President Duterte would guarantee the safety of Mandaluyong Monique Quisimbing-Ignacio if she was indeed a victim of red-tagging, Malacañang said Thursday.

Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque made the statement after a tarpaulin about Ignacio surfaced in Shaw Boulevard this week. The tarpaulin thanked the judge for her quick action in freeing two activists. It also bore the logo of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP).

In his Thursday presser, Roque refused to conclude that Ignacio was red-tagged as the authorities were already investigating the incident.

"Eh, kahit sino po pwedeng gumawa ng tarpaulin na 'yan (Anybody could have made that tarpaulin). Let us not conclude na na-red-tag nga si Judge Ignacio (that Judge Ignacio was red-tagged). Authorities are already investigating the incident," he said.

"Yung nagsabit ng tarpaulin na 'yan, mahuhuli po kayo dahil may CCTV po sa area. So malalaman talaga natin kung sino 'yang mga nagsabit ng tarpualin na 'yan (The people who hung that tarpaulin there will be arrested because there are security cameras in the area. We will find out who is behind that)," he added.

However, the Palace official said if Ignacio was indeed red-tagged, the Executive Department, particularly President Duterte, has an obligation to ensure her safety.

"Kung totoong na-red-tag po si Judge Ignacio, ang Presidente po mismo ang magbibigay ng proteksyon kay Judge Ignacio kung kinakailangan (If Judge Ignacio was indeed red-tagged, the President himself will give her protection if necessary)," Roque said.

"'Yan po ang assurance ng Presidente (That is the assurance of the President)," he added.

Roque pointed out that enemies of the government could have placed that tarpaulin along the busy EDSA thoroughfare.

"Iimbestigahan po natin 'yan dahil pupwedeng kalaban ng gobyerno ang gumawa niyan para ibintang sa gobyerno (We will investigate that because it is possible that our enemies are behind it to blame the government)," he said.

"Hindi ko po sinasabi na 'yan ang katotohanan pero hintayin po natin ang imbestigasyon. Tignan natin ang mga CCTV footages (I'm not saying that that's not the case but let's wait for the investigation. Let's look at the CCTV footages)," he added.

Ignacio cleared journalist Lady Ann Salem and trade unionist Rodrigo Esparago of charges of illegal possession of firearms and explosives despite the opposition from the local prosecutor.