The Makabayan Coalition filed a case against National Task Force (NTF)-Elcac executive director Ernesto Torres Jr at the Commission on Elections (Comelec) in Intramuros, Manila on April 22. The complaint is related to the agency and its personnel’s widespread violations of the Omnibus Election Code.

The complaint was filed by the coalition’s senatorial candidates Liza Maza who is also Makabayan’s president, Amirah “Mek” Lidasan, Gabriela Women’s Party Rep. Arlene Brosas, and ACT Teachers Partylist Rep. France Castro. Kabataan Partylist Rep. Raoul Manuel and Bayan Muna Party-list fifth nominee Atty. Kristina Conti also appeared before Comelec.

The coalition specifically cited the NTF-Elcac pronouncement on March 16 accusing Makabayan of having links to the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) and the revolutionary movement. NTF-Elcac released the statement after Rep. Arlene Brosas called for the abolition of the anti-people agency.

The agency also stated that Rep. Castro was convicted in a child abuse case, whom they also accuse of having links to the CPP.

“They are deliberately spreading fake news to undermine our candidacies. The NTF-ELCAC falsely claimed I was convicted of child abuse when the case is still on appeal and no final judgment has been rendered,” Rep. Castro said. She said this is an NTF-Elcac attempt to manipulate the vote through disinformation.

Aside from this, the coalition also complained about numerous cases of Red-tagging, threats and intimidation, spreading of fake information, intervention in political activities, use of public funds for campaigning, and violations of campaign laws. The coalition stands firm that these violates Comelec Resolution No. 11116, which prohibits bullying, discrimination, and harassment, such as Red-tagging.

In recent months, the coalition and its parties have successively filed complaints with Comelec regarding these cases, even at the provincial level. However, Comelec still has no clear response regarding these matters.

“The NTF-Elcac’s relentless Red-tagging and spreading of lies against us is a clear violation of electoral law. This not only sows fear and endangers our candidates, but also spreads false information to voters,” said Rep. Castro.

The coalition called on Comelec to take immediate action to uphold the integrity of the democratic election process. “We will not be silenced by [the NTF-Elcac’s] intimidation tactics,” Rep. Castro asserted.

Meanwhile, to defend their NTF-Elcac masters, the traitorous and mercenary “rebel returnees” and their groups released a statement on April 24 against the Makabayan Coalition. These same individuals and groups are also the primary implementors of Red-tagging against the coalition. They are trying to hide Red-tagging under the pretext of “revealing the truth.”