“Truth far different from profiling and red-tagging”: PNP

January 15, 2019

Telling the truth is different from “profiling” and “red tagging”, according to Philippine National Police (PNP)  spokesperson Chief Superintendent Benigno Durana Jr.

This came after an alleged member of the New People's (NPA) who surrendered to the police last January 11  revealed students who went to their areas were later recruited.

“Well, first of all let me state that telling the truth is far different from profiling and red tagging. It should be pointed out that those were actually personal  declarations of former rebels which exposed communist terrorist infiltration of sectoral organizations such as women, laborers, students, farmers, etc.,” Durana said in a TV interview on Tuesday.

On Monday, a certain Ka Ruben revealed students who went to mountainous areas were being threatened to join the NPA by telling them they can’t return to their town because the military and police will arrest them.

"They are threatening the student so that it will join because of fear. That's what they are doing, scaring and not allowing them to go back to town," Ka Ruben said.

Durana reiterated it was Jose Maria Sison, founding chairman of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) who mentioned their legal fronts.

“In fact, it was Jose Maria Sison in one of his lectures in Europe right after he was released by the (former president) Cory (Aquino) administration who red tagged Bayan, KMP (Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas) , KMU (Kilusang Mayo Uno) , Gabriela, LFS (League of Filipino students), ACT (Alliance of Concerned Teachers) , Kadena as their front organization devoted to the party's united front building,” he said.

He said the CPP’s aim is to overthrow the duly elected government so they can replace it with someone who is fully devoted to their “communist ideology”.

Durana said the communists also use their legal front organizations to perpetuate infiltration of these legal organizations.

“Let me emphasize that this tactic-- this is what they call dual revolutionary tactic of the CPP-NPA-- they have  been doing for 50 years in vain because... communist ideology is not welcome in this democratic society,” he said.

Durana also said the PNP recognize militancy as an important component of a “vibrant democracy” but it’s their duty to protect the country against terrorist rebels such as CPP-NPA.

“We recognize that. It's important to make sure that the existing government is being held accountable to the interest of the people,” he said.

“The only problem is if these legal organizations, this militancy, these student activism are being exploited by  the enemies of the state to pursue their overall goal of violent overthrow of the government. That is our beef  actually and it is our job,” he added.

Youth groups such as Kabataan Partylist and League of  Filipino Students condemned the recent remarks of the  PNP about University of the Philippines (UP) and Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP) students  joining the rebel group.

“After recently attacking our teachers from ACT Partylist, the government this time extends their black propaganda against the progressive students of UP and PUP of whom have been active in calling out anti-people policies this  government has set” said Kabataan Partylist Rep. Sarah Elago.

Kabataan Partylist accused PNP of red-tagging, knowing that the mass movement is growing stronger.

The League of Filipino Students said incessant social injustices, killings, and crackdown on campaign sponsored by Duterte’s government have generated more students who resist. Ella Dionisio/DMS