JUST WEEKS ahead of the inauguration of president-elect Ferdinand Marcos Jr, or Bongbong Marcos, red tagging has re-emerged as a national debate in the Philippines. In what is being seen as a possible shift in attitudes within the ruling dispensation, Menardo Guevarra, Justice Secretary in the outgoing Rodrigo Duterte administration, called the practice of red tagging dangerous.

Speaking at an online news forum, Guevarra said that the practice only endangers people who are “vocal about their own political views.” Red tagging is a controversial practice employed by the state security apparatus and anti-insurgency agencies of labelling individuals or groups as affiliated to the banned Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) or its armed wing, the New People’s Army (NPA).

The practice often leads to harassment and even violent attacks by government bodies and vigilantes, often without substantial evidence. Numerous killings of activists, trade unionists, indigenous leaders and local journalists by the security forces or armed vigilantes have been attributed to unsubstantiated accusations of communist affiliations made by state agencies.