06/05/2026
๐ข๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ฆ๐ง๐๐ง๐๐ ๐๐ก๐ง ๐ข๐ ๐ฆ๐จ๐ฃ๐ฃ๐ข๐ฅ๐ง ๐๐ก๐ ๐ฆ๐ข๐๐๐๐๐ฅ๐๐ง๐ฌ ๐ช๐๐ง๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐จ๐๐ฅ๐ข๐ก
The Phoenix Debate Council firmly stands with Kim Lenard G. Eguiron against these baseless accusations meant to incite unwarranted hate and even life-threatening danger to his person. In the age of social media, where misinformation and fake news remain a rampant issue that can ruin lives and reputations, we implore everyone to remain critical of sources that claim to present certain allegations as facts. As debaters, we recognize the importance of both plurality in perspective and critical analysis of evidently illegitimate sources of information.
We reaffirm that none of our members are terrorists and are not involved in armed struggle or subversive violence. Kimโs passion and idealism are like those of any other civic-minded youth activist who holds his community's, his province's, and his fellow people's best interests at heart. Furthermore, he does not and has never engaged in any sort of recruitment activities involving the CPP-NDF-NPA. His independent actions of organizing events aimed at community improvement do not and have never involved any sort of dangerous and violent act but instead welcome civil discourse and peaceful debates. At his core, Kim embodies the qualities of a passionate scholar of oration and dialogue in both his heart and attitude towards opposing perspectives. He welcomes intellectual and constructive criticism while remaining steadfast in his core beliefs as a person.
His contrary opinions and criticisms should not automatically brand him a criminal, much less a terrorist. The Phoenix Debate Council shares the sentiment that the penalization and evident vilification of opposing perspectives regarding any sort of issue would automatically render the art and discipline of debate to be moot. Critical analysis and a willingness to engage with constructive opposition are necessary aspects of progress, learning, and the continuous journey for development. Questioning policies and participating in public discourse are fundamental aspects of both debate and democracy. Freedom of speech is a constitutionally protected right that is inherent to every Filipino. Thus, it cannot be made clearer that the accusations presented against him are evidently false and harmful. Moreover, the absence of any formal complaint lodged through proper institutional channels regarding these allegations likewise calls into question the validity of the issue at hand. As a debate organization, the Phoenix Debate Council emphasizes the importance of fact-checking and validation of unsubstantiated claims as a necessary condition present in all aspects of life, especially in a highly digitalized world with rampant issues concerning blatant misinformation and fake news.
It must also be said that activism is not, and has never been, equal to terrorism. The mere insinuation of such suggests that compassion, kindness, and concern for your community are not welcome in today's society. The discourse regarding red-tagging cannot merely remain academic, especially when there are real people who suffer its consequences.
We stand with Kim and call to end all forms of harassment, misinformation, and redtagging directed at him and other youth activists.
๐ฟ๐๐จ๐๐ค๐ช๐ง๐จ๐ ๐๐จ ๐ฃ๐ค๐ฉ ๐๐๐ฃ๐๐๐ง๐ค๐ช๐จ.
๐พ๐ง๐๐ฉ๐๐๐๐จ๐ข ๐๐จ ๐ฃ๐ค๐ฉ ๐ฉ๐๐ง๐ง๐ค๐ง๐๐จ๐ข
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๐๐ช๐ด๐ค๐ญ๐ข๐ช๐ฎ๐ฆ๐ณ: ๐๐ฉ๐ช๐ด ๐ฐ๐ง๐ง๐ช๐ค๐ช๐ข๐ญ ๐ด๐ต๐ข๐ต๐ฆ๐ฎ๐ฆ๐ฏ๐ต ๐ฅ๐ฐ๐ฆ๐ด ๐ฏ๐ฐ๐ต ๐ณ๐ฆ๐ง๐ญ๐ฆ๐ค๐ต ๐ต๐ฉ๐ฆ ๐ท๐ช๐ฆ๐ธ๐ด ๐ข๐ฏ๐ฅ ๐ฐ๐ฑ๐ช๐ฏ๐ช๐ฐ๐ฏ๐ด ๐ฐ๐ง ๐ต๐ฉ๐ฆ ๐๐ช๐ท๐ช๐ฏ๐ฆ ๐๐ฐ๐ณ๐ฅ ๐๐ฐ๐ญ๐ญ๐ฆ๐จ๐ฆ ๐ฐ๐ง ๐๐ข๐ญ๐ข๐ฑ๐ข๐ฏ
