“Stop red-tagging members of indigenous communities.”
This was the call of Solid North Party-list Rep. Ching Bernos, vice chair of the House committee on indigenous cultural communities and indigenous peoples, as the country observes Indigenous Peoples Month this October.
Bernos said that the red-tagging of indigenous leaders detracts from the real issues faced by indigenous communities across the country.
“Red tags are lazy and dismissive. Hindi lang ito banta sa buhay at seguridad ng mga isinasangkot, kundi nagiging paraan na lang para walisin ang mga isyu at ilihis ang atensyon sa tunay na kalagayan ng mga IP at kanilang mga komunidad,” said the lawmaker.
Instead of red-tagging, she urged government authorities to instead embark on real dialogue with IPs particularly when they express opposition to projects that could affect their communities.
She also appealed to the government to respect and fully implement policies that protect the welfare of IPs, particularly Republic Act No. 8371 or the Indigenous Peoples’ Rights Act of 1997.
“Huwag nating balewalain ang mga probisyon tungkol sa karapatan nila sa kanilang ancestral domain at maging ang pagkakaroon ng representasyon sa pamahalaan,” said Bernos.
