Unveiling the Menace: NDF Exposed as 'Biggest Terror-Groomer' in PH

April 23, 2024

National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF ELCAC) Executive Director and Undersecretary Ernesto Torres Jr. has singled out the National Democratic Front (NDF) as the foremost terror-groomer among the various terrorist groups operating within the country.

"Kung terrorist grooming ang pag-uusapan, nasa umbrella ng isang designated terrorist group ng ating Anti-Terrorism Act yung pinakamalaking terrorist groomer dito sa ating bansa, and I’m referring to the NDFP," Usec Torres revealed during a pivotal virtual press conference.

"Even in the CPP’s 2016 Constitution, under Article 10, it shows that the NDFP is an integral and inseparable part of the CPP-NPA. It is the core and most consolidated group that provides support to the armed and organizational expansion of the CPP," he added.

The groundbreaking disclosure follows the tragic demise of Kaliska Dominica Peralta, also known as Ka Recca, in a recent encounter. The revelations have illuminated the clandestine strategies employed in youth and student recruitment through the NDFP's front organizations, accompanied by poignant testimonies from former members of the terror group.

Torres underscored the pervasive threat posed by the NDFP, established 51 years ago on April 24, 1973, which undermines the very fabric of Filipino society. The NDFP's orchestration of worker strikes, student boycotts, and protests aimed at destabilizing the government underscores the imperative to confront their malevolent agenda.

"These duplicitous organizations thrive on the suffering of the Filipino people, deceiving innocent individuals to join their corrupted cause and needlessly perish for it," Torres asserted.

Shedding light on the deceptive façade of the front organizations, the CPP-NPA-NDF has methodically recruited innocent Filipinos into their armed components, perpetrating terrorist activities nationwide. Their exploitation of vulnerable sectors and manipulation of social issues have sown seeds of violence and anarchy in marginalized communities.

Delving into the intricate dynamics of the Underground Mass Organizations (UGMOs) of the CPP-NPA-NDF and their front organizations, Torres highlighted the targeted recruitment of susceptible sectors such as students and youth for terrorist grooming.

He emphasized the overarching authority of the NDFP across diverse sectors within the CPP-NPA-NDF network nationwide.

Torres stressed that terrorist grooming activities are deliberately carried out by UGMOs through front organizations, such as Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU) with Revolutionary Congress of Trade Union as its underground mass organization; Gabriela/ MAKIBAKA (Makabayang Kilusan ng Bagong Kababaihan); ACT/KAGUMA (Katipunan ng mga Gurong Makabayan); and Alliance of Health Workers and HEAD/MASAPA (Makabayang Samahang Pangkalusugan), alongside legal and paralegal organizations.

The designation of the NDFP as a terrorist organization by the Philippine government on June 23, 2021, underscores the grave threat posed by their activities to public safety and national security. The recent redesignation by the CPP-NPA as a terrorist organization reaffirms the urgent imperative to address and neutralize their detrimental impact on society.

"We urge individuals, families, communities, schools, and workplaces to remain vigilant and combat the ongoing terrorist grooming activities. It is our collective responsibility to ensure the safety and well-being of our society, particularly the young and vulnerable," Torres urged.

The ELCAC Executive Director extended commendations to military partners for their unwavering dedication to upholding human rights and international humanitarian law, significantly contributing to the preservation of peace across all regions.

Torres reiterated the government's unwavering commitment to safeguarding the Filipino people from all forms of threats that jeopardize their liberties and the societal fabric, emphasizing the paramount importance of ensuring the well-being and future of the populace.###

NTF-ELCAC MEDIA BUREAU

Ref: Joel M. Sy Egco

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