the Pis Siyabit Editorial Board

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Francine Mae T. Diamante

MANAGING EDITOR

Kryzza P. Lorete

ASSOCIATE EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Kyla T. Cuajao

COLUMN EDITOR

Lorence D. Remedio

NEWS EDITOR

Angel Clarisse A. Garcia

FEATURE EDITOR

Rhymuel O. Pancho

SPORTS EDITOR

Kryzza P. Lorete

PHOTOJOURNALIST/ ILLUSTRATOR

Michi Mae C. Cabalhin

SCI-TECH EDITOR

Kyla P. Cuajao

CARTOONIST

Meljia M. Bari

LAYOUT ARTIST/ ILLUSTRATOR

Lorence D. Remedio

COPY READER

Sophia Lorraine B. Pastor

CONTRIBUTOR

Madnie P. Batting

Judy Ann H. Sevilla

SCHOOL PAPER ADVISER

Evanessa V. Jutingo

Annajeson A. Quiñones

ASSISTANT ADVISERS

Fatima Bernadeth A. Muti

Peter Ian C. Pantalita

CONSULTANT

Marlon P. Micubo

Reckless confidence

Status Quo

Francine Mae T. Diamante

I heard someone say as I left the campus to retire home after an exhausting school day. While walking home, I face an obstacle as students on motorcyles flood the sidewalks. They watched ahead as an LTO checkpoint was currently happening. They stayed vigilant as they waited, at the same time, recoiling from the authorities out of fear of getting caught having no license.

Youths have become so confident in violating the law that they tend to forget the consequences of their actions.

As surveyed, over 135 senior high school students of Siocon National Science High School drive without a license. They say it serves as their transportation from their homes far away from school. But this does not excuse their action of breaking the law.

Many also drive high speed on busy roads and do not even wear safety gears like a helmet. These reckless teenage drivers swarm the streets but hide in the shadows when authorities are out.

Students often blame the officers if they are caught. Mainly accusing them of only doing their jobs for the money by taking advantage of the situation. But in truth, the fault lies in drivers driving without a license.

Furthermore, the reckless driving of these students harms themselves and the citizens on the streets. A tragic event from last year, 2022, left the people of Siocon in shock as a road incident caused by the reck-

Musings

Kyla T. Cuajao less high-speed driving of a minor led to the death of an innocent woman. This incident is an example of a consequence of getting too confident in breaking the law.

A tragic event from last year, 2022, left the people of Siocon in shock as a road incident caused by the reckless high-speed driving of a minor led to the death of an innocent woman.

Laws are established to regulate traffic rules and ensure the safety of people walking and driving on the road. With this, youths should be mindful of the different traffic offenses. Let us be reminded of the classic adage “dura lex, sed lex,” which means the law is harsh, but it is the law.”

Having a license is a privilege ensuring that everyone who attained it is responsible enough not to endanger the people in the community. As students, we must be disciplined enough to avoid unfortunate circumstances which may put us and the people of the community at risk. If this confidence of not abiding the rules by the students are not dealt with and becomes a threat to all, this turns the famous phrase “Ang kabataan ang pag-asa ng bayan [The future of the country rests on the youths],” into “Ang kabataan ang babagsak sa bayan [The youths will give the country a devastating rest].”

Speaking of deadly labels

In the Philippines, mere labels can end your life.

For Muslim students, have you experienced being called a member of “Abu Sayyaf?”

This is the common notion of some people about the Muslim community, thinking that all Muslims are one in the “Abu Sayyaf” movement, a Moro Islamic group that seeks to rebel against the government in the most violent way to achieve their goal of becom- the projects of the sitting government are accused of being allegedly fighters or supporters of the communist insurgency and make them the potential targets of the government security forces (Castañeda, 2021).

Just this year 2023, the 46 years old Puroy Bermehedo dela Cruz, an activist advocating Indigenous people and land rights, has been red-tagged by the authorities and labeled as a member of the “Communist Terrorist Group.”

Around three in the morning, the police raided de la Cruz’s house with a search warrant for firearms, ammunition, and explosives. The police ordered his family to leave the house. While they were exiting, they heard gunshots (Nonato, 2021). When Puroy’s wife turned around, she saw her husband lying face down on their bed, covered

In this country, taking a stand against the government is an action we must think twice or else we will be red-tagged by the authorities and end up like Puroy dela Cruz.

The implementation of red-tagging has been controversial until today. However, from the year 2022 to 2023, much uproar and objections arose due to the severe harassment and violence to the accused brought by this prac- leaving society’s wounds unattended.

On the other hand, there is still a much more alarming scenario. I see news of threats to the lives and freedoms of activists and human rights advocates who are at the vanguard of advancing essential humanitarian causes, such as fair pay, worker welfare, women’s and LGBTQIA+ rights, and peasant folk advocacy. These challenges touch the entirety of society and require immediate attention. Threats, however, compelled them to leave the streets and left them with no option other than to either remain silent or revolt through violent resistance.

The worst is yet to come? No. It is not coming because it is already happening, slowly killing the lives of those people who are being accused of as supporters of the New People’s Army (NPA). If those people broke the law, the police should have jailed them instead of ending their lives.

In exchange for compliance with the state’s established laws and regulations, the state is obligated to provide for the welfare of its people. If individuals violate this agreement, the state has the authority to enforce these violations. However, it becomes social injustice when the government itself disregards these laws.

Siocon National Science High School

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As a student journalist, I simply want to exercise my freedom of speech, to raise my voice, but as I have read articles regarding the issue of red-tagging in the country where people who are being targeted often end up being harassed or worst killed, it caused me to hesitate to speak and was urged to remain

Due to this deadly practice, those who wanted to point out flaws in the policies and system of the government eventually decided to be silent. As a result, a cycle of silence could develop,

The right to free expression and dissent is violated by red-tagging. It directly threatens people’s lives and security. One runs the risk of being red-tagged for even the mildest statement of opposition to government policy, action, or inaction.

People in the democratic nation of the Philippines are free to express their opinions without worrying about future repercussions. After all, constructive criticism is essential to a more just and humane society because it directs government resources where they are most needed.

However, the opposite happened. As we can see, raising our voices leads to tragedy. I thought our voices matter? What is democracy without its people speaking up, expressing their wants, and condemning social injustices in both society and the government?

The government should end red-tagging because activism is not a crime but a medium for change.