries) of the Revised Penal Code and a fine not exceeding P6,000 plus damages. In the event the individual is killed by reason or by any cause arising from the red-tagging by a public official, employee, and/or their agents, the public official, employee, and their agents will be punished in accordance with Article 248 or Murder of the Revised Penal Code. If the individual involuntarily disappears by reason or by any cause arising from the red-tagging by the public official, employee, and/or their agents, the public official, employee, and their agents, will punished under An Act Defining And Penalizing Enforced Or Involuntary Disappearance. Lastly, any public officer, employee, and/or their agents who are found guilty of any of the aforementioned offenses will be perpetually disqualified to hold public office. The bill defines red-tagging as the act of publicly labeling, vilifying, branding, naming, accusing or caricaturing individuals, groups, or organizations of being state enemies, subversives, armed rebels, communists or terrorists, or fronts thereof, thereby implying or insinuating involvement or engagement in armed rebellion, acts of terrorism or any wrongdoing or criminal acts; provided, that such act is committed with the use, directly or indirectly, of public position and/or of public funds. 'To allow red-tagging to continue with impunity is to sanction violence perpetrated by the state. It is to surrender our fundamental freedoms and allow the state to operate as an instrument of repression rather than a protector of rights,' the lawmakers said. 'Criminalizing this heinous act is an urgent and necessary step to defend our democracy, uphold the rule of law, and protect the lives of the Filipino people,' they added. — BM, GMA Integrated News
