UP Diliman denounces NTF-Elcac red-tagging of students, activists

The UP Diliman Committee on the Protection of Academic Freedom and Human Rights issued the statement Monday, declaring that agents and supporters of the NTF-Elcac have engaged in a pattern of harassment targeting students and other members of the university community. The committee said the conduct undermines the institution's commitment to safeguarding the rights of its constituents to express political views and engage in lawful advocacy. Red-tagging—the practice of labeling individuals as communist sympathizers or insurgents without evidence—has become a contentious issue in Philippine civil society, with human rights groups warning it creates a climate of fear that discourages legitimate political participation. The UP statement adds institutional weight to mounting criticism from civil society organizations and legal experts questioning the task force's methods and authority. The NTF-Elcac, created in 2018 to coordinate government efforts against communist insurgency, has faced repeated accusations that it conflates ordinary activism with support for armed groups. The committee's rebuke underscores deepening tensions between the university and state security agencies over the definition and protection of academic freedom in the Philippines.