Bayan’s Renato Reyes calls Duterte ‘Red-tagger-in-chief’

Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) secretary-general Renato Reyes called Duterte “Red-tagger-in-chief,” citing the President has no evidence to prove his claims.

“He should be held accountable for every activist who was killed, jailed, tortured, or disappeared, and why many are also pushing back against him,” Reyes said.

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Meanwhile, for Gabriela Rep. Arlene Brosas, the “useless tirades” and “incoherent rants” of the Duterte against Makabayan were a “pathetic ploy to mask the government’s inaction against the worsening crisis.”

“President Duterte proves that providing socioeconomic aid and programs amid the pandemic and series of typhoons is the least of his priorities. Accusing us of being fronts of the CPP-NPA will not change the fact that his incompetence has intensified the crisis we are facing today,” Brosas said.

She added that by making “these baseless accusations, Duterte is playing judge, jury, and executioner by putting the law into his own hands.”

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“He practically gave the green light to more extrajudicial killings, human rights violations, and illegal arrests, not just against activists but those who are seeking reforms in governance through parliament and airing legit criticisms,” Brosas said.

The Makabayan bloc in the Congress comprises Bayan Muna, Gabriela, Alliance of Concerned Teachers, Kabataan and Anakpawis.

Bayan’s Renato Reyes calls Duterte ‘Red-tagger-in-chief’

The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) also reacted to the President’s Red-tagging statement against Makabayan.

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“The CHR does not really delve into who is communist or not. That is something we are clear about. We would just like to caution the government against making sweeping generalizations,” CHR spokesperson Jacqueline de Guia said in a television interview.

“There is no express declaration from our courts of who terrorists are. We have cautioned the government against Red-tagging individuals who have not clearly taken up arms, and there must be a clear delineation between people who have joined the armed combat and those who are not,” she added.

On Monday, President Rodrigo said communists do not have an ideology and were only after money and power.

“There is no longer any ideology. Wala ‘tong mga komunista… Gusto lang nila umagaw ng gobyerno. Mga bobo naman and p– ina,” he said.