By ILOILO CITY — Leaders of the Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (BAYAN) in Panay have filed a formal complaint against military officers for repeated acts of red-tagging, harassment, and intimidation. The complaint was lodged with the Office of the Ombudsman by Elmer Forro, secretary-general of BAYAN-Panay, and Kim-Sin Tugna, spokesperson of BAYAN-Aklan, who seek to hold the officials accountable for alleged grave misconduct and violations of constitutional rights.
The complaint names SSgt. Nathan Dela Cruz and SSgt. Ernel Mallan Mendoza of the 3rd Civil-Military Operations Battalion as respondents. In a statement, BAYAN-Panay said that the officers used their radio programs, Spearhead Times and Sundalo Ako ng Bayan, to publicly label the organization and its members as affiliates of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army. “Red-tagging not only endangers lives but also undermines democratic freedoms and human rights,” said BAYAN-Panay.
The complaint references the landmark Deduro v. Vinoya Supreme Court decision from July 2023, which recognized red-tagging as a serious threat to life and security. The Court emphasized that such acts can lead to violence, including abductions and extrajudicial killings. Tugna echoed this sentiment, arguing that “dangerous and baseless red-tagging jeopardizes the lives, liberty, and security of its individual victims and civil society organizations.”
The leaders also report that military units have conducted surveillance operations and spread fear in Panay communities, infringing on constitutional rights to free speech and assembly.
BAYAN-Panay leaders urge the Ombudsman to conduct a thorough investigation and hold the perpetrators accountable. “Red-tagging has no place in a democratic society that upholds human rights and the rule of law,” said the group.
In an exclusive interview, Forro clarified that they did not include a criminal charge for libel because they believe the offense should be decriminalized. He argued that libel is often used as a tool to silence journalists, government critics, and civil society as a whole.
In a call to action, BAYAN-Panay encourages Filipinos to stand in solidarity with activists and human rights defenders, emphasizing that “this complaint sends a strong and clear message: BAYAN will not be silenced and remains steadfast in its commitment to fight for justice, human rights, and the welfare of the Filipino people.”/PT
