NTF-ELCAC CONDEMNS MOBILIZATIONS SUPPORTING NEW PEOPLE’S ARMY ANNIVERSARY

April 5, 2025 Community Billboard

The National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) expresses serious concern regarding the recent
mobilizations by supporters of the New People’s Army (NPA) at the University of the Philippines (UP) and the Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP). While these institutions have a rich tradition of activism, we must clarify that activities endorsing the NPA— a group designated as a terrorist organization—are not acts of activism; they are endorsements of violence and communist terrorism.

It is troubling that when the NTF-ELCAC raises awareness about organizations with known affiliations to the NPA, these groups often
retaliate with accusations of harassment, advocating for the repeal of the Anti-Terror Law and the disbandment of our task force. However, their recent actions have exposed their true allegiance as staunch supporters of communist terrorism. In recent years, lightning
rallies organized by NPA-affiliated groups have predominantly occurred in high-traffic areas such as Recto, Cubao, and Mendiola.

Yet, as their mass base dwindles and their radicalism declines, these groups are unable to sustain such mobilizations in these locations. Instead, they have turned to UP and PUP, exploiting the leniency of these academic institutions to further their agenda and conduct their
activities on campus grounds. Claims that there is no recruitment of students into the NPA within these universities are misleading. Many who assert this lack firsthand experience or awareness of the consequences.

The recent public displays of support for the NPA on the campuses of UP and PUP serve as undeniable evidence of their ongoing presence and activities. The NTF-ELCAC is committed to engaging in constructive dialogues with educational institutions to ensure the safety of students from potential recruitment and radicalization, while also upholding their academic freedom. Concurrently, in collaboration with the Philippine National Police (PNP), we will thoroughly investigate these incidents, as they represent a violation of the Anti-Terror Law.

The government remains resolute in its mission to protect the Filipino people from the threats posed by communist terrorism and its enablers. We will not waver in our commitment to safeguarding our communities and ensuring that our educational institutions
remain free from the influence of terrorist ideologies.