Bayan Muna party-list on Monday, March 10, asked the Commission on Elections to investigate the massive and widespread black propaganda being perpetrated against them and other affected party-lists and candidates to file criminal cases.
In a letter to the Comelec sent by Bayan Muna first nominee Neri Colmenares, he stated that ,since the start of the campaign period for the national candidates and party-lists, Bayan Muna has been the subject of a massive and nationwide black propaganda and vilification campaign.
"Our lawful campaign materials posted on authorized common poster areas were either destroyed or defamed in violation of COMELEC Resolution 11086 (Sec. 8. Prohibited Forms of Election Propaganda, (a) & (b) and Sec. 25. Removal or Confiscation of Prohibited Propaganda Materials) in relation to COMELEC Resolution 11116," he said in the letter.
He stated that from Feb. 14 to March 7, volunteers and organizers of Bayan Muna from different parts of the country have documented several unlawful forms of campaign against Bayan Muna, either by destruction, defamation, vilification and red-tagging of its lawful campaign materials.
In the letter were photos of the incidents which happened in Cubao, Quezon City; Taytay, Rizal; Cotabato City; Iloilo City; and Tacloban City.
Among the other proposals Colemenares mentioned was to include in the Comelec education efforts the danger and evils of red-tagging and vilification against Bayan Muna and other progressive candidates and party-lists; direct the LGUs to provide or aid in gathering information or CCTV footages, if any, to the Comelec, covering the areas wherever red-tagging posters were documented/seen on the specified dates; and to direct the Task Force Baklas to include red-tagging and black propaganda campaign materials under their mandate in COMELEC Resolution No. 11086, both in the documentation and taking down of such materials, and to aid in COMELEC's investigation of these unlawful campaigning of red-tagging activities.
"We are earnestly hoping that COMELEC would respond positively to our recommendations as Bayan Muna's fight against red-tagging is not different with Comelec's aspiration, ie., to have a fair and honest elections," he said.
"Red-tagging, vilification, labelling, and guilt by association constitute threats to a person's right to life, liberty, or security. It has no place in a free, honest and fair elections and hence should be seriously stopped," he added.
Last month, Comelec issued Resolution No. 11116, which seeks to curb all forms of discrimination during the election period, and anyone who violates this shall be liable for an election offense.