THE National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) yesterday urged the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to suspend the proclamation of the Kabataan party-list group as a winner in the May 12 polls.
NTF-ELCAC executive director Ernesto Torres Jr. made the appeal following the killing of former Kabataan spokesperson- turned-rebel Jhon Isidor “Dee” Supelanas during an encounter between the New People’s Army (NPA) and government troops in Kabankalan City, Negros Occidental last April.
Six other rebels died in the April 25 clash, which also resulted in the military’s seizure of seven high-powered firearms and a pistol.
“His story is not an isolated tragedy… It is part of a disturbing pattern where youth leaders — starting from legal organizing spaces — end up as armed combatants of the NPA,” said Torre of Supelanas.
He added the NTF-ELCAC has come across additional information of Kabataan’s links with the NPA.
Torres also cited what the task force described as “alarming” sexual assault allegations against Kabataan members from 2023 to 2025.
He said 20 victims have already come forward.
“Kabataan’s response was a generic condemnation, carefully avoiding the fact that the abusers were from within their own ranks. This silence perpetuates a culture of impunity,” he said.
The task force also asked the poll body to act on the long-dormant disqualification case it has lodged against Gabriela Women’s party list group, which authorities have previously linked with the communists.
It said it has documented cases involving members of groups like Kabataan and Gabriela eventually becoming NPA rebels.
Torres said that while NTF-ELCAC values the party-list system to amplify the voice of the marginalized sector, this “must never become a backdoor for political radicalization, or a shield for abuse.”
“This is not suppression, but a safeguard. The bloodied trail and the survivor testimonies compel one simple act: pause, investigate, and protect the public trust,” he said.
To prove that they have no links with communist groups, Torres challenged the leadership of Kabataan and Gabriela to denounce the Communist Party of the Philippines, the NPA, and the National Democratic Front and to address exploitation within their ranks.
“If you truly serve the people, then begin by facing these hard truths… Show that your commitment to democracy includes accountability and transparency — not silence — when lives and rights are on the line,” he said.
The NTF-ELCAC has filed a petition before the Comelec seeking the cancellation of the registration of Kabataan and Gabriela, in 2021 and 2019, respectively, from the party-list system due to their alleged ties with the NPA and other issues.
In another development, the Supreme Court (SC) on May 20 ordered the Comelec to answer NTF-ELCAC’s petition questioning the poll body’s anti-discrimination guidelines and prohibition on red-tagging.
The SC order was made public only last Tuesday.
“Acting on the Petition for Certiorari and Prohibition with Application for the Issuance of a Temporary Restraining Order, the Court resolved, without giving due course to the Petition, to require the Respondent to comment on the Petition and Prayer within 10 days from notice thereof,” the en banc notice said.
The Comelec Law Department and the Office of the Clerk of the Comelec, according to the en banc, both received a copy of the notice last May 30.
The NTF-ELCAC has earlier challenged the legality of Comelec Resolution No.11116, or its anti-discrimination guidelines for the May 12 midterm polls.
The Comelec resolution also declared that labeling groups and individuals as terrorists, dissenters, and criminals without evidence is considered an election offense in the 2025 polls.
In its petition, the NTF-ELCAC accused the poll body of committing grave abuse of discretion amounting to lack or excess of jurisdiction when it declared labeling as an election offense.
It argued that there is no law penalizing such as an offense or a criminal act.
It likewise told the SC that the implementation of the assailed Comelec resolution “would not only prejudice its legitimate efforts to unmask the true identities of members, affiliates, sympathizers, and collaborators of communist terrorist groups, but it would also disempower Filipinos from exercising their constitutionally guaranteed freedom of expression, including their right to expose, identify, and call out communist-terrorist groups based on reliable information.”
Comelec chairman George Garcia said the poll body is ready to defend its actions.
“The Comelec is ready, very much willing, able, and we will defend our position not just on the issue on tagging as a form of discrimination but all the other forms of discrimination stated in the resolution,” Garcia said.
“This is a perfect opportunity for us to determine if the Comelec really has the power to govern these matters of discrimination during the campaign period. We are prepared to answer,” he added.
The poll chief, however, said they will ask the SC for additional time to send their response.
“We were expecting the SolGen (Office of the Solicitor General) to be the one to defend us. In any case, we will be ready to defend ourself. Our Law Department is always ready to step up in times when the SolGen cannot defend us,” Garcia said.
The OSG is representing the NTF-ELCAC in the case pending before the High Court. – With Ashzel Hachero and Gerard Naval
