NTF-ELCAC ‘undeterred’ by election complaint

The National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) on Thursday said it is "undeterred" by the anti-discrimination complaint filed by the Makabayan bloc against the agency.

“The NTF-ELCAC-LCC is undeterred by the complaint that the Makabayan Coalition has filed with the COMELEC.  Rather, the NTF-ELCAC-LCC sees such development as an opportunity to rightfully expose, in a tribunal setting, the real identities of these personalities, through solid and credible evidence," said NTF-ELCAC legal cooperation cluster spokesperson Atty. James Clifford Santos.

On Tuesday, the Makabayan bloc filed the complaint accusing NTF-ELCAC executive director Ernesto Torres Jr. of violating the anti-discrimination provisions under Comelec Resolution 11116 for 2025 polls through alleged red-tagging of progressive lawmakers.

Makabayan coalition President and senatorial aspirant Liza Maza said Torres' actions triggered various responses, including death threats and harassment.

“Nagfa-file kami ng election offense complaint sa NTF-ELCAC, specifically the executive director of NTF-ELCAC Mr. Torres, dahil na-monitor namin, mayroon kaming mga ebidensya na siya mismo ay nag-red tag kay Rep. Arlene Brosas,” said Maza.

(We are filing an election offense complaint against the NTF-ELCAC, specifically its Executive Director Mr. Torres because we have monitored and gathered evidence showing that he personally red-tagged Rep. Arlene Brosas.)

Santos, however, said that Makabayan bloc leaders should debunk the allegations against them and denounce the “atrocities and other evil acts” by the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP).

“The NTF-ELCAC, ever committed to the whole-of-nation approach in attaining inclusive and sustainable peace, neither engages in any election offense nor resorts to underhanded tactics which would impair the credibility of the upcoming elections. Instead, the NTF-ELCAC seeks to meaningfully contribute to enabling the Filipino people, especially the voters, to make informed choices as they exercise their sacred right of suffrage in few weeks’ time,” he added. —VAL, GMA Integrated News

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