Perjury charges are now being prepared against the two environmentalists who recanted their "handwritten affidavit" stating they have "voluntarily surrendered" to the military and declared that soldiers abducted them after they went missing.

During the deliberation of the Senate Committee on Finance on 2024 proposed P229.9-billion budget of the Department of National Defense and its attached agencies, Senator Ronald "Bato" Dela Rosa asked Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. on the case update of Jhed Tamano and Jonila Castro who earlier retracted what they said in their "sworn" affidavit.

"May case preparation ngayon, inter-agency case preparation for the filing of perjury charges sa kanila. Nire-review lang ang mga sworn statements ng mga testigo (There is a case preparation now, multi-agency case preparation for the filing of perjury charges against them. The sworn statements of the witnesses are being reviewed)," Teodoro told Dela Rosa.

In a previous press conference organized by the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict, Tamano and Castor denied that they surrendered to the Philippine Army's 70th Infantry Battalion.

Philippine Army chief LtGen. Roy Galido earlier admitted that the two young activists had tricked the military, contrary to their earlier statements sworn before the Public Attorney's Office.

"We felt betrayed that's why we will file the necessary case, to use our laws, just like when you are also betrayed when your clients are betrayed, they file a case against you, so we just have to follow the rule of law in our country," Galido said.

Meanwhile, Dela Rosa urged the DND to push through with the filing of perjury charges against Tamano and Castro.

"We should do that. I am encouraging you. Grabe 'yung maka-kaliwa, grabe maka-jump sa bandwagon nung epekto na 'yun. Talagang all-out sila. Dapat tayo rin, sumagot din tayo. Parang lumalabas na para bang inaamin na lang natin na totoo ang sinasabi nila (The leftists are really jumping on the bandwagon following their retraction. They are really all-out. We must answer that. It seems like we are just admitting that what they are saying is true)," said Dela Rosa.

The senator said the security forces should be aggressive in their actions against propaganda of the communist-leaning parties.

Teodoro noted that the intelligence information on the two activists is liable.

"Your honor, talagang sigurado po ako sa ebidensya dito (I'm really sure about the evidences)," said Teodoro, noting that the recantation of the two activists is just part of the dramas being perpetrated by the left-leaning organizations.

'Lesson learned: Be wary'

Dela Rosa also warned the Armed Forces of the Philippines chief General Romeo Brawner Jr. to be wary of entertaining communist surrenderers.

"Lessons learned, General Brawner. Ingat kayo kasi pwede kayong saksakin sa likuran niyan (Just be careful because they can stab your back)," he said.

"Masyado tayong mabait, masyado na tayong gentleman. Masyado tayong mapagbigay to the point na 'yun pala, nilalason na pala tayo sa sarili nating tubig (We are too kind, we are too gentlemanly. We are too generous to the point that we are being poisoned in our own waters)," Dela Rosa added.

On the other hand, Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri emphasized the need to provide sufficient funds for the NTF-ELCAC, to augment the military's efforts on its Balik-Loob program.

"We should help in their budget, we should continue providing funds for NTF-ELCAC, especially in barangay projects because that's what winning hearts and minds. It has been very successful in Bukidnon and any other provinces," he said.

Dela Rosa supported Zubiri's suggestion. However, the funds of the anti-insurgency task force are being lodged in the expenditure program of the National Security Council.