The National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) has cautioned the public and international participants against what it describes as “one-sided narratives” being propagated through so-called solidarity missions in the country.

NTF-ELCAC Executive Director Undersecretary Ernesto Torres Jr. issued the warning amid ongoing International Learning and Solidarity Missions (ILSMs) in Mindoro, Negros, and Eastern Visayas. According to Torres, while many participants join with good intentions, some organizers have links to the underground communist movement, particularly the International League of Peoples’ Struggle (ILPS), founded by the late Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) leader Jose Maria Sison.

“These so-called solidarity activities, dressed as fact-finding or learning exchanges, often rely on selective testimonies and one-sided reports,” Torres said, adding that they often exclude voices from communities that have rejected insurgency and are now engaged in peace and development.

He cited instances in Mindoro where residents denounced attempts to portray their communities as militarized, and in Eastern Visayas, where families of New People’s Army (NPA) victims felt their stories were being ignored. Torres also raised concerns over the lack of attention to online harassment of former rebels and allegations of abuse within some activist groups.

“True solidarity lies in seeing the whole picture,” he emphasized, urging mission participants to engage with a broader range of voices, including local officials, indigenous peoples, and former rebels. The task force reiterated its openness to international engagement, provided it is grounded in truth, accountability, and respect for Philippine sovereignty. (PNA)