Youth groups hit ‘red-tagging, intimidation’ by cops; Baguio City PNP chief issues apology

BAGUIO CITY – Kabataan partylist leaders assailed the “series of red-tagging and intimidation against student activists and their families,” by police here during the city council’s regular session Nov. 26.

The KB-Cordillera and Youth Act Now Against Tyranny - Baguio Benguet chapter earlier filed complaints at the Commission on Human Rights regional office and the city government against what they called harassment by police.

Acting city police director Senior Supt. Eliseo T. Tanding during the council meeting, said bcpo Kasanggamo, their official Facebook account and its post in question, this did not mean any harm or malice to the youth organizations which earlier tagged youth groups as against the government since they belonged to left-leaning organizations.

Tanding offered his apologies for the damages the post made although some city councilors said they did not approve of such acts from their fellow public servants.

“We recognize and appreciate the presence of director Tanding in the hearing and we take note of his apology in behalf of the Baguio police,” said Christian Ruz, KPL Cordillera spokesman. “His office must now make a genuine formal apology to be posted on Bcpo Kasanggamo on the day they uploaded their wrongful information,” said Christian Ruz KPL-Cordi spokesperson. “We also insist that official social media accounts of all public offices must refrain from posting or sharing materials that can incite malice and paranoia through careless and unfounded claims.”

Ruz said during the forum they “welcome  efforts of city legislators to mediate on the issue and arrive at a certain conclusion, but this should not end in this council session. “KPL Cordillera also highly encourages the Baguio city council to approve and enact an ordinance that defines the boundaries and sanctions of and for red-tagging.  This local policy is necessary given the events are unfolding in other places concerning activists and our allies.”

According to Ruz, “the malicious BCPO post is but one of the political vilification we face regularly. Red-tagging has been a frequent tool of the ruling class to suppress any form of opposition. Similar claims by the AFP and members of the police force are also showcased in their series of fora on safety and security, particularly the “Knowing your Enemy” discussion or similar material held at several universities in Baguio City during freshmen orientations and National Service Training Program (NSTP) fora.