Harassment and red-tagging cases filed before CHR

and youth leaders in Baguio City filed nine complaints on October 22 at the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) CAR regional office following the malicious series of social media posts of the Baguio City Police Office this October (thru BSPO Kasanggamo account), tagging progressive youth organizations as "terrorists" and supposed recruiters of the AFP's flop narrative of the "Red October Plot."

“The complaints filed were reports from students and organizations in various schools in Baguio City that include cases of red-tagging (in social media, AFP and PNP forum in schools, among others), surveillance, intimidation and harassment of youth leaders and organizations for the past months.” said Christian Dave Ruz, Kabataan Partylist Cordillera spokesperson.

On October 11, the Kabataan Partylist National Office led by Rep. Sarah Elago also held a dialogue with the Commission on Human Rights National Chairperson Chito Gascon regarding the numerous reports of red-tagging all over the country.

As a result, a directive to all regional offices of CHR to conduct investigation is now in place said CHR regional director Atty. Romel Daguimol.

“The Commission commits to do our best for a swift and fair investigation of the cases filed” said Atty. Daguimol.

CHR-CAR also plans to have a communitybased dialogue involving the youth and student organizations, educational institutions, PNP and AFP if “all parties may be amenable.”

“The youth will never let the fear mongering tactics of the Duterte administration leave us trembling, nor discredit the legitimate calls and demands of the Filipino people for democracy, justice and peace. Human rights violation shouldn’t be normalized! Activism is not terrorism!” said Ruz.