19 December 2020
The murder of Dr. Mary Rose Sancelan, head of the Guihulngan City Inter-Agency Task Force against Emerging Infectious Diseases (GCIATF-EID) and her husband amid an uncurved health crisis in the country, demonstrates the pitfall of a governance that is hell bent on controlling any form of criticisms and of ridding the Philippines of the so-called communist which it sees as its biggest enemy.
Rather than focusing its energy to manage the COVID-19 pandemic and investigate the alleged corruption and inefficiency of the lead health agency under Secretary Francisco Duque III, the government again prioritizes its anti-communist campaign with the creation National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC).
We are concerned and horrified that since the Anti-Terror Act’s passage and the creation of the Task Force, we are witnessing a spate of arrests and killings, nine (9) persons suspected as reds were simultaneously arrested and jailed, while we are celebrating the Human Rights Day last December 10 and another lawyer was killed in Cebu last December 17.
We believe that red tagging is dangerous and divisive. It is a regression to the country’s continuing pursuit to institutionalize the practice of democracy. It has led to the revival of local anti-communist vigilante groups attacks as well as law enforcement operations, searches, and arrests and even deaths of red-tagged civilians.
We call on our state-agencies to live by the rule of law and not to err on the side of human rights. The life of every human being is important. The system of law demands due process and even a compassionate retribution for those convicted. The law of nature demands respect and compassion for all living beings, even those who have committed sins.
Likewise, the problem of communist insurgency cannot be solved by the use of arms and violence as proven in our history. “Violence begets violence” Government should learn from the past anti-communist campaigns of previous governments. Their campaigns changed nothing. Leaders and members of the underground movement have been arrested and killed yet new leaders emerge and inspire the movement to persist.
That this movement continues to endure should make governments examine thoroughly the roots of their rebellion against government. We implore governments to go to the communities especially in the far-flung areas where this movement is thriving strongly. Let the community feel that they have a government to lean on. Government has been absent in their lives. This is the reason also why NGOs like us thrive, to make up and fill-up the gaps that you cannot fulfill, yet you suspect us of being communists.
Thus, red tagging is indeed repulsive. It separates and marginalizes social development groups and agencies both local and international which truly wish to help people achieve a better life. Government needs all the help it can get to overcome the impacts of the pandemic on the nation. The need for what you call an ALL Society Approach be engendered by the government itself – Unite do not Divide.
And since Christmas is just around the corner, we ask the government to extend to our communities a peaceful and restful celebration of Christ’s birth in their homes, away from the fear of being arrested or shot right inside their very home or being hauled to jails and detention centers on a holiday. We implore Thee.
Partnership Mission for People’s Initiatives (PMPI) is formerly the Philippine Misereor Partnership Inc., a social development and advocacy network of 250 members from faith-based groups, non-government organizations and people’s organizations grouped into 15 regional clusters all over the Philippines.
