NTF-ELCAC denounces rebel ‘spy-tagging’ as war crime

The National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) called on the United Nations and international human rights organizations to investigate 98 documented summary executions attributed to the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army-National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF).

Atty. Liza Fidelis Cañada, NTF-ELCAC National Secretariat spokesperson and director for stakeholder engagement, denounced the insurgent practice of “spy-tagging” civilians as a violation of international humanitarian law and a potential war crime under Republic Act 9851.

“These are not revolutionary acts. These are murders. No ideology, no political cause, and no armed struggle can justify the deliberate execution of defenseless civilians,” Cañada said.

The task force documented the 98 incidents between 2021 and October 2026, including three in 2021, three in 2022, 21 in 2024, 37 in 2025, and 34 during the first 10 months of 2026. Ninety of the reported executions occurred on Negros Island.

Cañada noted that victims included farmers, laborers, women, elderly residents, barangay officials, community peacekeepers and former rebels who had returned to civilian life.

Many were labeled government informants or “spies” before being executed without judicial due process.

“A mere accusation of being a spy has become a death sentence,” Cañada stressed, challenging international mechanisms to examine the killings with the same impartiality applied to other human rights allegations.

Prosecutor Chris Gonzales, spokesperson for Joint Regional Task Force 6, described the killings as acts of terrorism intended to intimidate communities rejecting insurgent influence.

Gonzales confirmed that case buildup is ongoing in the Negros Island Region, with arrest warrants already issued for several suspects.

Meantime, Cañada added that the task force has recorded 33,381 barangays across 62 provinces achieving Stable Internal Peace and Security status as of 19 October, supported by P44.9 billion in Barangay Development Program funding reaching 5,638 communities formerly under rebel influence.