FALSE FLAG OPERATION

September 23, 2023 Opinion

Desperate times call for desperate measures and from hindsight this may have been what compelled the CPP-NPA-NDF to execute a false flag operation against the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) and thereby embarrass the government. A false flag operation as generally defined “is an act committed with the intent of disguising the actual source of responsibility and pinning blame on another party. The term “false flag” originated in the 16th century as an expression meaning an intentional misrepresentation of someone’s allegiance.”

Other terms synonymous with false flag operations include “frame-up”, “stitch up”, or “set-up”. (https:// en.wikipedia.org/wiki/False_flag) In the realm of media such kinds of false flag operations, although not sophisticated as those employed by war mongering nations, consists of fake news or the slang term “kuryente”. These kinds of ruse or deceptions are actually acceptable especially in warfare to gain some advantage against an enemy. The sudden turnaround in the statements made by two activists who supposedly surrendered to the government after leaving the communist movement may be just that.

A false flag operation designed to embarrass and destroy the credibility and reputation of the NTF-ELCAC, and indirectly the government, which has adopted a no-nonsense whole of nation approach towards finally achieving peace and stability by putting an end to the communist insurgency and the ongoing armed conflict. The narrative presented by the government regarding the supposed surrender of the two activists began in September 2, 2023 when the two activists, Jonila Castro and Jhed Tamano, were picked-up by an unnamed person and brought to Guagua, Pampanga.

According to National Security Council (NSC) Assistant Director General Jonathan Malaya in a press conference in September 15, 2023 Castro and Tamano were not abducted as earlier reported, after they went missing and relatives search for them, but were actually in the custody of the 70th Infantry Battalion of the Philippine Army after having surrendered voluntarily to the authorities
after allegedly leaving the communist movement. Malaya added that based on a police report culled from sworn affidavits executed by Jhed and Jonila, the two activists have been seeking ways to leave the communist organization and thus sought the help of the unnamed person.

The sudden about face of these two activists from their previous sworn statements happened during the press conference conducted by the NTFELCAC where they claimed that contrary to the version of the government that they voluntarily surrendered to the military for their safety they announced that they were abducted and were forced to sign affidavits. Obviously the officials of the NTF-ELCAC who were there at the press conference were caught flatfooted and definitely embarrassed by the sudden turn of events.

However, given the nature of the warfare still being waged between the government and the CPP-NPA-NDF – and there is no denying that an armed conflict of insurgency proportions is continuing to this day – it is only logical for the combatants to utilize tactics such as deception to waylay and defeat their enemy. False flag operations being one of them. So to consider a scenario it is not far fetch for the communist movement to devise a scheme by which two of their members who are committed and hardcore pretend to be disillusioned of the communist movement and then further pretend to surrender voluntarily to the authorities to gain their trust and sympathy.

From there it would be a cinch for them to handwrite affidavits that they will even swear to in order to further deceive the authorities. They will then bide their time until they will be presented to the
public thru the media where they will recant their previous avowals and thus discredit the efforts of
the government. The NTF-ELCAC who had custody of the two activists should not have readily freed them back to the populace considering their duplicitous actions. Instead a more comprehensive probe should have been conducted to determine whether Jonila and Jhed were in fact involved in a scheme to discredit the campaign of the government against the CPP-NPANDF using a false flag operation.

It has been established that Jonila is a community volunteer for AKAP KA Manila Bay, an alliance of fisherfolk, youth and church members while Jhed is a program coordinator for the Ecumenical Bishops Forum. Both of them have been working with communities and participating in campaigns against reclamation and coastal development projects. On the part of the NTFELCAC it has doubled down on its assertion and claim that no abduction took place and that the two activists voluntarily
surrendered to the military where they were taken into custody.

For those who might wish to see the NTF-ELCAC rebuttal on the reverse claims of Jonila and Jhed watch this clip in Youtube. (https:/ / w w w . y o u t u b e . c o m / watch?v=2_QwSoHfqW8) MANILA, Philippines – The two activists who went missing in Bataan early this month are already
“safe and sound” under military custody, National Security Council (NSC) Assistant Director General Jonathan Malaya said on Friday, September 15. Malaya said in a press briefing Jonila Castro and Jhed Tamano were now in a safe house. Police Captain Carlito Buco, Bataan police chief public information officer, said the two women “voluntarily surrendered” last Tuesday, September 12, to the 70th Infantry Battalion of the Philippine Army.

“They’re safe and sound. The parents have access to them anytime. The CHR [Commission on Human Rights] will come out with their own statement,” Malaya said in a mix of Filipino and English. The National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) held a
press conference on Tuesday, September 19, at the Plaridel Municipal Hall in Bulacan, to show that Jhed Tamano and Jonila Castro had “voluntarily surrendered” to the military.

“Ang totoo po e dinukot kami ng mga militar sakay ng van. Napilitan din kami na sumurrender dahil pinagbantaan ‘yung buhay namin,” Castro said. (The truth is we were abducted by the military onboard a van. We were coerced to surrender because they threatened our lives.) https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/ 1835169/govt-releases-videos-ofa b d u c t e d – activists?utm_source=(direct)&utm_medium=gallery