Filipino women’s alliance GABRIELA decried the suspected interference of Philippine state forces after multiple reports of red-tagging posters targeting progressive barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) candidates and a woman community leader were flagged in Tondo, Manila.

The group called the black prop operations a ‘perpetuation’ of the harassment of urban poor residents of Tondo, who are presently engaging all avenues—electoral or otherwise—to resist forced demolitions of their homes.

Now, when they decided to enter local elections to highlight issues related to housing, poverty, inflation, and low wages, they are suddenly branded armed rebels. This absurdity places them in harm—a heartless continuation of the harassment Tondo residents have long faced for resisting development aggression,” blasted Clarice Palce, GABRIELA’s Secretary-General.

The said posters, observable across Tondo, had the same words written on it: ‘Fe Cristostomo, Phil Tiozon, Isko Manaog, Rey Dimaano, recruiter ng CPP-NPA-NDF!”

“While the red-tagging posters have no identifiable signatories, only a fool would fail to piece together who has the means and the motive to vilify progressive candidates advocating for Tondo residents’ rights to housing. Let us not forget that only this March, the 11th Infantry Division of the Philippine Army were deployed to relentlessly profile, stalk, and harass community leaders outspoken about preventing demolitions in Tondo, forcing them to seek help from the Commission on Human Rights,” narrated Palce.