Duterte ‘laughed’ at proposal to criminalize red labeling: Sotto

MANILA – President Rodrigo Duterte “laughed” at the idea of ​​criminalizing red labeling, Senate President Vicente Sotto III said on Wednesday after proposals to impose sanctions on people linked to the movement were presented at a Senate hearing. communist.

“I told the president last night about the idea of ​​some criminalizing red labeling, he laughed!” Sotto told reporters in a text message.

“It’s so vague! It’s like criminalizing name calling. How is the fascist saying? Narcissist? Isn’t it forbidden? Is it yellow? Is it forbidden too?” He said.

(It’s crazy! It’s like criminalizing name calling. What about so-called fascists? Narcissists? Is that not allowed? What about so-called yellows? Should that be prohibited too?)

Before meeting with Duterte Tuesday night, Sotto had rejected the idea during the Senate Committee on National Defense hearing on red labeling.

Those “offended” by being linked to the communist insurgency should simply file defamation cases against their accusers, the Senate president said.

But other senators, including the president of the Senate National Defense Committee, Panfilo Lacson, said they were willing to study the suggestion of constitutionalist Antonio Laviña, a legal expert and former dean of the Ateneo School of Government.

“The proposal is worth analyzing,” opposition Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan said in a statement.

“People with red labels have also become the targets of assassinations, harassment and threats, and impunity persists because no one is punished for such acts,” he said.

“Right now, red label victims can resort to filing administrative cases with the Ombudsman, but it seems to have little dent,” he said.

Lacson previously said he was “seriously considering” the proposal.

“In fact, I am seriously considering the recommendation to criminalize red labeling as long as such legislation does not violate the bill of rights that involves freedom of expression,” he said.

The Senate must first consult with the Justice Department whether criminalizing red labeling would affect the constitutional right to free speech, he said.

The Senate began addressing the red label issue after some military officials labeled various opposition lawmakers and celebrities as Communist supporters who expressed dismay at the government’s response plans to COVID-19.

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