By KALIBO – The progressive urban poor group Kalipunan ng Damayang Mahihirap (KADAMAY) has strongly denounced what it calls a “desperate and dishonest” red-tagging and disinformation campaign by the Regional Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (RTF-ELCAC), following claims that a former leader of the group in Aklan had surrendered as a member of revolutionary groups.
The group refuted reports circulated by RTF-ELCAC stating that Nenita Tugna, a former chairperson of KADAMAY- Aklan, had voluntarily “returned to the fold of the law.” According to her family, Tugna has long been inactive in the organization due to serious health conditions.
In a public Facebook post, her son Kim Sin Tugna clarified the circumstances.
“Matagal nang hindi naging tagapagsalita ng KADAMAY si Mama dahil ito’y may karamdaman na at senior citizen na. Kahit sa Barangay Poblacion Kalibo ay huminto na siya bilang miyembro ng Lupong Tagapamayapa dahil maselan ang kanyang kalagayan,” he said.
He stressed that military personnel had persistently approached his mother, causing anxiety and stress, especially given her high blood pressure and nervous condition.
“Napilitan ang aking ina na lumagda sa isang papel para klaruhin ang kanyang pangalan — na hindi siya NPA o terorista, lalo na ang kanyang pamilya,” he said.
“Sa ginawang pagkakalat ng RTF-ELCAC sa media, nagpapakita ito kung gaano sila ka-SINUNGALING! Desperado!” Tugna added.
In a statement, KADAMAY accused the NTF-ELCAC of fabricating the surrender story and endangering innocent civilians to boost its credibility.
“Mariin naming kinukondena ang kasinungalingang ipinapakalat ng RTF-ELCAC na diumano’y ‘sumuko’ ang aming kasamahan at dating lider sa Kalibo,” the group said.
“Walang katotohanan ang mga paratang na siya’y kasapi ng CPP-NPA-NDF.”
KADAMAY emphasized that Tugna was never involved in any armed group and had only served as a leader advocating for housing and livelihood rights for the urban poor. The group noted that Tugna had even served her barangay as a peace council member before her health declined.
According to KADAMAY, the signing of documents was done under coercion and fear, as a way to clear Tugna’s name and shield her family from further harassment.
“Hindi ito pagtalikod, kundi pagdepensa sa sarili laban sa pananakot ng militar,” the group said.
KADAMAY pointed out that this incident fits a broader pattern of red-tagging and fabrication of “surrenderees” by the NTF-ELCAC in urban poor communities. The group cited previous reports of residents in Payatas, Quezon City, allegedly coerced into signing forms declaring surrender in exchange for relief goods.
“This is part of a broader campaign to make it seem like the agency is succeeding in its counterinsurgency efforts, while targeting legitimate people’s organizations,” KADAMAY said.
The group also slammed recent revelations of alleged corruption in the Barangay Development Program (BDP) under NTF-ELCAC. Citing reports of “ghost projects” and hundreds of questionable hires by the DILG, KADAMAY said the agency has become a “machinery of lies and corruption.”
“NTF-ELCAC = kasinungalingan, militarisasyon, at kurapsyon,” the group said.
“Hindi nito nilulutas ang ugat ng armadong tunggalian, bagkus ginagawang target ang mga lider-mamamayan.” they added.
KADAMAY reiterated its call for the abolition of the NTF-ELCAC, saying that the billions allocated to its intel operations should instead be redirected to education, housing, social services, and livelihood programs./PT
