THE Department of Justice (DOJ) yesterday urged civil society groups to work with the government to address the issue of red-tagging and labeling as he stressed that the Marcos administration is “dead serious” in its commitment to promote and protect the human rights of every Filipino.
Justice Undersecretary Raul Vasquez said the Marcos administration is working hard to address human rights issues in the country, which he said is evident with the recent creation of the Special Committee on Human Rights Coordination.
“Why won’t they cooperate with us? Ayaw nila makipag ugnayan sa amin (They don’t want to cooperate with us). The present administration is dead serious in performing its duties and obligations to our fellowmen under the prism of human rights. Sa DOJ nga ang mantra naming is real justice in real time,” Varquez told the “Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon” public forum.
“No matter what their ideology, hihimukin natin sila to work with us. We are a robust democracy, civic space is wide and free in the Philippines,” he added.
Civil society and human rights groups earlier said that while the decision of the Supreme Court in the case of red-tagged activist Siegfred Deduro is a welcome development, particularly when the magistrates ruled that “red-tagging, vilification, labelling and guilt by association constitutes threats to a person’s right to life, liberty or security,” the practice of red tagging is still happening.
Vasquez said the President’s order creating the special committee that will mandate key government agencies such as the DOJ, the Department of Foreign Affairs and the Department of Interior and Local Government to boost and promote human rights will also ensure a “focused, dedicated, effective and rationalized” human rights promotion and protection.
“Noong nakaraan kasi kanya kanya ang mga programa ng ibat ibang ahensya ng gobyerno sa human rights kaya medyo magulo (In the past, various government agencies have uncoordinated human rights programs, that is why there is some confusion),” he said, adding it will also help maintain and intensify the accomplishments of the United Nations for the Joint Program (UNJP) on Human Rights.
Vasquez said it is imperative to sustain and enhance the accomplishments of the UNJP considering that it is set to expire on July 31, 2024.
“Magtatapos itong UNJP program ng July 31 and our government to gain ownership ay tayo na ang nagtalaga ng sariling ahensya na ipagpapatuloy at palalawakin ang mandato ng mga programa ng UNJP (The UNJP program is set to end on July 31 and our government, to gain ownership of the program, has decided to create a specific agency to continue and enhance the mandate of the UNJP’s programs),” he said.
