Student formations, particularly the One Taft alliance, has been closely monitoring the recent series of suspicious activities often framed as discussions on peace or counter-insurgency in universities across the National Capital Region (NCR). More often than not, the resource speakers at these events include military personnel or alleged former rebels.
Just on September 24, a peace summit was held at Philippine Normal University (PNU), where over 100 students staged a protest on the day of its launch.
The One Taft alliance is composed of universities and colleges along Taft Avenue, a major subdistrict where many of the largest schools in the NCR are located.
According to the alliance, these military-led activities are not new which aimed to counter the so-called radicalization or brainwashing within universities. Such schools are often being branded as ‘communist hotbeds’ or recruitment grounds for the Communist Party of the Philippines – New People’s Army (CPP-NPA).
Red-tagging is real, it is happening
Retired Major General Edgardo De Leon was one of the resource speakers during the peace summit held at PNU. He is known for claiming that red-tagging is a made-up term, insisting that the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) is not involved in such actions, as the term has no clear origin.
Many students who have personally experienced red-tagging quickly refuted this stance.
“During a consultation with the chancellor and the head of the Manila Police District, they said they were just taking pictures to make the rally seem safe. I’m scared because I don’t know what they’re using these photos for,” shared Joram Christian Manio from UP Manila’s College of Public Health. Manio is also the current vice-chairperson for external affairs of his college’s student council.
“We see that the police and military pose a real threat to students because of their constant red-tagging. Their presence on campuses is dangerous,” he added.
Many schools along Taft Avenue reported an increase in police and military presence since last year. This coincides with reports of military deployments, particularly the 11th and 12th Civil Military Operations (CMO), in NCR since March 2023. Manio recalled how state authorities had enforced blockades and intimidation during previous mobilizations despite the protesters’ legitimate demands. This incident was similar to the recent protest on September 21, during the 52nd anniversary of martial law, where protesters were blocked along Recto Avenue as they attempt to hold a program in Mendiola.
“Saying there’s no such thing as red-tagging is just gaslighting. It’s absurd to call these activities a peace summit when it’s the military and the police who first incite chaos and red-tagging. The tactics used by these state authorities are backed by foreign imperialists,” said Antonio Altarejos from UP Manila College of Arts and Sciences. Altarejos is also an organizer for the League of Filipino Students – UP Manila chapter.
According to Altarejos, many fall victim to red-tagging—from progressives to ordinary citizens who simply express dissent against the current Marcos Jr. administration. He noted that once an individual is red-tagged, they are immediately seen as an enemy and a target.
Since the enactment of Executive Order 70 in 2018 came the establishment of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) which made red-tagging rampant. NTF-ELCAC is notorious in their stance by linking individuals to the CPP-NPA, which the government has since been designating as a terrorist organization.
In NCR, red-tagging has preceded several arrests of activists. In some regions, it has even led to enforced disappearances and killings.
On May 8, the Supreme Court (SC) ruled that red-tagging, vilification, labeling, and guilt by association threaten a person’s right to life, liberty, or security, which may justify the issuance of a writ of amparo.
Meanwhile, state or non-state authorities, often NTF-ELCAC spokespersons, quickly invoke their right to free speech when accused of red-tagging.
“We’re in the city, but we’re being linked to armed groups. Just look closely—who carries weapons during rallies? The police, right? They are the violent ones, not us,” said Altarejos.
Under previous administrations and the current Marcos Jr. administration, the revolutionary trifecta CPP-NDF-NPA have since been designated as terrorist organizations. However, a Manila court dismissed a petition for such a designation in 2022.
“While the armed struggle and its accompanying violence are certainly the CPP-NPA’s means to achieve its goals, means are not synonymous with purpose. Armed struggle is merely a means to the CPP’s purpose; it is not the reason for the CPP’s creation,” stated in portions of the 135-page ruling.
Instead of red-tagging, Altarejos argued that it is more crucial to understand why there is an armed struggle and why people are joining it. He said this is what the previous and current administratons have been avoiding to answering, aside from resorting to red-tagging.
