Comelec to probe Makabayan’s red-tagging complaint

Comelec Chairman George Erwin Garcia —File photo by Lyn Rillon | Philippine Daily Inquirer

MANILA, Philippines — The Commission on Elections (Comelec) will probe another “red-tagging” complaint of the Makabayan coalition, poll body Chairman George Erwin Garcia said on Tuesday.

In a letter to Garcia, Makabayan provincial coordinator Marcus Confesor reported several campaign posters from a certain “Makabayan Pilipino” spotted in Cavite province since January 29.

The posters bore what Confesor deemed as black propaganda and red-tagging against bloc members ACT party-list Rep. France Castro and Gabriela party-list.

Posters of “Makabayang Pilipino” seen along the highways of Barangay Lumil and Barangay Puting Kahoy in Cavite last Jan. 29, 2025. PHOTO FROM MAKABAYAN CAVITE

“We will not let this chance go away, the commission will investigate this thing,” Garcia told reporters in an ambush interview.

READ: Makabayan urges Comelec to act on black propaganda vs bloc

He said the Comelec formed a task force to investigate such complaints in line with Comelec Resolution No. 11116.

Promulgated last February 19, the resolution states that no discrimination shall be acted against cause-oriented groups and organizations, such as people that are part of the LGBTQIA+ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, and asexual) community, Indigenous Peoples, persons living with HIV (human immunodeficiency virus), persons with disability, and women.

Under the same guidelines, Comelec also prohibits labeling candidates as members of criminal or terrorist groups like the New People’s Army without established evidence.

On March 10, Makabayan coalition member Bayan Muna also reported similar smear campaigns targeting their group.

READ: Bayan Muna urges Comelec to act on black propaganda vs group