The National Union of People’s Lawyers (NUPL) fully supports Bayan Muna Partylist’s call for an urgent investigation into the systematic red-tagging of progressive candidates, a practice that threatens lives and subverts the integrity of the elections. The formal complaint filed today with the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) demands accountability for what is not just political harassment, but a state-sanctioned assault on suffrage and democratic participation.

The Supreme Court, in Deduro v. Maj. Gen. Vinoya (G.R. No. 254753, 2023), has ruled that red-tagging is a grave violation of constitutional rights that exposes individuals to harassment, illegal arrests, enforced disappearances, and even extrajudicial killings. COMELEC Resolution No. 11116 explicitly prohibits red-tagging as an election offense, recognizing that it distorts public perception and creates a climate of fear that suppresses legitimate political discourse. However, despite these clear legal prohibitions, state-backed forces continue to deploy red-tagging as a weapon to silence opposition and manipulate electoral outcomes.

The nationwide black propaganda campaign against Bayan Muna and other progressive candidates is not random; it is a well-funded, coordinated effort that reeks of government complicity. The mass production and circulation of defamatory materials targeting specific candidates indicate the misuse of public resources to interfere in the elections. Instead of allowing voters to decide freely, those in power resort to fear-mongering and disinformation, violating the people’s right to an informed vote.

Red-tagging is election sabotage. It is not just an attack on progressive candidates but an assault on the people’s right to freely choose their leaders. By falsely branding candidates as ‘communist sympathizers’ or ‘terrorists,’ red-taggers are not only putting lives in danger—they are depriving the electorate of the chance to vote based on truth and genuine political platforms.

The NUPL urges the COMELEC to exercise its full authority under Resolution No. 11116 and impose immediate sanctions on officials and state actors involved in red-tagging. An independent investigation must be conducted into the use of public funds for this illegal operation, particularly the involvement of the NTF-ELCAC and its network of state-aligned groups. The public must also reject these dirty tactics and demand accountability from those who use state power and resources to manipulate the people’s vote.

Reference:
Atty. Josalee S. Deinla
NUPL Secretary General
+639174316396

Photo taken from Facebook Live of Atty. Neri Colminares.