Let the promise of unity ring true

Incoming national security adviser Clarita Carlos is right on track in wanting to get rid of red-tagging in the country. Such is not the end itself in confronting the problem of divisiveness and fragmentation among Filipinos, but it’s the path to start our journey toward unity, reconciliation and “pagbangon“ (rising from the ashes).

Carlos said, “To the extent of my mandate as a national security adviser, I would like to stop red-tagging. Labels do not produce anything. It’s not productive.” What a way to get the ball rolling for the new administration. But, oddly, some of president-elect Bongbong Marcos’ appointees are known to be color-taggers who have the habit of branding people as pulahan, dilawan or pinklawan?

Words are cheap and hollow during campaign periods, but the elections are over. Let the promise of unity ring true now to prove it wasn’t just a slogan to get elected.

Labeling is applicable for lifeless things, not humans. It’s the same as racism. People who label humans are drawn to act inhuman or heartless. Hence, racial attacks and racial discriminations are prevalent in the US and other parts of the world. In our country, it’s character assassination, national unity demolition and extrajudicial killings.

We have yet to see the “team of rivals” among BBM’s appointees, as wisely advised by sister Sen. Imee Marcos. By all means, let’s do away with every sort of color-tagging (in word and spirit) in the executive, legislature, judiciary, military, police and the media – for everyone to begin addressing the nation’s lingering problems, to solve disunity and attain peace, harmony and progress.

Thus, it behooves Marcos Jr. to think twice about paying “debts of gratitude” and appointing color-taggers in his administration. – Reni Valenzuela, [email protected]