Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS 
Second Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. _______ 
Introduced by HON. JOY MYRA S. TAMBUNTING 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Red-tagging, as defined by the Philippine Commission on Human Rights, is “an act of State actors, 
particularly law enforcement agencies, to publicly brand individuals, groups, or institutions as 
affiliated to communist or leftist terrorists”. It is a widely used strategy employed by State agents 
to silence progressives, activists or other individuals perceived to be ‘threats’ or ‘enemies of the 
State’ for voicing out dissent with government policies. Red-tagging often have far-reaching 
consequences for the work and safety of victims as they often become targets of killings. This 
Representation believes that red-tagging, and the consequent endangerment of life that comes 
with it, violates the constitutional provision on the protection of life and liberty and freedom 
speech, as it aims to instill fear and stifle dissent.  
In the recent years, we have witnessed a rise of red-tagging against human rights advocates, 
labor union organizations, journalists, teachers, unions, women’s groups, indigenous 
organizations, religious groups, student groups, agrarian reform advocates and others. Even 
media personalities and honorable members of the House of Representatives were not spared 
from red-tagging posts in social media by various users and by some personalities from State 
agencies. As such, it is incumbent upon the state to institutionalize a system of accountability by 
criminalizing red-tagging and providing for penalties as deterrence thereto.  
This measure seeks to define the crime of red-tagging as the act of labeling, vilifying, branding, 
naming, accusing, harassing, persecuting, stereotyping, or caricaturing individuals, groups, or 
organizations as state enemies, left-leaning, subversives, communists, or terrorists as part of a 
counter-insurgency or anti-terrorism strategy or program, by any state actor, such as a law 
enforcement agent, paramilitary, or military personnel. This measure likewise seeks to penalize 
those found guilty of committing this crime with imprisonment of ten (10) years and perpetual 
absolute disqualification to hold public office.  
On behalf of the people of Parañaque City’s Second District, and for the common good of the 
Filipino people, the approval of the said measure is earnestly sought. 
REP. JOY MYRA S. TAMBUNTING 
2nd District, Parañaque City 
9170
April 5, 2021
10:52 AM


Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS 
Second Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. _______ 
Introduced by HON. JOY MYRA S. TAMBUNTING 
AN ACT 
DEFINING AND PENALIZING THE CRIME OF RED-TAGGING 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress 
assembled: 
SECTION 1. Red-tagging. – Any state actor, such as a law enforcement agent, paramilitary, 
or military personnel, who labels, vilifies, brands, names, accuses, harasses, persecutes, 
stereotypes, or caricatures individuals, groups, or organizations as state enemies, left-leaning, 
subversives, communists, or terrorists as a part of a counter-insurgency or anti-terrorism program 
or strategy, shall suffer the penalty of imprisonment of ten (10) years and perpetual absolute 
disqualification to hold public office.   
SEC. 2. Repealing Clause. – All laws inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby 
repealed or modified accordingly.   
SEC. 3.  Effectivity. – This Act shall take effect upon its publication in the Official Gazette and 
in a newspaper of general circulation. 
Approved, 
9170