“Look at our sociopolitical climate, especially in the countryside. What’s the situation there? Poverty, hunger, and corruption continue. What needs to be done? If the government refuses to listen, if speaking out gets you killed, what then? In both urban and countryside, this is the reality. People are pushed to pursue armed struggle to change the system because of the government’s ongoing fascism and negligence to address the root problems of our society,” Altarejos stressed.
The two-faced UP system
The University of the Philippines, as the National University, has been at the forefront of major movements since the Marcos Sr. dictatorship in the 1970s, with significant participation during the First Quarter Storm and the historic Diliman Commune. During Marcos rule, the university saw frequent military interventions, which included raids, surveillance, and arrests of individuals accused of subversion or of being part of the communist movement—in other words, red-tagging.
Historically, many joined the NPA during Martial Law due to widespread human rights abuses and extreme social inequality. Students, intellectuals, and activists from various universities, including UP, joined the underground movement and eventually became red fighters during the Marcos regime. Since then, UP has been branded a hotbed of political activism.
In response to these violations of academic freedom and autonomy, UP made a pact with the Department of National Defense (DND) in 1989, known as the UP-DND Accord. The accord was signed by then UP President Jose Abueva and Defense Secretary Fidel V. Ramos.
Three decades later, in 2021, the UP-DND Accord was unilaterally terminated when DND Secretary Delfin Lorenzana only notified then UP President Danilo Concepcion.
The termination sparked widespread unrest and protests, both physically and virtually across UP’s various campuses. Progressive individuals and groups supporting the UP community condemned the former Duterte administration, viewing the move as a blatant attack on academic freedom. For many activists, the abrogation reflected the worsening sociopolitical conditions in the country as the UP would mirror the situation in the country.
Three years after the unilateral abrogation, last August this year, UP has now signed a Declaration of Cooperation between the AFP.
Various students, professors, and martial law veterans condemned the current UP President Angelo Jimenez for turning a blind eye on the long-standing history of state repression, red-tagging, and violations of academic freedom experienced by the university.
“President Jimenez is extremely detached from the real situation of his constituents. He acts as if he’s in an ivory tower in the academe, far from the reality of our struggles,” said Manio.
On September 26, UP President Jimenez arrived at UP Manila ahead of the UP Board of Regents (BOR) meeting. He also spoke to students, faculty, and workers who staged a protest action following the said BOR meeting.
Following the video reports by the Manila Collegian, protesters noted that Jimenez’ responses appeared to sidestep many of the student inquiries. Instead of engaging in a meaningful dialogue, Jimenez was seen cutting off student leaders as they raised questions about the agreement and its implications for the university’s autonomy.
“Have you ever had a rally where you were arrested and received no response? We are not a legal office, but I understand your concerns. Have you been arrested? I paid a price: Illegal assembly during a US embassy rally.” said Jimenez.
UP Manila University Student Council (USC) vice chairperson Ysabelle Briones affirmed these observations, noting that Jimenez appeared to use his personal experiences as a former activist to garner sympathy while avoiding direct answers.
“He would bring up how he was once part of large mobilizations during his time, but now it’s only student leaders attending protests,” Briones shared.
Briones noted that while Jimenez framed his statements as a reflection of his past experiences as an activist, she surmised his tone as dismissive, attempting to boast rather than acknowledge the challenges facing today’s student movement.
“It felt like Jimenez was dismissing efforts of student activism, as if the recent demonstation protests are somehow less significant compared to what he experienced,” Briones remarked.
“His claim that we’re not being dispersed is not enough to address our safety concerns. Much like in today’s rally, we saw a number of police who are already taking pictures of us. The police are doing this at every demonstration, sometimes even carrying high-powered firearms. Our question to Jimenez is, do you stand with us students to make these statements? If not, people like him have no right to speak,” Manio added.
According to report from the Philippine Collegian, the UP administration released a statement yesterday only to reiterate its defense regarding the signing of the agreement.
“We must draw attention to the inherent contradictions in his words. If this declaration is truly non-binding, how can it lay the groundwork for collaboration while risking the normalization of a relationship with an institution historically associated with state violence, red-tagging, and repression? Jimenez is inadvertently endorsing the very structures that threaten our academic freedom and safety,” Briones stressed.
