Red-tagging bets and supporters could be poll offense, Guanzon warns
MANILA, Philippines — Red-tagging — or accusing a person or groups of involvement in the communist armed struggle — could be an election offense if used to intimidate and harass canddiates' campaigners and supporters, retired Commission on Elections commissioner Rowena Guanzon warned Sunday.
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Over the weekend, Rep. Jesus "Boying" Remulla of Cavite claimed that attendees of Vice President Leni Robredo's campaign rallies in the province had been paid to come to the events and also claimed that students in attendance "looked like activists."
He jumped to the conclusion that they had been trained by the National Democratic Front, the group that represents the Communist Party of the Philippines and the New People's Army at peace talks with the government.
On Sunday, Sen. Panfilio "Ping" Lacson — also a candidate for president — responded that this was "worrying". In a tweet, he said that Robredo might form a coalition government with the CPP-NPA-NDF is elected president.
Although he did not explicitly name her, he shared an Inquirer.net news report about Rep. Remulla's claims.
"Red tagging again? That's [an] old [tactic]. And if you push it harder that is an election offense: intimidating, harassing campaigners or supporters," Guanzon said in a tweet on Sunday.
Threats, intimidation or putting others at a disadvantage in participating in a campaign are election offenses under the Omnibus Election Code. the Comelec has the exclusive power to conduct preliminary investigations of all election offenses.
Robredo has the backing of the Makabayan bloc of party-lists, which the government has repeatedly accused of being "communist fronts", a claim which the group has constantly rejected.
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