Manila: The National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) on Monday urged the public and foreign participants to exercise discernment in viewing "solidarity missions," noting its use in spreading rebel propaganda.

According to Philippines News Agency, NTF-ELCAC executive director Undersecretary Ernesto Torres Jr. stated that these solidarity activities often rely on selective testimonies and one-sided reports, excluding communities that have rejected insurgency and are now rebuilding through peace and development programs. Torres emphasized the need for public awareness of the connections between some organizers and the underground communist movement despite the genuine intentions of many participants.

Torres explained that the concept of these missions, formally known as the International Learning and Solidarity Missions (ILSMs), originates from the International League of Peoples' Struggle (ILPS), founded by the late Jose Maria Sison, the founder of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP). He pointed out that such missions have been used to discredit government efforts and garner foreign support under the guise of human rights or environmental advocacy.

The statement from NTF-ELCAC comes amid ongoing ILSMs in Mindoro, Negros, and Eastern Visayas. Torres noted that in Mindoro, hundreds of residents have openly denounced organizations' attempts to portray their communities as militarized. In Eastern Visayas, families of NPA atrocity victims continue to share their experiences of violence and exploitation, which are often excluded from the narratives presented by solidarity groups.

Additionally, the NTF-ELCAC highlighted that online harassment of former rebels and allegations of sexual abuse within national democratic organizations have largely escaped scrutiny. Torres stressed the importance of genuine solidarity, which involves listening to all voices, including local officials, farmers, indigenous peoples, and former rebels who have experienced both suffering and progress.

Torres concluded by stating that while international engagement is welcome, it should be rooted in truth, accountability, and respect for Philippine sovereignty.