NTF-ELCAC: Acquittal of CPP-NPA-NDF Cadres Underscores Challenges, Reinforces Resolve

August 18, 2025

The National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) acknowledges the decision of the Regional Trial Court of Taguig City, Branch 266, acquitting Tirso Alcantara, Dionisio Almonte, Diony Borre, Renante Gamara, and Raul Razo of two counts of kidnapping with murder. We respect the independence of the judiciary and the legal process.

However, this acquittal, based on the standard of reasonable doubt, compels us to confront the broader context and persistent challenges in seeking justice for victims of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army-National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF).

While the court has ruled on these specific charges, it is crucial to recognize the documented history and operational roles of these individuals within the CPP-NPA-NDF at the time of their arrest:

• Tirso Alcantara: Identified as a CPP Central Committee member and NPA military strategist linked to deadly ambushes in Southern Luzon.

• Renante Gamara: Former head of the Metro Manila Party Committee, involved in labor agitation and urban infiltration.

• Diony Borre: Senior cadre linked to Ka Roger Rosal, identified in court proceedings as a recruiter and participant in killings.

• Dionisio Almonte: Veteran organizer connected to atrocities through sworn testimonies.

• Raul Razo: Long-time NPA member who has faced multiple charges related to murder and kidnapping.

These are not mere activists, as some claim, but individuals who held significant positions within an organization designated as terrorist, responsible for decades of violence and exploitation targeting Filipino communities.

This outcome is a profound disappointment and reopens wounds for the families of victims who have waited nearly two decades for closure. It underscores a painful reality: the immense difficulty in securing convictions, even against high-ranking cadres, often due to the nature of insurgency warfare and the challenges of gathering court-admissible evidence years after the fact. Testimonies from victims and former rebels, crucial for establishing patterns of violence, continue to face significant hurdles within the legal system.

The acquittal highlights the sophisticated use of lawfare by the CPP-NPA-NDF – manipulating legal processes not to seek justice, but to evade accountability and perpetuate impunity. It serves as a stark challenge to our law enforcement and prosecutorial agencies. The NTF-ELCAC views this as a call to action to strengthen collaboration, enhance investigative capabilities, and ensure the effective presentation of complex insurgency-related cases in court. We owe this to the victims and our security personnel who risk their lives to apprehend perpetrators.

This ruling does not diminish our resolve. It reinforces the fundamental truth that sustainable peace cannot be built on impunity. True reconciliation requires accountability. More importantly, it validates the core mission of the NTF-ELCAC: addressing the root causes of insurgency – poverty, injustice, lack of opportunity – that groups like the CPP-NPA-NDF exploit to recruit and sustain their violent campaign. They twist legitimate grievances into fuel for terrorism.

The NTF-ELCAC remains steadfast. We will continue to support law enforcement and the prosecution service in building robust cases against those who threaten our peace; amplify the voices of victims and survivors, ensuring their experiences inform our strategies; redouble our efforts in implementing the National Action Plan for Unity, Peace and Development (NAP-UPD), focusing on holistic development and good governance to remove the very conditions insurgents exploit; and work tirelessly to ensure no Filipino family, youth, or community remains vulnerable to the destructive manipulations of the CPP-NPA-NDF.

The acquittal of these senior cadres is a chapter closed in court, but the broader struggle for justice and lasting peace continues. The NTF-ELCAC is committed to writing the next chapter: one where insurgency has no fertile ground, and communities thrive in security and prosperity.

Undersecretary Ernesto C. Torres Jr.

Executive Director, National Secretariat

National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict