STUDENT groups in Holy Angel University in Pampanga denounced the red-tagging of youth organizations during a career forum for Senior High School learners.

The school’s publication The Angelite reported that the speakers in the forum claimed that Anakbayan and Gabriela “are deceiving children that the Communist Party of the Philippines and its armed wing, the New People’s Army is serving the country.”

HAU Speak Now said that despite efforts to promote the fact that dissent is not terrorism, members of the community continue to be victims of red-tagging.

“Ang aktibong pakikilahok ng mga mag-aaral sa mga progresibo at pang-masang organisasyon na nangunguna sa pagpapaingay at pagsulong sa mga primaryang isyu at kampanya ng mga mag-aaral sa loob ng pamantasan ay kailanman hindi terorismo, bagkus ito ay makatuwiran at makatarungan,” it said in a statement.

Last January, the university was included in a list released by the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict as a recruitment haven for communist rebels.

HAU President Dr. Luis Maria Calingo stressed that red-tagging unfairly subjects the university “with a vibrant legacy of student activism to trial by publicity.”

“Red-tagging dismisses the contributions that generations of student leaders and student activists made to promote social justice and champion the marginalized. These are core themes of Catholic social teaching that are embodied in the mission of Catholic education. Many of our former student leaders have become leaders in government — past and present,” he said.

HAU Speak Now reiterated that red-tagging puts many lives in danger.

“Pinapatunayan na hindi ligtas ang mga mag-aaral sa wala sa hulog na akusasyon at maling impormasyon na ipinakakalat at ipiniprisinta sa hanay ng mga kabataang kritiko at maging mga aktibista,” it said.

Recently, the Department of Justice junked cases filed by a parent against activists in student recruitment cases.

“Anakbayan is just a comprehensive national mass organization of the Filipino youth that is advocating for jobs, land reform, education, rights, and justice,” a resolution approved by Senior Deputy State Prosecutor Richard Fadullon and Prosecutor General Ben Malconteto said.