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MANILA – Alternative media groups filed criminal and administrative complaints with the Ombudsman’s Office on Friday against the controversial government anti-communist working group accused of endangering the lives of activists with red labels.
LOOK: Alternative media groups file administrative and corruption complaints with the Office of the Ombudsman against NTF-ELCAC officials Antonio Parlade, Jr., Lorraine Badoy and Allen Capuyan for alleged activist red labels. pic.twitter.com/4IsMQjd8yQ
– Adrian Ayalin (@adrianayalin) December 18, 2020
The complainants Altermidya, Alipato Media Center, Kodao Productions and Pinoy Media Center deployed officials from the National Task Force to End the Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC), namely, Lieutenant General Antonio Parlade (spokesperson), Allen Capuyan (CEO), and Lorraine Badoy (ex officio member).
The complainants accused the 3 of associating them with the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) “without sufficient basis.”
They cited Parlade’s statement on May 12, 2020 titled “Reds Take Advantage of ABS-CBN Issue” in which he allegedly called Altermidya, Bulatlat and Kodao as “long-standing cohorts of the CPP in the media, creations of the CPP and puppets of the founding president of the CPP, Prof. José María Sison “.
The complainants also recounted how Capuyan presented organizational charts at a Senate hearing that included Altermidya, Bulatlat, Kodao and Pinoy Weekly as part of the “CPP’s national propaganda and culture commission.”
Badoy, they said, accused Bulatlat and the Philippine National Union of Journalists of “communist and terrorist fronts.” [organizations]. “
Plaintiffs want defendants to be held accountable for violating the Corrupt Practices and Anti-Interference Act for causing them undue harm, among others.
“The red labeling of the whistleblowers had a chilling effect on the press, as well as on discourse and debate, stifling the free expression of dissent. Respondents therefore served as ingenious instruments of tyranny and repression,” they said the complainants.
The plaintiffs also want the defendants to be held administratively liable for gross misconduct, gross dishonesty, oppression, and conduct detrimental to the best interest of the service.
“It goes without saying that such acts are contrary to the law, to good customs, good customs, to the public interest and constitute a serious deviation from the way of life and democratic values.”
The groups held a brief protest in front of the Ombudsman’s Office after submitting their complaints.
“Having a red label means that he is not considered an enemy of the state … It is a huge blow to our operations as journalists, instead of doing our job of telling the stories, we become more prone to attacks,” said Altermidya National. said coordinator Rhea Padilla.
Alternative media groups said their complaint is the sixth filed against NTF-ELCAC officials for its red label.
Various rights groups and legal experts have urged the government to criminalize red labeling, saying the law creates a clear and present danger for those linked to the communist movement.
Last Tuesday, the only doctor in the 33 villages of Guihulngan city and her husband were shot dead by motorcycle assailants. Dr. Mary Rose Sancelan was accused of being a local leader of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army (CPP-NPA).
Meanwhile, Lady Ann Salem, editor of the alternative news website Manila Today, was among the 7 arrested on December 10, Human Rights Day, for alleged illegal possession of firearms and explosives. Human rights groups claimed the charges are fabricated.
RELATED VIDEO
Alternative Media, Red Labeling, Red Label, Communism, CPP, NPA, CPP-NPA, Office of the Ombudsman, Ombudsman Parlade Badoy, Lorraine Badoy, Altermidya, Alipato Media Center, Kodao Productions, Pinoy Media Center
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