DOJ questioned over red-tagging, online child abuse
THE House of Representatives committee on appropriations on Friday, September 18, 2020, approved the proposed P22.572-billion budget of the Department of Justice (DOJ) for 2021 despite questions on its ability to prevent red-tagging of human rights groups and protect children against online sexual abuses.
The House panel “terminated” the budget hearing for DOJ Friday, which means the House plenary can now deliberate on their proposed funding for the coming year.
The DOJ proposed to allocate P22 .572 billion for its attached agencies, namely, the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor), Bureau of Immigration (BI), Land Registration Authority (LRA), National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), Office of the Government Corporate Counsel (OGCC), Office of the Oolicitor General (OSG), Presidential Commission on Good Goverment (PCGG), and the Public Attorney’s Office (PAO).
During the hearing, Makabayan lawmakers questioned the department’s ability to protect basic human rights.
Bayan Muna Representative Carlos Isagani Zarate confronted the DOJ over a government report branding the Communist Party of the Philippines-New Peoples' Army-National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF) as terrorists, and indicating that political parties like Anakpawis, Bayan Muna, Gabriela, Alliance of Conderned Teachers (ACT) were created by the CPP.
“This [report] is not just about calling us names. This has grave implications, especially now that we have an anti-terror law,” Zarate said.
"There is a grave implication to that, it appears now that it is being endorsed by a department which is supposedly independent and looking at things when there are a lot of pending cases in the DOJ on this matter," he added.
Zarate described the report as a “wholesale accusation involving private individuals.”
No red-tagging policy
Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra immediately dismissed the claims of Zarate, saying the agency has no policy of red-tagging individuals and progressive groups.
“We have taken due note. But as far as the DOJ is concerned, wala naman po kaming policy of red-tagging,” Guevarra said.
“We stick to our mandate, we resolve cases on basis of evidence only,” he continued.
Guevarra said his agency will look into the said report and issue a statement of clarification if necessary.
“We will take another look at the report that was posted on the DOJ website. If there's anything that we need to clarify, then we will issue an appropriate statement. Hindi naman 'yun nangangahulugan na lahat ng bagay na nakasulat doon sa report na 'yun ay kinakatigan ng Department of Justice,"” he said.
In the same hearing, the DOJ said that it has launched several media campaigns against human rights abuses and rescue operations for children who are victims of online sexual exploitation.
Child abuse
According to Justice Undersecretary Emmeline Aglipay-Villar, the agency is cooperating with the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the NBI in carrying out investigations on child abuse.
“Marami na po kaming rescue operations na ginagawa para sa mga batang nagiging biktima ng trafficking at online sexual exploitation even during the lockdown,” Villar said.
“Mayroon na rin po tayong media campaign para magpalaganap ng awareness against crime ng online sexual exploitation,” she assured.
Villar made the statement after Gabriela Party-list Representative Arlene Brosas inquired about the DOJ’s efforts to address the spike in online sexual harassment against children.
“Iyong mga cases na yan are transactional, galing pa sa ibang bansa ‘yung mga market.Ang tindi rin ng ating kalagayan kasi kahit mahina ang internet, nagagawa pa rin ng mga predators ang mang-abuso,” she said.
Brosas cited a DOJ report last May saying that cases against child abuse online rose by 264 percent.
The lawmaker said the DOJ could use its P1.05 million budget for special protection, P23.29 million budget for anti-cybercrime enforcement, and P67.78 million budget for anti-human trafficking to help address problems in online sexual exploitation. (SunStar Philippines)