Time to ask the hard questions: suspend KPL proclamation, revisit GWP disqualification

June 4, 2025

The death of Jhon Isidor “Dee” Supelanas—former spokesperson of Kabataan Partylist (KPL) in Cebu—in a firefight in Kabankalan last April, is not an isolated tragedy. It is part of a disturbing pattern involving youth leaders who begin their journey in legal activist spaces and end in armed encounters as members of the NPA. The same painful trajectory has been traced in the cases of several former Gabriela Women’s Partylist (GWP) leaders who, too, left behind the “parliament of the streets” only to resurface as armed combatants.

These are not speculative connections. They are supported by public tributes, social media records, and sworn testimonies from former insiders. They point to a troubling pipeline—from legal organizing to armed struggle—facilitated by groups like Kabataan and Gabriela, which have long operated under the protective cover of democratic processes.

And more recently, another shadow has darkened this picture: the emergence of sexual assault allegations involving leaders of Kabataan Partylist, spanning cases from 2023 through 2025. According to the victim, at least 20 other suffered the same fate as her. While Kabataan previously issued a generic condemnation of gender-based violence, it failed to admit that some perpetrators came from their own ranks. This omission raises serious questions about accountability and a culture of impunity being perpetuated within their circles.

The Commission on Elections cannot look away. We urge the Commission to take a principled stance by urgently hearing the case filed against the Kabataan Partylist and subsequently suspending its proclamation; and reviving the long-dormant disqualification proceedings against Gabriela Women’s Partylist. This is not suppression, but due diligence, an interim safeguard while facts are verified and testimonies assessed.

The task force recognizes the value of the partylist system in amplifying the voices of the marginalized. But it must never become a backdoor for political radicalization, or worse, a shield behind which abuse festers unchecked. The tragic outcomes we now see—from armed deaths to sexual violence—are cries for reform, not partisanship.

To the leaders of Kabataan and Gabriela: if you truly serve the people, then begin by facing these hard truths. Categorically denounce the CPP-NPA-NDF. Address the cases of exploitation within your circles, just as you demand justice from everyone else. Show the public that your commitment to democracy includes transparency, not silence, when lives and rights are on the line.

The bloodied trail and the survivor testimonies alike compel one simple act: pause, investigate, and protect the public trust.

Undersecretary Ernesto C. Torres Jr.

Executive Director, National Secretariat

National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict