Manila, July 3 -- The National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) has expressed concern over the proposed Anti-Red-Tagging Bill, saying it is not a safeguard for democracy but rather a dangerous shield that can be used by those who enable terrorism under the guise of legality.

The task force noted that framed as a protection against malicious labeling, the bill threatens to criminalize legitimate national security disclosures, muzzle the voices of former rebels and victims of insurgency, and embolden the underground networks of the Communist Party of the Philippines - New People's Army - National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF) that thrive on deception and infiltration.

On Tuesday, ACT Teachers Rep. Antonio Tini...