Bayan Muna asks Comelec for help vs Red-tagging

A picture of poster taken last March 4, 2025, against the Bayan Muna party-list is circulated in Cotabato City with similar logo and brand name, except it said “Bayad Muna” (“payment” first). —Photo from Neri Colmenares

MANILA, Philippines — The opposition Bayan Muna party list group has called on the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to put more teeth into its antidiscrimination policy during the campaign period, citing “a massive and nationwide black propaganda and vilification campaign” against the party and its nominees.

“Although Red-tagging has been declared by no less than the Supreme Court as a threat to life, liberty and security …, vilification and Red-tagging against Bayan Muna continue under the new administration and perpetrators remain scot-free,” the party list group’s first nominee Neri Colmenares said in a March 10 letter addressed to Comelec Chair George Garcia.

From Feb. 14 to March 7, Bayan Muna volunteers and organizers in different parts of the country have reported that their campaign materials were being destroyed or defaced by people who Red-tagged the group.

READ: Red-tagging a threat to life and liberty – SC

Under Comelec Resolution No. 11116, labeling groups and individuals as terrorists, dissenters, and criminals without evidence is an election offense during the midterm polls.

The poll body defines labeling as “the act of categorizing, classifying, labeling, branding, associating, naming and accusing individuals, groups and/or organizations of being ‘vocal dissenters’ and activists or subversive group sympathizers or terrorists, or belonging to a criminal group/syndicate without evidence.”

Concerted effort

“To effectively put a stop to this labeling under Comelec Resolution 11116, there has to be a concerted effort to pin down perpetrators especially if there is a strong notion that this Red-tagging/defamation campaign is sponsored by someone or something powerful such as the state,” Colmenares said.

He cited the Supreme Court ruling in G.R. No. 254753, Deduro v. Vinoya, which proved the state’s participation in Red-tagging activities.

The party list asked the Comelec to investigate the widespread black propaganda campaign being perpetrated against it and other groups and candidates so that criminal cases could be filed against the perpetrators.

It also suggested that the Comelec direct local governments to help gather information in areas where the Red-tagging posters were found.