MANILA – A ranking official of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) on Monday said the acquittal of five ranking members of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People's Army-National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF) of kidnapping and murder charges highlights the "sophisticated use of lawfare" by the group.
NTF-ELCAC executive director, Undersecretary Ernesto Torres Jr., said the CPP-NPA-NDF's use of such tactics shows the group's efforts to evade accountability and perpetuate impunity.
Lawfare is defined as the use of legal systems and institutions to affect foreign or domestic policies.
"It serves as a stark challenge to our law enforcement and prosecutorial agencies. The NTF-ELCAC views this as a call to action to strengthen collaboration, enhance investigative capabilities, and ensure the effective presentation of complex insurgency-related cases in court. We owe this to the victims and our security personnel who risk their lives to apprehend perpetrators," he said in a statement.
Torres was referring to the decision of the Taguig City Regional Trial Court Branch 266 last week to acquit Tirso Alcantara, Dionisio Almonte, Diony Borre, Renante Gamara, and Raul Razo of two counts of kidnapping with murder.
While stressing that the NTF-ELCAC respects the judiciary and the legal process, Torres said the acquittal of the five shows the challenges in seeking justice for victims of the CPP-NPA-NDF.
"However, this acquittal, based on the standard of reasonable doubt, compels us to confront the broader context and persistent challenges in seeking justice for victims of the Communist CPP-NPA-NDF," he added.
Despite this, Torres said this ruling does not diminish their resolve in seeking justice for the victims.
"It reinforces the fundamental truth that sustainable peace cannot be built on impunity. True reconciliation requires accountability. More importantly, it validates the core mission of the NTF-ELCAC: addressing the root causes of insurgency – poverty, injustice, lack of opportunity – that groups like the CPP-NPA-NDF exploit to recruit and sustain their violent campaign. They twist legitimate grievances into fuel for terrorism," he said.
Torres said the NTF-ELCAC remains steadfast in its goal to support law enforcement and the prosecution service in building robust cases against those who threaten the peace and amplify the voices of victims and survivors.
He also vowed to redouble their efforts in implementing the National Action Plan for Unity, Peace and Development (NAP-UPD), which focuses on holistic development and good governance to remove the very conditions insurgents exploit.
Torres said they will work tirelessly to ensure no Filipino family, youth, or community remains vulnerable to the destructive manipulations of the CPP-NPA-NDF.
"The acquittal of these senior cadres is a chapter closed in court, but the broader struggle for justice and lasting peace continues. The NTF-ELCAC is committed to writing the next chapter: one where insurgency has no fertile ground, and communities thrive in security and prosperity," he added. (PNA)
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