A HIGH official of the Philippine Army’s 4th Infantry Division (4ID) issued a statement clarifying that the military is not involved in the recent incidents of red-tagging journalists in Cagayan de Oro City.
“It is not the policy of 4th division. It is not my policy to get into this kind of - for me this is cheap propaganda. Kasi yung red tagging, for me, for 4th division, we have nothing to gain in red-tagging. It is creating a divide between us. Para bang pinag-aaway-away tayo, ang military and media or government,” 4ID Commander Major General Nemesio Gacal said.
“Red-tagging is not our forte. Never namin yan naging approach,” he added.
Recently, two Cagayan de Oro-based journalists, Cong Corrales and Froilan Gallardo, were accused by unknown groups of being sympathizers or members of the communist rebels.
In the latest anonymous red-tagging material - a flyer - received from a courier service, it stated that Corrales was given a P1-million bounty for his death. It also contained a false claim that the said journalist is facing rape with murder case involving a child.
The courier packet that contained the flyer identified the sender as Danilo Tirso Mantangan of Sitio Camansi, Lagonglong, Misamis Oriental.
Gallardo, on the other hand, was included in the list of rights lawyers and church workers who were also red-tagged several times.
Gacal said they suspected the New People’s Army (NPA) or the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) to be behind the red-tagging incidents.
“It is also not far-fetched na gawagawa rin ito ng CPP. Kung ako ang NPA commander, ako ang propagandist nila. Why not create a divide between you, the media, and the military,” Gacal said.
“It could be ang CPP ang mga gawagawa nito for the main purpose of dividing you and us,” he added.
Gacal also encouraged a personal investigation among the media groups by identifying who in their line of work has the motive to red-tag them.
The 4ID commander assured that the military will provide the media security assistance if they feel or received death threats.
“Hindi kami hihinto hangga’t hindi natin nahuhuli ang taong yan,” Gacal said.
Major Michelle Olaivar of the Cagayan de Oro City Police Office (Cocpo) said that the recent red-tagging incidents are still under investigation and they are currently looking for more evidences.
“Mamalihog lang mi nga dili unta nato i-take for granted maski ginagmay lang nga basin. Let’s say naay mag-text sa inyuha, coordinate with us. Malay nyo mabuo nato ang pieces sa puzzle and eventually naa tay ma-contact,” Olaivar said.
“Please share information, even if dili sya kaayo importante. Lantawon sa inyo, but sa investigation malaking tulong na yan,” she added.
National Union of Journalist of the Philippines (NUJP)-Cagayan de Oro Chapter President Pamela Jay Orias said she felt the sincerity of the military and the police’s efforts to reach out to the media and help in the investigation.
“Moasa mi sa investigation kay posible man gyud. Anybody can say nga kinsa ang naghimo. So, dapat gyud dili ta mo-rely sa mga speculations kay murag makasamot man gud nagka damage sa sitwasyon,” Orias said.
Orias, who was previously red-tagged, also shared their plan to file a case against the person who started the red-tagging incidents.
“Gina-prepare na sa National Directorate of Security ang kaso para sa ing-ani. Gina trace pud gani ang katong nag padala mismo sa LBC. Naa pud tay kaugaligon nga aksyon aside sa authorties nato. Mas maayo gyud nga daghan ang galihok para unta nga madali ang pag arrest,” she said.