Former Bayan Muna Congressman Neri Colmenares condemned the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) for red-tagging of Bayan Muna Cagayan Valley coordinator Agnes Mesina, citing its blatant disregard for the Supreme Court’s decision on the dangers and perils of red-tagging. With the midterm elections approaching, this act not only endangers the life of Mesina but also threatens the safety of human rights defenders and their families.
“Aside from the fake drug war victims, I believe that it is time that the Congress Quad committee start looking into the killings of activists and critics of the Duterte administration who were first red-tagged then were killed. It appears that the NTF-ELCAC is continuing the said modus operandi,” Colmenares stated.
The red-tagging tarpaulin, which labels Mesina as a “criminal terrorist” with a P300,000 bounty, is a clear attempt to legitimize fabricated charges against her. This reckless endangerment by NTF-ELCAC and its local counterparts is an affront to the 1987 Constitution and a mockery of the Filipino people’s rights.
Agnes Mesina is known for her active role as a representative of the Rural Missionaries of the Philippines (RMP) in the campaign against black sand mining in Cagayan province and her efforts in forming alliances to combat environmental plunder by large foreign mining companies in Nueva Vizcaya. She has also been involved in anti-corruption campaigns, advocating for public school teachers’ rights, and recognizing the victims of Martial Law in Cagayan Valley. During calamities and the pandemic, Mesina was a key figure in relief missions in affected communities.
“The government errs in branding organizing, expressing dissent, and opposing detrimental policies as terrorism. President Marcos Jr. is the president of 115 million Filipinos, not just the supposed 27% who voted for him. Why use guns, prisons, and courts to control the majority of 70% of the people?” Colmenares questioned. “Using taxpayer money, the NTF-ELCAC has been unleashed like a rabid dog since Duterte’s time until now, to harass and discredit activists, ultimately leading to abductions, torture, and brutal killings. That is terrorism and the NTF-ELCAC should be abolished,”
Colmenares called on the people of Cagayan Valley and all Filipinos to stand for human rights. “Be critical, scrutinize, and get involved. Do not be silent. Express, organize, and resist if necessary,” he urged. #
