MANILA (UCAN): “Some among our ranks were red-tagged [labeled as communist]; irresponsible labels and name-calling will not cow us. To serve the people of God is never wrong. To be in solidarity with the struggles, dreams and hopes of our people is demanded by our life of consecration to God and his people,” the Major Religious Superiors of the Philippines said in July 17 statement.
They vowed not to back down from taking a strong stance against mismanagement and corruption nor from criticising the administration of the president, Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on issues such as graft.
Red-tagging is the malicious labeling of individuals or groups or both as “terrorists” or “communists” for criticising the Philippine government.
Also known as red-baiting, the malpractice has been used by successive governments to crackdown on the New People’s Army [NPA], the armed wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines, since 1969.
A member of Akbayan, a left-leaning political party, lauded the religious superiors for their courageous stance, saying that it inspires critics of Marcos Jr. and victims of human rights violations committed by his father, the late dictator, Ferdinand Marcos Sr.
Red-tagging has led to a large number of extrajudicial killings and torture of alleged communists by the Philippine military over past decades with authorities defending the campaign as part of counter-insurgency measures
“It is different when we listen or read statements of clergymen urging the Filipino people not to give up democracy and basic civil liberties. It gives meaning not only for us to be good Filipinos but to be good Catholics,” Joey Gumba said.
Gumba noted the significant role of the Catholic Church played in upholding human rights, protecting democracy and ousting the Marcos Sr.
“Our Catholic Church leaders played a very important role in people power. I hope there will be more like the late Cardinal Sin among our bishops today to guide the people to stand up against corruption and other social evils,” Gumba added.
Red-tagging has led to a large number of extrajudicial killings and torture of alleged communists by the Philippine military over past decades with authorities defending the campaign as part of counter-insurgency measures. However they publicly targeted activists, journalists, politicians, and various organisations, of being directly involved in the fighting or supporting the NPA, Human Rights Watch [HRW] said in January this year.
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We must speak the truth within the ambit of systematic disinformation, misinformation, historical distortions, and the like, as the Church will not and cannot be neutral on moral and ethical issues and concerns
Major Religious Superiors of the Philippines
The government of former president, Rodrigo Duterte, made red-tagging deadlier, HRW said. He made red-tagging an official policy which was carried out through the National Task Force on Ending Local Communist Armed Conflict’s social media posts and official pronouncements. In 2021, the administration started red-tagging senior Catholic officials for criticising Duterte’s deadly war on drugs.
The religious superiors also asserted that they would continue to stand up for the truth as they could not remain neutral on moral and ethical issues.
“We must speak the truth within the ambit of systematic disinformation, misinformation, historical distortions, and the like, as the Church will not and cannot be neutral on moral and ethical issues and concerns,” the superiors said.
They called on Catholics to fact-check and avoid being duped by fake news.
“Let us align and work with truth-tellers, justice and peace and human rights defenders, environmental advocates and civil society organisations. These are our strengths,” they said.
“As Church, we are challenged by our present time and context to stand for truth,” the statement said, adding, “The Church will not and cannot be neutral on moral and ethical issues and concerns.”
Church leaders and critics say Marcos Jr.’s election campaign was characterised by disinformation and historical revisionism.
His supporters have allegedly attempted to whitewash of Philippine history by claiming that the martial law years under Marcos Sr. were a “golden era” in Philippine history.
