The Philippine Native Plants Conservation Society has issued a strong statement defending murdered botanist Leonard Co after recent attempts to link him to communist insurgents - a practice known as "red-tagging" that activists say has deadly consequences in the Philippines.
Dr. Co was killed in 2010 during a military operation in Leyte province while conducting field research on native plant species. He was 48 years old. The military initially claimed he was caught in crossfire with New People's Army rebels, but witnesses and fellow researchers disputed this account, saying he was conducting legitimate botanical surveys in an area known for biodiversity.
Fourteen years after his death, Co was publicly red-tagged - labeled as a communist sympathizer or supporter - prompting the conservation society to publicly defend his scientific legacy and condemn what they describe as posthumous character assassination.
Red-tagging has become a significant issue for researchers, journalists, and activists in the Philippines. Human rights organizations document numerous cases where individuals labeled as communist sympathizers subsequently faced harassment, threats, or violence. The practice creates a chilling effect, discouraging field research and environmental advocacy in areas affected by the decades-long communist insurgency.
For scientists, the implications are particularly severe. Biodiversity research often requires accessing remote forested areas - precisely the regions where rebel groups may operate. If conducting legitimate research in such areas invites accusations of insurgent collaboration, environmental science becomes effectively impossible in much of the country.
The Philippines is a biodiversity hotspot, with approximately 52,000 documented species, many endemic to specific islands. Deforestation, mining, and agricultural expansion threaten these ecosystems. Conservation requires field surveys to identify, document, and protect species before they disappear - work that researchers like Dr. Co dedicated their careers to pursuing.
Environmental advocates note a pattern: community organizers opposing mining projects, researchers documenting illegal logging, and indigenous rights activists defending ancestral lands have all faced red-tagging accusations. The tactic appears designed to delegitimize opposition to extractive industries by framing environmental protection as insurgent activity.
The conservation society's statement emphasizes Dr. Co's scientific credentials: a doctorate from the University of Copenhagen, extensive publications in peer-reviewed journals, discovery of numerous plant species new to science, and mentorship of the next generation of Filipino botanists. His legacy is scientific knowledge, not political ideology, the statement declares.
Press freedom and human rights organizations have called for legal protections against red-tagging, arguing it constitutes defamation that endangers lives. Several bills in Congress would criminalize baseless accusations of communist affiliation, though none have passed into law.
For Southeast Asia's scientific community, the case illustrates how political conflicts can make basic research dangerous. Ten countries, 700 million people, one region - and in parts of it, studying plants can get you killed, while defending the dead can require public statements from professional societies.
The Philippine Native Plants Conservation Society concluded its statement by noting that the best tribute to Dr. Co would be ensuring other researchers can safely continue the botanical work he died pursuing.
