• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
While it acknowledges the inquiry on “red-tagging”, the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) also called on the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) not to forget the victims of New People’s Army (NPA) terrorism.
In a statement, NTF-ELCAC executive director Ernesto Torres Jr. said that families of slain civilians, former rebels, indigenous leaders, and youth who were coerced into NPA recruitment have consistently spoken about exploitation, intimidation, and violence.
Ignoring their voices risks silencing another set of victims, he pointed out.
“Hindi dapat namimili ang malasakit sa karapatang pantao (Compassion or concern for human rights should not be selective)”, Torres said.
The Armed Forces of the Philippines reported that more than 60 civilians accused as military spies in Negros Island were killed by the NPA, based on its admission, until April this year.
“Our discourse should not be limited to allegations against state actors. The killings of civilians branded as ‘spies’, the coercion of indigenous peoples, and the grooming of students into extremism also demand recognition and justice,” Torres said. “Protecting rights must go hand in hand with confronting the realities of armed violence and underground recruitment.”
Torres also cautioned against vague standards that suppress legitimate discussions on national security.
“Government must be able to talk about recruitment patterns and armed group activities when backed by facts, testimonies, and judicial findings. Accountability should be precise, not selective,” the NTC-ELCAC official stressed. | GB
