MANILA, (PIA) — The Legal Cooperation Cluster (LCC) of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) has issued a statement condemning recent accusations made by Kabataan Partylist, which labeled the NTF-ELCAC as “electoral cheaters” and alleged President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. as the “mastermind” behind such actions.
The statement, released on April 23, 2025, criticizes a Facebook post by Kabataan Partylist that includes derogatory imagery depicting the NTF-ELCAC as the “Notorious Task Force for Electoral Cheating and Attacking Candidates.” The post also features a photo of President Marcos Jr. with captions suggesting he is “addicted to cheating” and compares him to former President Rodrigo Duterte.
(Photo courtesy: Kabataan Partylist Facebook page)
Kabataan Partylist Representative Raoul Manuel’s comments, made in relation to a formal complaint filed by the Makabayan Coalition with the Commission on Elections (Comelec), were also addressed. The complaint alleges violations of Comelec Resolution No. 11116, which the LCC disputes.
In the press statement, LCC members expressed their disdain for the accusations, labeling them as “ludicrous” and part of a desperate propaganda effort by the Makabayan Coalition to regain lost public support. “Social media has no place for utterly deceitful posts that reflect a frantic attempt to recover sympathy,” the statement read.
The NTF-ELCAC reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring a clean, honest, and peaceful electoral process for the upcoming 2025 Midterm Elections. The task force emphasized that it does not engage in election offenses or tactics that could undermine the integrity of the electoral process. Instead, it aims to empower voters to make informed choices.
The statement further criticized Manuel and his allies for what it termed “cheap propaganda,” asserting that the NTF-ELCAC is focused on revealing the truth and protecting Filipino citizens, particularly the youth.
Despite the complaint filed with Comelec, the NTF-ELCAC-LCC views the situation as an opportunity to present evidence regarding the affiliations of Kabataan Partylist with the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army-National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF).
The LCC concluded by urging the public to seek out and uphold the truth, which it calls essential for a vibrant democracy. The group challenged Manuel and his coalition to address longstanding calls from the public to denounce the alleged atrocities committed by the CPP-NPA-NDF.
It can be recalled that the Makabayan Coalition in Congress is composed of the ACT Teachers Partylist, Gabriela Women’s Party, and Kabataan Partylist (JCO/PIA-NCR)
