The National Capital Region (NCR) has become the new ground zero of propaganda operations by the Communist Party of the Philippines–New People’s Army–National Democratic Front (CPP–NPA–NDF), a senior official of the National Task Force to End Local Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) warned on Wednesday.

NTF-ELCAC Executive Director Ernesto Torres Jr. said authorities have monitored a surge in coordinated online activity, largely driven by NCR-based front organizations linked to the CPP–NPA–NDF.

“As the political, economic, and information hub of the country, NCR is deliberately targeted by communist terrorist groups as a primary battleground for propaganda and psychological operations—most notably through digital platforms and social media ecosystems designed to sow distrust, distort realities, and agitate the public against the government,” Torres said in a statement sent to the DAILY TRIBUNE.

He noted that as armed insurgency continues to weaken in the countryside, communist groups are shifting their focus to urban centers and digital spaces.

“Today, as insurgency continues to weaken in the countryside, we are witnessing a clear shift of struggle—from rural armed confrontation to urban disinformation. Metro Manila has now become the ground zero of CPP–NPA–NDF propaganda,” Torres said.

“The surge of coordinated online activity, largely driven by NCR-based front organizations, reflects an attempt to manufacture relevance and project influence toward regions where their narratives are already failing. This is not strength. This is desperation,” he added.

Torres stressed that the development must be addressed through a whole-of-nation approach, emphasizing that the information domain has become a decisive front in countering insurgency.

“In this context, I call on the public and on all government peace communicators to recognize that the information domain is now a decisive front. Countering disinformation, misinformation, hate speech, and calculated falsehoods is no longer optional—it is a shared responsibility,” he said.

He urged communicators to go beyond routine messaging and become deliberate advocates of peace anchored on truth, credibility, and public service.

“This call is anchored on a clear collective resolve to harmonize messaging and defend the information space from manipulation. Our communication efforts are firmly anchored on the National Action Plan on Unity, Peace, and Development (NAP-UPD) 2025–2028,” Torres said.

According to him, the framework embodies a whole-of-nation and whole-of-society approach aimed at addressing the root causes of armed conflict, sustaining peace gains, and strengthening community resilience.

“We call on the public and all government peace communicators to commit—fully and unequivocally—to this effort. Through disciplined execution, unified messaging, and active public participation, we can cultivate informed, resilient, and peace-oriented communities,” Torres said.

He warned that how the information space is defended in Metro Manila will have national implications.

“Metro Manila is now a critical front in this struggle, and how we defend the truth here will shape peace and stability not only in the capital, but across the nation,” Torres added.