NTF-ELCAC kumasa sa hamon ni Kabataan Partylist Representative Raoul Manuel

Kumasa ang National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) sa hamon ni Kabataan Partylist Representative Raoul Manuel na kanyang kakasuhan ang task force.

Sa pahayag ng NTF-ELCAC, ang kaso na isasampa ni Manuel laban sa kanila, ay maglalantad lamang ng katotohanan na siya ay may kaugnayan sa Communist Party of the Philippines – New People’s Army – National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF).

Pinatutuloy ninUndersecretary Ernesto C. Torres Jr., Executive Director of NTF-ELCAC na isampa na ni Manuel ang kaso dahil may mga ebidensiya sila laban dito.

“If Manuel genuinely believes we are in the wrong, he should not hesitate to file any charges he deems appropriate. We welcome the legal process, as it will allow for a deeper examination of his affiliations. Let it be clear: we will not retract any of our statements or videos that expose individuals and groups acting as fronts for the CPP-NPA-NDF,” sabi ni Torres.

Ipinag-diinan pa ni Torres, ang sapat na ebidensiya nilang hawak, na mga sinumpaang testimoniya ng mga dating NPA sa isang hearing sa Senado at iba pang mga pagpupulong na si Manuel ay kaisa nila.

Ang ‘key witnesses’ na hawak ni Torres ay sina Arian Jane Ramos, dating Secretary ng Guerilla Front 55 ng NPA sa Southern Mindanao Regional Command, at si Justine Kate Raca, isang dating NPA political officer.

“We are not making baseless accusations; we are committed to uncovering the truth. High-ranking defectors from the communist terrorist organization have detailed Manuel’s active involvement in the radicalization and recruitment of students into the underground movement. More incriminating evidence will be disclosed soon,” paliwanag pa ni Torres.

Sa pagsasalysay ni Raca noon daw na siya ay miyembro ng UP Student Regent noong 2017, malaking papel ang ginagampanan ni Manuel, lalo na sa pagre-recruit ng mga estudyante para mapabilang CPP-NPA.

“He wasn’t merely a sympathizer—he was a key operative within UP,” ang sabi pa ni Raca.

Sinusugan naman ito ni Ramos at sinabing bahagi si Manuel ng ‘revolutionary integration program’ sa isang kampo ng NPA sa Mindanao noong 2017.

“You cannot enter an NPA camp unless you are a member of the Communist Party. Manuel was there, leading a group of over a dozen student recruits,” paglalahad ni Ramos na sinabi rin na ang ilan sa nga kabataang recruit ay napaslang lamang sa mga enkwentro, samantalang ang iba ay nagsisuko na lang.

Nanawagan din si Torres sa Commission on Elections (COMELEC) na maging mapagbantay sa mga ganitong taktika ng mga kaalyado ng CPP-NPA-NDF na bumamalakid sa misyon ng task force.

“We respectfully caution the COMELEC against any maneuvers by these groups aimed at suppressing our efforts to educate the public. The NTF-ELCAC will not permit its mission to be silenced, particularly by individuals who have been exposed by their own former comrades,” sabi pa ni Torres.

Hinamon din ni Torres na pumayag si Manuel na harapin ang kanyang mga dating kasamahan sa NPA.

“Arian Jane Ramos and Justine Kate Raca have issued a challenge: Manuel should step up and respond to their revelations. Why is he hesitant to confront those who were once his comrades? If he has nothing to hide, he should have no issue facing them,” pagdidiin pa ni Torres .

Ang NTF-ELCAC aniya ay laging handang harapin ang katotohan, upang malaman ng publiko ang mapagpanggap na karakter ng mga CPP-NPA-NDF.