Brig. Gen. Ignacio Madriaga, commander of the 302nd Infantry Brigade of the Philippine Army based in Tanjay City, Negros Oriental. (Photo by Juancho Gallarde)
The highest-ranking military officer in Negros Oriental on Wednesday advised civil society organizations (CSOs), whose advocacy involves visiting residents of hinterland areas to coordinate with the proper authorities for their safety and security.
Brig. Gen. Ignacio Madriaga, commander of the 302nd Infantry Brigade of the Philippine Army based in Tanjay City, Negros Oriental, was reacting to statements from CSOs during a multi-sectoral dialogue sponsored by the Diocese of Dumaguete that they are usually tagged as left-leaning allegedly by the police and the military.
Although the statements were issued in general and not naming specific officer from the police or the military, Gen. Madriaga said he has never issued a statement on the so-called “red-tagging”.
Earlier, people from churches of different denominations, civil society organizations and even those from government agencies said they feared for their lives when going to the mountains due to the so-called "misbranding" or "red-tagging", which means being suspected as members of the communist group.
They said they have to visit hinterland barangays due to the nature of their job or as part of their ministry.
Madriaga said if these organizations want to help residents in far-flung areas, they should abide by Provincial Ordinance No. 5 and coordinate with the local government unit or the Army, especially in places where there are armed encounters between rebels and soldiers.
Earlier, Governor Roel Degamo said Provincial Ordinance No. 5 is still in effect and requires groups conducting medical missions, other outreach activities, and similarly-natured endeavors to obtain permission from authorities prior to entering villages, especially conflict areas.
“Red-tagging” has been a concern several years ago, as criticized and reported by groups that say they have been branded as left-leaning because of their “humanitarian” efforts.
Madriaga clarified that the Army is not branding them as leftists but some of them speak against the military or the police when they go to hinterland communities, which is why they are sometimes suspected as such.
He did not say, however, which groups he was referring to.
The Army commander said if CSOs want to help people in far-flung areas, they can always coordinate with them and can even be provided with security.
He believes that once agrarian reform problems are addressed, there will be no reason for the existence of the New People’s Army (NPA) anymore.
The primary function of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police is to drive away the armed group so that development could come in unhampered through certain approaches such as social, economic and cultural interventions.
Meanwhile, Madriaga said he has never issued any statement linking one of the shooting victims in the province to the NPA.
Madriaga was referring to lawyer Anthony Trinidad, a human rights lawyer, who was gunned down in Guihulngan City last month.
Trinidad’s family issued a public statement lamenting that many of his family members, including the slain lawyer, were “red-tagged”, although the statement did not mention anybody in particular.
Brig. Gen. Ignacio Madriaga, commander of the 302nd Infantry Brigade of the Philippine Army based in Tanjay City, Negros Oriental, was reacting to statements from CSOs during a multi-sectoral dialogue sponsored by the Diocese of Dumaguete that they are usually tagged as left-leaning allegedly by the police and the military.
Although the statements were issued in general and not naming specific officer from the police or the military, Gen. Madriaga said he has never issued a statement on the so-called “red-tagging”.
Earlier, people from churches of different denominations, civil society organizations and even those from government agencies said they feared for their lives when going to the mountains due to the so-called "misbranding" or "red-tagging", which means being suspected as members of the communist group.
They said they have to visit hinterland barangays due to the nature of their job or as part of their ministry.
Madriaga said if these organizations want to help residents in far-flung areas, they should abide by Provincial Ordinance No. 5 and coordinate with the local government unit or the Army, especially in places where there are armed encounters between rebels and soldiers.
Earlier, Governor Roel Degamo said Provincial Ordinance No. 5 is still in effect and requires groups conducting medical missions, other outreach activities, and similarly-natured endeavors to obtain permission from authorities prior to entering villages, especially conflict areas.
“Red-tagging” has been a concern several years ago, as criticized and reported by groups that say they have been branded as left-leaning because of their “humanitarian” efforts.
Madriaga clarified that the Army is not branding them as leftists but some of them speak against the military or the police when they go to hinterland communities, which is why they are sometimes suspected as such.
He did not say, however, which groups he was referring to.
The Army commander said if CSOs want to help people in far-flung areas, they can always coordinate with them and can even be provided with security.
He believes that once agrarian reform problems are addressed, there will be no reason for the existence of the New People’s Army (NPA) anymore.
The primary function of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police is to drive away the armed group so that development could come in unhampered through certain approaches such as social, economic and cultural interventions.
Meanwhile, Madriaga said he has never issued any statement linking one of the shooting victims in the province to the NPA.
Madriaga was referring to lawyer Anthony Trinidad, a human rights lawyer, who was gunned down in Guihulngan City last month.
Trinidad’s family issued a public statement lamenting that many of his family members, including the slain lawyer, were “red-tagged”, although the statement did not mention anybody in particular.
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