Supreme Court grants protection to 4 activists vs red-tagging, surveillance

The Supreme Court has issued temporary protection orders for four human rights activists based in Negros Occidental against alleged red-tagging and surveillance activities by the military and other law enforcement agencies. The SC said it issued writs of amparo and habeas data in favor of lawyer Rey Gorgonio, Joselito Macapobre, Analyn Mirano and Ma. Anabelle Ilustrisimo. Gorgonio is chairman of the National Union of People’s Lawyers (NUPL)-Negros chapter. Macapobre is a community organizer of local progressive group Paghidaet sa Kauswagan Development Group (PDG). Gorgonio and Macapobre have accused the military and other law enforcement agents of conducting surveillance on them and their works. In their petition, the rights workers cited what they described as a pattern of vilification and red-tagging directed against the PDG and those associated with the group including Gorgonio. The NUPL denounced attempts by state forces to recruit their members to become intelligence operatives, surveillance of their offices and residences and intimidation in communities. The group accused the military of threats and attempting to kidnap Macapobre in January. Gorgonio said the kidnapping attempt occurred as the PDG was building a case against a plantation owner in the town of Candoni. He said he received messages that he would be “silenced for being too brave.” The high tribunal directed Armed Forces of the Philippines chief Lt. Gen. Antonio Nafarrete and other military officers to observe a one-kilometer distance from the petitioners and their immediate relatives. The SC directed the Court of Appeals (CA) to conduct a summary hearing and determine if the petitioners are entitled to the privileges of the writs. The CA is expected to receive the military’s reply containing their defenses and other relevant information as well as their comments on the petition. The appellate court was given 10 days to resolve the issue. Red-tagging in the Philippines has long been a contentious issue, with human rights groups arguing that it is a tactic used to discredit individuals and organizations critical of the government by associating them with communism or terrorism, thereby hindering their activities and undermining their social standing. Such actions are seen as violations of fundamental human rights, including freedom of speech and association.