KARAPATAN called on the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) to enforce its resolution banning the practice of labeling candidates as members of criminal, subversive or terrorist groups and hold State forces accountable for these human rights violations.
Through Resolution 11116, the COMELEC now prohibits as punishable election offenses acts such as accusations, labeling or branding without basis, discrimination on the basis of political views and the like, which create an atmosphere of fear and a sense of danger, discouraging participation and compromising the safety of candidates, supporters and voters.
“Guidelines such as this,” said Karapatan secretary general Cristina Palabay, “are long overdue. Although they fall short of specifically mentioning red-tagging as an election offense, we believe the description of prohibited acts encompasses the nefarious practice of red-tagging.”
Violators face one to six years in prison, and victims may petition for redress up to five years after the election.
“We hope these guidelines will be strictly enforced, even on the military, police and other State forces such as the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) and persons under their command or influence,” said Palabay.
She urged the Comelec to be incisive in addressing complaints, noting that entities like the NTF-ELCAC could easily claim that their red-tagging forays are based on evidence by citing the perjured statements of their bogus or coerced witnesses.
Palabay called on both the oft-victimized progressive candidates and the electorate to be vigilant, promptly report violations of these guidelines to the COMELEC and follow through on their complaints until the perpetrators are punished.