Malaya: NTF-ELCAC ‘hoodwinked, appalled’ by abduction claim of young activists

The National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict and other authorities were "hoodwinked" by environmental activists, Jonila Castro and Jhed Tamano, who declared in a government-organized press conference that they were abducted by the military, National Security Council assistant director, Jonathan Malaya, said Wednesday.

"We have no question about activists having constitutional rights. In fact what happened yesterday, is that NTF-ELCAC was hoodwinked," Malaya stressed in an interview over the ANC Headstart on Wednesday.

"Well, it was not just the NTF-ELCAC, it was the Philippine Army, it was the local government unit that hosted the press con, it was the public attorney's office. It was many government agencies who were hoodwinked by the two," he added.

Malaya lamented that the two young activists were "community organizers" of the Communist movement.

"That is a fact that we stand by and when they came to surrender, we accepted them with all good faith," he said.

Malaya noted that the Commission on Human Rights has talked to Castro and Tamano and even executed affidavits saying "they are ready to join the press conference."

In a statement Tuesday night, the NTF-ELCAC expressed disappointment in the "turn of events regarding the truth about the case" of two activists.

"We are appalled as we are deeply saddened by the unfortunate turn of events during this morning's press conference at the Municipal Hall of Plaridel town in Bulacan where youths Jhed Reiyana Tamano and Jonila Castro parroted the propaganda lines of Leftist groups on their supposed abduction by security forces. We felt betrayed. The said press conference was organized with only the best intentions in mind for the said youths," it said.

Malaya stressed the government's position on the claims of left-leaning Castro and Tamano "will remain."

"Unfortunately, we were hoodwinked, we were betrayed," he said.

Malaya said they may face "perjury charges" for misleading the public.

"If it is proven that they executed this falsely knowing that what they are saying is correct, they can be open to perjury charges," he added.

Malaya noted that the government will "slowly expose" all of the information linking the two activists to the communist movement.

"We were very transparent about it. In fact, they were presented by the NTF-ELCAC itself. In the first place, why would the military abduct them and then present them to the media? It does not make any sense," he said.

Unfazed, unmasking continues

Despite the 'turn of events', Malaya said the NTF-ELCAC will continue to its job as an anti-insurgency body.

"This is part of the job, you win some or you lose some but we are still unfazed. We will continue to fight for the truth and continue to explain to the public the reality of what really happened," he added.

Armed Forces of Philippines spokesperson Col. Medel Aguilar expressed dismay over the abduction claims made by the two environmentalists.

"The act is brazen with a plot that is new, quite deep (with the interplay of red and white area forces) and dangerous (to them if they fail)," Aguilar said in a message to reporters on Wednesday.

The NTF-ELCAC's Legal Cooperation Cluster insisted that Castro and Tamano "voluntarily surrendered" to the 70th Infantry Battalion of the Philippine Army, based on their affidavits dated 13 September 2023 taken before Atty. JoeferBaggay of the Public Attorney's Office.

"However, during the press conference on 19 September 2023, engulfed with fear from possible retaliations from the terrorist group, Castro and Tamano recanted their affidavits and previous statements to the AFP," the cluster said in a statement.

Notwithstanding, with documentary evidence proving that Castro and Tamano voluntarily surrendered to the AFP, the LCC said "they should be processed in accordance with the governing rules for surrenderers," including the necessity of extending medical intervention to determine the wellness of their physical well-being.