ILOILO City – Government and security officials in Western Visayas have rejected claims of red-tagging, dismissing it as a political narrative aimed at discrediting efforts to combat insurgency and enhance public welfare in the region.
Regional officials from the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), the Philippine Army’s 3rd Infantry Division, and the Regional Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (RTF-ELCAC) asserted that red-tagging is not a government policy but a term used by communist insurgents to evade scrutiny.
CPP-NPA-NDF Manipulating Narrative
RTF-ELCAC spokesperson Prosecutor Flosemer Chris Gonzales refuted allegations that the government engages in red-tagging, stating that the term was coined by the Communist Party of the Philippines – New People’s Army-National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF).
“Red-tagging is not a policy of the government. It is a term created by the CPP-NPA-NDF. When they are exposed, they claim they’re being red-tagged. The reality is, they are the ones labeling themselves,” Gonzales said.
He added that complaints of red-tagging in Iloilo, Bacolod, and other parts of Region 6 often originate from a vocal online minority rather than from communities where law enforcement is active.
“When we talk to residents in the barangays of Capiz, Antique, and Negros Occidental, they welcome the presence of police and the military because it ensures better security. But certain groups use social media to claim harassment, which is a tactic to mislead the public,” he said.
Security Programs for Public Welfare
Colonel Gilbert Gorero, Regional Operations Division Chief of the Police Regional Office 6 (PRO-6), emphasized that the Retooled Community Support Program (RCSP) aims to bridge the gap between the government and the people, not to red-tag individuals.
“In Iloilo, Aklan, and Negros Occidental, our teams act as liaisons between communities and government agencies, addressing concerns in security, livelihood, and social services. Claims of red-tagging are attempts to undermine our work,” Gorero said.
He noted that 17 RCSP teams are deployed across Western Visayas, with four focusing on urban areas, particularly Iloilo City and Bacolod, to tackle issues such as illegal drugs and communist insurgent recruitment.
DILG Region 6 director Juan Jovian Ingeniero also highlighted the Capacitating Urban Communities for Peace and Development (CUCPD) program, which targets vulnerable sectors such as students, labor unions, transport groups, and urban poor communities — groups often targeted for recruitment by insurgents.
“In cities like Iloilo and Bacolod, leftist organizations exploit vulnerable sectors. Our goal is to provide government support so that these communities don’t fall prey to recruitment strategies,” Ingeniero said.
Negros Occidental and Panay Island remain key areas of concern due to past insurgency-related activities, but Ingeniero assured that government engagement focuses on livelihood improvements rather than red-tagging.
Insurgents Shift Recruitment to Urban Areas
Colonel Erwin Rommel Lamzon, Assistant Division Commander for Administration of the Philippine Army’s 3rd Infantry Division, said communist forces, weakened in rural areas of Panay and Negros, have shifted recruitment efforts to urban centers.
“Recruitment is now happening in universities in Iloilo and Bacolod, labor groups in Negros Occidental, and even in transport organizations in Aklan and Antique. When we intervene, these groups claim red-tagging to avoid scrutiny,” Lamzon said.
He stressed that Negros Island remains a priority for the Philippine Army due to past clashes with the NPA, while urban recruitment is emerging as a significant concern.
Despite accusations, officials affirmed that government programs in Western Visayas will continue to address the root causes of insurgency and improve security in the region.
“The government does not and will not red-tag anyone. The real issue is insurgency, not red-tagging. Our priority is to protect communities in Iloilo, Aklan, Capiz, Antique, Guimaras, and Negros Occidental while bringing government services closer to the people,” Gonzales said./PN
