The Union of Peoples’ Lawyers in Mindanao (UPLM) has condemned the red-tagging of Mindanaoan lawyer Tony La Viña by retired Army General Antonio Parlade, calling it baseless and malicious. The UPLM highlighted La Viña’s work as a human rights defender, environmental lawyer, and peace advocate, attributing Parlade’s attacks to La Viña’s legal defense of former Bayan Muna Representative Satur Ocampo, former ACT Teachers Partylist Representative France Castro, and the Talaingod 13. La Viña had reiterated his support for the group after the Court of Appeals upheld a ruling against them for aiding Lumad schoolchildren fleeing military operations in Talaingod, Davao del Norte.
In response, Parlade posted on Facebook on Christmas Day, questioning La Viña’s alleged ties to the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP). The UPLM denounced this as a dangerous tactic, citing a Supreme Court ruling (Siegfred D. Deduro v. Maj. Gen. Eric C. Vinoya) that declared red-tagging a threat to life, liberty, and security. The group emphasized that Parlade’s actions undermine the legal profession and intimidate lawyers defending activists and marginalized groups.
The UPLM vowed to hold Parlade accountable for any threats to La Viña’s safety and urged the Marcos Jr. administration, the Philippine National Police, and the Armed Forces of the Philippines to reject red-tagging and protect human rights defenders. Parlade, a former spokesman for the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC), was reprimanded by the Ombudsman in 2023 for red-tagging activities. (JB R. Deveza / MindaNews)
