Manila: A senior official from the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) has called upon public and government peace communicators to actively counter the disinformation campaigns orchestrated by communist insurgents and their affiliates in Metro Manila.
According to Philippines News Agency, Undersecretary Ernesto Torres Jr., the executive director of NTF-ELCAC, urged these communicators to fully commit to the effort. He emphasized the importance of disciplined execution, unified messaging, and active public participation to build informed and resilient communities that are oriented towards peace. Torres highlighted that Metro Manila, also known as the National Capital Region (NCR), remains a crucial area in the government's ongoing campaign against the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People's Army-National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF).
Torres indicated that as the political, economic, and information center of the country, the NCR is deliberately targeted by the insurgents for propaganda and psychological operations. He also pointed out the insurgents' use of digital platforms and social media to sow distrust, distort realities, and agitate the public against the government.
This call to action comes amid a recent increase in coordinated online activities by NCR-based front organizations. This surge reflects a strategic shift by the communist movement as they lose ground in provincial areas. Torres described these activities not as a show of strength, but as acts of desperation.
He further explained that the information domain has become a crucial battleground in the post-conflict phase, with disinformation, misinformation, hate speech, and falsehoods posing a direct threat to the peace gains achieved. Torres asserted that countering these narratives is no longer optional but a shared responsibility, urging peace communicators to focus on truth, credibility, and public service.
Torres noted that current communication efforts are grounded in the National Action Plan on Unity, Peace, and Development (NAP-UPD) 2025-2028. This plan adopts a comprehensive approach to address the root causes of armed conflict, maintain peace, and strengthen community resilience.
Within this framework, Torres laid out three priorities for peace communication: unifying the peace constituency across sectors with values-driven messaging, building proactive narratives that highlight peace dividends and the results of government and societal efforts, and intensifying digital engagement with youth through partnerships with educational institutions and online communities.
