MANILA, Philippines — A ranking official of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-Elcac) on Wednesday denounced the alleged “spy-tagging” of civilians by the New People’s Army (NPA) in Southern Tagalog, warning that the practice endangers lives.
“This is not harmless online rhetoric. This is organized psychological warfare. When individuals are publicly branded as ‘spies’ or ‘traitors’ without evidence or due process, it places their lives in clear and present danger,” NTF-Elcac executive director Undersecretary Ernesto Torres Jr. said in a statement.
Torres was referring to “wanted posters” reportedly circulated by the NPA that label Gerald Mangao, Erick Simogan, and Zena Punada Candelario Segui as “taksil sa bayan” (traitors to the country) and offer a token bounty for information on their whereabouts.
According to the NTF-Elcac, the three individuals are former rebels and members of the Buklod ng Kapayapaan Foundation.
Authorities said the materials were posted on the Facebook page “Villagers Point of View 2.0,” which they identified as a propaganda portal aligned with the Communist Party of the Philippines–New People’s Army–National Democratic Front (CPP–NPA–NDF) network.
Torres described the posters as blatant examples of “spy-tagging,” or the deliberate labeling of civilians as informants or enemies of the movement — a practice he said has historically preceded harassment, abduction, and killings in areas where armed groups operate.
“We have seen this deadly pattern before. Accuse without proof. Label without process. Eliminate without remorse,” he said.
The official cited the recent killing of Leonora “Leonor” Anguit, a 74-year-old grandmother from Kabankalan City, Negros Occidental, who was allegedly executed after being accused of being a military informant.
“By the perpetrators’ own admission, she was killed on mere suspicion. No court. No proof. No defense. Just an accusation followed by a bullet,” Torres added.
Based on NTF-Elcac monitoring, 26 civilians were killed in 2025 following spy-tagging accusations. Many of the victims were described as farmers, forest guards, and community members who had allegedly spoken against the communist group or refused to support its activities.
Torres also pointed to past internal purges — including campaigns such as Oplan Zombie, Kampanyang Ahos, and Kadena de Amor — which he said resulted in thousands of executions driven by suspicion.
“Today’s spy-tagging follows the same logic. History warns us what happens when propaganda becomes a trigger for violence,” he said.
By posting “wanted” materials against Mangao, Simogan, and Segui, Torres said those responsible were effectively placing targets on their backs.
“This constitutes a direct threat to their lives. The State cannot ignore this,” he said.
Torres called on law enforcement agencies to ensure the safety of those named and urged civil society groups, media organizations, faith-based institutions, and human rights advocates to denounce spy-tagging as a dangerous practice.