Red-tagging and harassment vs Northern Dispatch decreed as human rights violation – CHR-CAR

In a distinct resolution issued on August 31, the Commission of Human Rights – Cordillera Administrative Region (CHR-CAR) ruled as human rights violations the red-tagging and harassment in the complaint filed by Baguio-based alternative media outfit Northern Dispatch (Nordis).

The resolution stated that the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and Philippine National Police (PNP) should abstain from red-tagging and identifying organizations and individuals as part of communist front organizations or what they term as CFO.

“The findings of CHR-CAR is a welcome development amid the unrelenting and vicious attacks against journalists and media institutions. The resolution further validates the institutionalized practice of red-tagging within the military and police units,” said Nordis Editor-in-Chief Kimberlie Quitasol.

Repackaged ‘tokhang’ resolution

The Cordillera Regional Peace and Order Council (CRPOC) ratified the Regional Law Enforcement Coordinating Committee (RLECC) Resolution No. 06-2021 or also known as the “Dumanun Makitungtong” (visit and talk in Ilokano) strategy adopted on August 19 in the third quarter meeting of the peace council. The measure urges law enforcement, local government, religious sector and representatives from non-government organizations to visit the homes of “known members of CFO.”

The government’s war on drugs program, Oplan Tokhang, is a portmanteau of “toktok” and “hangyo” (knock and visit in Bisaya) to supposedly dissuade illegal drugs users or pushers from their activities. However, the program resulted to at least 6,000 killings according to the PNP. These deaths mostly tagged as “nanlaban” (fought back), despite many cases where it was revealed that suspects were unarmed or overwhelmed by police forces such as youth tokhang victims Kian Delos Santos, Carl Arnaiz and Reynaldo De Guzman. This was why critics of the RLECC resolution deemed it as ‘political tokhang.’

The August resolution is a modified version of RLECC Resolution No. 4-2021  released early this year that encouraged the implementation of Tokhang style operation against presumed “known left-leaning personalities and government, media, and other entities.”

The February resolution was premised upon President Rodrigo Duterte’s Executive Order No. 70 that created the controversial NTF-ELCAC, met widespread criticism from all sectors, including several Baguio City legislators. The National Union of Peoples’ Lawyers tagged the resolution as “illegal and unconstitutional.” The CHR Regional Office Director initially signed the original resolution along with 40+ other Cordillera regional executives but later withdrew it. The public uproar forced the RPOC to return the proposal to RLECC in March this year. The head of RPOC is Baguio City Major Benjamin Magalong, also the national government’s COVID-19 tracing czar.

The aim of the original and amended resolutions is to dissuade left-leaning personalities from supporting or being active members of the Communist Party of the Philippines, National Democratic Front of the Philippines, New People’s Army or “any of its front organizations.”

The current amended version is seen as more dangerous by rights group Karapatan, because it can mean almost anybody can be tagged and listed arbitrarily without due process.

“By whatever name, any resolution that initiates and drives activities that has the notorious tokhang-style operation in its backbone shall remain a threat to people’s safety and security in the Cordillera, and must be widely opposed and junked,” Karapatan secretary general Cristina Palabay stressed.

As stated in a statement by the Cordillera Human Rights Alliance (CHRA), both resolutions give way to rampant red-tagging and political castigation to create disunity.

“These are ploys to justify human rights violations and political vilification, and to destroy the remaining spaces for legitimate dissent when dissent itself is the people’s obligation against tyranny,” CHRA emphasized.

A threat to press freedom

“We likewise appreciate CHR for calling out the PNP and AFP to stop red-tagging; however, it falls short in exacting accountability from the perpetrators. The Commission also failed to note that red-tagging of journalists and media institutions are attacks to freedom of the press and expression, and an affront to democracy,” Quitasol asserted.

An example of such was when NorDis managing editor Sherwin De Vera, who was in Malcolm Square covering a protest, was labeled by the Baguio City Police Office as a “communist front organization personality” as part of the blotter of the activity.

“Attacks against Nordis are not just a matter of personal and organizational security concern but a clear danger to freedom of the press and expression. It is one of the manifestations of the state’s deliberate effort to stifle dissent and critical thinking,” she said.