BAGONG Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan)-Panay strongly condemns the red-tagging of human rights defenders running for positions in the coming barangay elections.
Wednesday morning, leaflets were left in the vicinity of Aksyon Radyo Iloilo along Diversion Road, Mandurriao, Iloilo City. Written on the leaflets were the names of seven persons and a warning not to vote for them because they are âsupporters of terrorist CPP-NPAâ.
The leaflets were marked with the logo of âtaxpayers of Western Visayasâ with a figure of a rifle.
CCTV footages show a person who appeared as a female, in hooded jacket leaving bunches of leaflets along pathways in the said places on the previous night. Afterwards she went inside a car that immediately drove away.
The seven who were named are the following: Corazon Coo and Susanito Talibo, incumbent punong barangays, Mary Adrivene Dalida and Mary Grace Lobaton, incumbent barangay kagawads, and Vivian Asong, Nelson Licoto and Rodolfo Asis, candidates for kagawad.
The same leaflets were seen in barangays Punong and Sinikway, Lapuz in Iloilo City and in the towns of Pavia and Zarraga, Iloilo.
Red-tagging has been subject of condemnation by human rights advocates in the past. It destroys oneâs reputation and worse, exposes them to dangers to personal security.
Red-tagging is harassment and intimidation in itself and in recent history has been a prelude to more severe violations such as arrest and outright killing. No law-abiding citizen wants this to happen.
Recent history has evidenced that it is the military and defense establishment that have the motive and the means to carry out such irregularities.
The baseless black propaganda against well-meaning candidates undermines the electoral process. It causes undue fear among the public and the electorate and violates the sanctity of their votes.
The human rights defenders who are victims of this malevolence sincerely desire to be of service to their respective communities. In fact, most, if not all of them already have a track record of satisfactory performance in leadership and in responding to the needs of their constituents.
Bayan-Panay calls on concerned government offices and agencies to conduct an investigation and ensure the safety and respect of the rights of the named human rights defenders.
We call on the electorate to stand against and condemn such evil deeds. Demand respect for your right to freely choose your leaders according to the dictates of your conscience, not out of fear.
We call on all peace-loving citizens to take part in demanding for peace and justice in our nation and to push for the continuation of peace talks and the resolution of the roots of the prevailing armed conflict.
Stop redtagging! Activism is not Terrorism! â BAGONG ALYANSANG MAKABAYAN â PANAY <bayanpanay2014@gmail.com>
