Red Warning: Executive Order no#70 A.K.A Oplan Red Tagging?

(This is an opinion article written last May 19, 2020)

Executive order number 70 is an order better known as the Whole of a Nation Approach of the Government to combat all Communist insurgencies throughout the country. It sounds good in theory but how does it works in practice.? Hailed as the best way to combat Communist threath it has been in practice for over a year. It is too early too conclude whether this solution has really brought some changes in the country but just right after it was promulgated the case of red tagging had worsened. 

The military and police force has been acting carelessly compromising the real goal of Executive order number 70 to reduce Communist Insurgents but rather than acting lawfully the Reactionary forces is on a vicious killing spree targeting people who allegedly have ties with the Communist Party without having any evidences on such allegations. They kept on pinpointing innocent people and organizations as part of the Communist front, rather than unifying the people against leftist ideas they are dividing the country due to red tagging and worst they are the architects of several vicious killings. 

It turns out that it has become a "Martial Law" in disguise giving the Military and absolute power to kill, raid and arrest individuals who simply opposes the government. Opposing the government doesn't mean we are Pro-communist right? Then if that's the case why don't they arrest and red tag the yellow parties? The Military has blatantly red tagged different organizations who opposes the government without absolute proofs. This accusations are nothing but based on hearsays and was spawned due to the paranoia revolving around the Military concluding that all organizations and Advocacy groups that supports the masses are part of the Communist wings. Some of this organizations are humanitarian and religious organizations who possesses a long clean record of providing services to the marginalized and the poor but instead of commending and acknowledging this organizations, the government in return view them as threaths.

Such kind of counter insurgency movements will not thriump as it will only bring more and more people into leftist principles. Red tagging is not a reliable tactic to defeat revolutionary forces as it only brings disunity and only drives the people to arm and revolt against the Government. 

The government alone can't handle the problems of our nation. That is a fact that must be considered and that is why civil societies, civil organizations and people's movements exist. They exist in order to help the marginalized people that is their role. Inequality and social injusties along with poverty is the roots of all insurgencies in our country but the government can't fight this elements single handedly. The poor class must be able to assert their rights in the Congress in order to achieve better social arrangements and this is exactly what civil organizations like the ACT, Gabriela, BayanMuna, NCCP, RNP and other religious and social organizations do. 

But instead of being adored, many Congress hearings and even local school Symphosia and forums identify different humanitarian organizations as a Communist making machines. The Alliance of Concerned Teachers were attacked by vicious red tagging, and one of it's member was shot in front of her students. I believe some professors of this institutions are part of this party now let me ask you a question. Are you a Communist? 

There had been several killing this year alone done by the reactionary military forces. So many that I won't be able to write each of it, but the worst thing is about to unfold. Did you know that they also red tagged the National Council of Churches in the Philippines and Rural Missionaries of the Philippines. That absurd right? For the Great Love of the Good Lord Bringing the name of Christ to the poor is not a Communist element nor did giving support to the poor. This organizations teaches the life of Christ not the Life of Karl Marx, they share the teachings of God not the teachings of Vladimir Lenin, they adore The Creator and not Joseph Stalin and they carry a Bible not a Communist Manifesto.

Almost all organizations dedicated for the people, for God and for the environment was red tagged. Almost one thousand people are killed due to malicious red tagging where 70% of this are nothing but innocent farmers, bystanders, judges, teachers and journalists. Instead of helping the earthquake victims on Mindanao this Military personnels we see them—this dimwits on televisions arresting local journalist in Bacolod, shooting a Humanitarian in Ifugao, killing a judge in Ilocos and making surveillance on PAMAKALAYA, OxFam and PNE Kalikasan including colleges and universities.

The Whole of A Nation Approach is a plan designed to bring an end to this bloody insurgencies. But it seems that it has failed it's real purpose and  just brought disunity and dissatisfaction among the civil organizations they maliciously red tagged and their benefactors. Red tagging had compromised their real goal, they should stop doing such things or they'll face nothing but an inevitable fall.