Stand up against red tagging of journalists

THE Mindanao Independent Press Council (MIPC) condemns the series of red tagging incidents involving Leonardo Vicente “Cong” Corrales, associate editor of Mindanao Gold Star Daily based in Cagayan de Oro City, and other journalists in Mindanao in general.

As its core, red tagging anyone in the media profession is tantamount to suppression of the freedom of the press and the right to free expression. Such baseless allegations could force any targeted journalist to exercise self-censorship and smacks of prior restraint.

Per media reports, Mr. Corrales is the subject of various media materials being spread to cast him as an active armed combatant of the communist New People’s Army (NPA), whose stated goal is the violent overthrow of the government. Such allegation is dangerous as it is ludicrous, as the perpetrators have not presented an iota of evidence to their claim other than the generic, ridiculous claims that border on the malicious.

Before the recent episode against Mr. Corrales, we note that he has been a victim of the same harassments in the past. Journalists can be critical in their stance about the issues that they are passionate about. Just like any other citizen, they can hold varying political and social beliefs and these are protected by law. When they go out of line, libel laws can be invoked by any injured party. In short, legal venues are available when any citizen, journalists or not, is deemed to have broken the law. 

There is no recourse, however, when phantom personalities resort to vicious propaganda against any member of the press whose lives are public in character and whose views are readily accessible to the general public. We could understand, therefore, the trauma that these red tagging incidents have brought to Mr. Corrales and his family.

We are calling for the relevant authorities, therefore, to issue concrete statements against any act of red tagging of any journalist or citizen, for that matter, and to implement tangible steps to prevent any act of red tagging by any government personnel or entity.

We are also calling for a sensible dialogue between media groups and state security forces to tackle the problem of red tagging not just as a serious security issue for journalists, but also as a matter that hinges on human rights.

Red tagging any journalist is counterproductive, divisive, dangerous, and will not lead to meaningful outcomes. MIPC believes that a constructive discussion on this issue is a way to go forward. – Edith Z. Caduaya, president, Mindanao Independent Press Council Inc.

End the Inaction

THE National Union of Journalists of the Philippines demands that authorities and security forces in Cagayan de Oro and Northern Mindanao ensure the safety of our former director Leonardo Vicente “Cong” Corrales, associate editor of the Mindanao Gold Star Daily, and other journalists who find themselves in danger because of red tagging.

On Wednesday, Aug. 28, we were informed that new anonymous red tagging material against several personalities in Cagayan de Oro, similar to the earlier flyers and banners, had been received, this time from a courier service, by Iglesia Filipina Independiente priest Fr. Rolando Abejo and a city hall employee who had also been red tagged earlier.

The materials separately targeted Cong and another NUJP stalwart, the respected veteran Froilan Gallardo of Mindanews.

This time, the red tagging of Cong, who, along with members of his family, has been targeted several times this year, went beyond the usual accusations of membership or links to the communist armed movement.

A crudely produced flyer from a “Black Mamba,” purportedly of the “MAT-NMR Press Club Chapter,” claims there is a P1-million bounty for the death of Cong. The flyer also made the totally false claim that Cong is facing a criminal rape with murder case involving a child.

The courier packet that contained the flyer targeting Cong identified the sender as Danilo Tirso Mantangan of Sitio Camansi, Lagonglong, Misamis Oriental with mobile phone number 09091020123.

Asked what he could have done to earn so much hatred as to seek his death, Cong said the only reason he knows is a column he wrote on the treatment Higaonon evacuees from Sitio Camansi, Barangay Banglay in Lagonglong town, Misamis Oriental had received when they descended on Cagayan de Oro to seek help from the provincial government.

On the other hand, the materials received by Fr. Abejo targeted, aside from himself, human rights lawyer Beverly Musni and her daughter and colleague Czarina for vilification.

The flyer intended for Fr. Abejo also included a list of organizations and personalities supposedly linked to the rebels. Froilan was included in this list.

Froilan said he might have been targeted because he had interviewed the New People’s Army on a raid in which they seized a number of weapons from security guards of Minergy Power Corp.

But whatever they may have done, there is nothing that justifies such harassment and vilification and, in the case of Cong, an actual death threat.

We hold that the reason the red tagging, particularly of Cong, has worsened to actually turn potentially deadly is because of the apparent lack of interest of local government and security units to protect those so threatened and to go after and prosecute those responsible for this clearly dangerous vilification.

And it is almost a certainty that, unless contained, the threats to Cong, Froilan and other journalists who have been targeted by the cowards who hide behind these shadowy groups and names could escalate.

While we are grateful that, so far, no harm has befallen our colleagues who have been targeted by this cowardly campaign, we note that as much cannot be said for the officers and members of other organizations so targeted who have been unjustly jailed, attacked, even killed.

It is not as if our colleagues have not alerted and sought the help of local officials and the local security community.

We urge our colleagues in Cagayan de Oro and Northern Mindanao to close ranks and join us demand from your local government and security officials the protection you are entitled to. –National Directorate, National Union of Journalists of the Philippines