Defend Caloocan strongly condemned the NTF-Elcac and the 12th Civil Military Operation (CMO) Battalion for their harassment, red-tagging, and militarization in barangays of North Caloocan.

Led by 2nd Lt. Julie San Jose and instigated by Captain Ronaldo Matias, the 12th CMO began its operations veiled as peace and order in Barangay 175 on October 6. Days later, they also expanded to Barangay 181–182 Pangarap Village and Barangay 187–188 in Tala, North Caloocan.

At Barangay 175’s State of Barangay Assembly on October 18, NTF-Elcac and the 12th CMO blatantly Red-tagged progressive organizations. Soldiers were accompanied by Joel Miralpes, Peoples Democratic Hawkers Vendors Association president in Manila City and a paid NTF-Elcac operative.

Miralpes was a former Kadamay-National Capital Region spokesperson who abandoned serving the masses and is voluntarily serving as state asset. He initiated the spread of false information and persuaded residents to surrender to the NTF-Elcac.

Last year, he deceived United Vendors Alliance members into participating in a military activity the vendors thought was for aid distribution but was instead staged for their “surrender.”

In 2022, the NTF-Elcac also presented to the barangay the “surrender” and “return to the fold” of the 100 Zone One Tondo Organization members. The deception and accusations of being members of a revolutionary group terrorized the residents.

According to Defend Caloocan, state agents plan to make Barangay 175 residents and organizations “surrender” again.

“The 12th CMO Battalion’s deception is part of a larger operation by the AFP and PNP to silence progressive organizations and citizens who resist the government’s injustice and corruption,” the group explained.

Defend Caloocan called on Mayor Along Malapitan, council members, and the Commission on Human Rights to conduct a thorough investigation into the militarization being implemented by the 12th CMO and NTF-Elcac in North Caloocan.