NTF-ELCAC to Makabayan: Put your money where your mouth is

March 31, 2025

Over the past week, the party-list groups and senatorial candidates of the Makabayan bloc have made a beeline to file multiple complaints with the Commission on Elections (COMELEC), alleging election-related harassment and so-called “red-tagging.” Once again, these groups attempt to cry wolf and paint themselves as victims to sweep under the rug the long-standing and well-documented ties that bind them to the CPP-NPA-NDFP.

And once again, we stand firm on this truth: these connections are neither speculative nor arbitrary. They are based on years of intelligence reports, public statements, and revelations from their very own former members. The NTF-ELCAC remains committed to exposing these links because they pose a serious national security concern, particularly to our democratic processes, including elections. The Filipino people deserve to know the full extent of the deception that is being carried out under the guise of "progressive" politics.

We welcome the opportunity to present concrete evidence to the courts and the public. However, we are skeptical that the Makabayan bloc will truly pursue their complaints beyond the realm of propaganda. More importantly, we again challenge them at the occasion of the NPA's 56th anniversary: If you truly stand for democracy, condemn with no ifs or buts the CPP-NPA-NDFP's more than five decades of violence against the Filipino people.

We also take note of the bloc’s latest complaints regarding our state security forces carrying out their mandated duty to ensure safe and orderly elections. Makabayan candidates claim they are being harassed when, in reality, they are simply being subjected to the same security measures that apply to all politicians and groups. Like spoiled brats throwing a tantrum, it is the height of their hubris to consider themselves above the law.

They have never condemned the armed NPA for extorting permit-to-campaign fees against politicians but they now denounce usual checkpoints and call these "harassments." Perhaps they now feel the same inconvenience that other candidates have experienced in past elections when they campaigned in areas under NPA control. The difference now is that they can no longer rely on the preferential treatment once afforded to them when the NPA still held sway in the countryside. With the weakened and isolated NPA remnants scrambling for survival, the Makabayan bloc now finds itself in unfamiliar territory—forced to abide by the same rules as everyone else.

We commend the COMELEC for swiftly stating that they will investigate Makabayan’s allegations. In the spirit of COMELEC Resolution 11116, which aims to protect all marginalized groups, we also urge them to give equal attention to the complaint filed by former rebels over a month ago. Their voices—those who suffered firsthand under the influence of the CPP-NPA-NDFP—must not be ignored.

The NTF-ELCAC remains fully committed to upholding the rule of law. Our public advisories regarding the Makabayan bloc are not acts of “red-tagging”; they are based on documented facts. Our goal is not to intimidate, but to safeguard the integrity of the elections and ensure the safety of our people. Democracy thrives in transparency, and we will not allow deceit and subversion to go unchallenged.

Undersecretary Ernesto C Torres Jr

Executive Director

NTF ELCAC