Truth-telling is not Red-tagging: The public deserves the complete picture

We thank the Inquirer for publishing its May 29 editorial, “A timely call to end Red-tagging.” We welcome the opportunity to respond in the interest of fairness, balance, and the public’s right to informed discourse.

The Philippine government has repeatedly clarified, including before the European Union, that there is no state policy of Red-tagging. The National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-Elcac’s) work is focused on exposing the recruitment, deception, and terrorist-grooming mechanisms of the CPP-NPA-NDF to protect vulnerable sectors from radicalization and violence. The editorial, unfortunately presents only one side of a complex issue.

First, discussing communist organizations—their recruitment networks, affiliations, and influence operations—is not automatically Red-tagging. The CPP, NPA, and NDF are real organizations that have waged armed struggle for more than five decades. Discussing documented links, structures, and recruitment activities is legitimate security discourse, not harassment.

Second, the editorial speaks about alleged victims of Red-tagging but is silent on the continuing killings perpetrated by the CPP-NPA. From 2021 to May 2026, 59 documented spy-tagging killings were recorded nationwide, including 51 in Negros Island alone. Victims included 74-year-old Leonora Anguit, barangay tanod Efren Solinap, farmer Jemar Mahusay, and former rebel Joseph Agustin. Following the April 19 Toboso encounter, at least four more civilians were reportedly killed by NPA remnants. For this reason, NTF-Elcac appealed to the Commission on Human Rights to investigate these killings with the same urgency given to allegations against government forces. Human rights must be universal.

Third, the editorial cites the Toboso encounter but omits crucial facts. Authorities reported that 11 of the 19 fatalities tested positive for gunpowder residue. The eight negative results do not automatically mean they never fired weapons. Even Roger Fabillar, alias “Jong,” acknowledged by the CPP as a slain NPA commander, reportedly tested negative. More than 20 firearms, explosives, ammunition, communications equipment, and other war matériel were recovered from the site.

Negros Occidental Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson affirmed the legitimacy of the operation and rejected attempts to portray it as a massacre. The Municipal Council of Toboso also declared the CPP-NPA-NDF persona non grata, joining other local governments in Negros that have formally rejected insurgent violence. These voices were absent from the editorial.

Fourth, the editorial invokes the Supreme Court ruling on Red-tagging. We fully respect the Court. However, the ruling should not be read as a blanket prohibition against lawful evidence-based discussion of CPP-NPA-NDF recruitment, affiliations, armed operations, or terrorist grooming activities. As explained by the NTF-Elcac Legal Cooperation Cluster, the Court recognized potential threats to life, liberty, and security under specific circumstances but did not abolish the State’s duty to identify and discuss genuine security threats.

The comparison between the NTF-Elcac budget and the proposed P1,000 CHR budget in 2017 is misleading. The CHR budget was ultimately restored, while much of the NTF-Elcac budget funds the Support to Barangay Development Program, which provides roads, electrification, water systems, health facilities, schools, and livelihood projects in conflict-affected communities. These investments are designed to address the root causes of insurgency.

All counterinsurgency efforts must be consistent with human rights and the rule of law. But human rights discussions must also reflect the realities of insurgent violence, civilian victims, and the voices of communities that have endured armed conflict for decades.

Truth-telling is not Red-tagging. Democracy is best served when the public receives the complete picture.

USEC. ERNESTO C. TORRES, JR.

Executive Director

National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict