The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on Monday, Aug. 18, acknowledged the decision of the Taguig Regional Trial Court (RTC) clearing two consultants of the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) and three others for the kidnapping and killing of a Philippine Army (PA) soldier and a rebel-returnee 18 years ago.

AFP spokesperson Colonel Francel Margareth Padilla said the military views the court’s ruling to acquit NDFP consultants Tirso Alcantara and Renante Gamara, along with Diony Borre, Raul Razo, and Dionisio Almonte “not as an endpoint but as a call to double our resolve.”

“While we acknowledge the recent decision of the Taguig Regional Trial Court, which has acquitted certain individuals—including Tirso Alcantara and four others—who held senior positions in the CPP-NPA-NDF, it is important to remember: these are not merely activists, but individuals who held significant leadership roles in an organization legally designated as terrorist, one that for decades perpetrated violence and inflicted suffering upon Filipino communities,” Padilla said.

The CPP and its armed wing, the NPA, were formally designated as terrorist organizations in 2017 under Proclamation No. 374 issued by then-president Rodrigo Duterte.

The case of the NDFP, however, was more complex.

In 2021, the Anti-Terrorism Council (ATC) also labeled the NDFP as a terrorist organization, describing it as an “integral and inseparable part” of the CPP–NPA. The move drew criticism from legal experts and human rights advocates, who argued that since the NDFP had once been recognized as a negotiating party in peace talks, its designation could complicate the prospects for future peace negotiations.

For the AFP, Padilla said that judicial outcomes, whether convictions or acquittals, underscore the critical importance of sustained operations, community engagement, and intelligence-driven actions.

“Rather than emboldening the communist armed groups, we believe such decisions reinforce the necessity for unified, lawful efforts to ensure they remain irrelevant—denied both the resources and public support needed to continue armed struggle,” she noted.

Padilla stressed that while the AFP respects the independence of the judiciary, the military would continue to perform its mandate to defend the Constitution, uphold public safety, and protect the communities from ideological violence.

“We reaffirm our call for members of the CPP-NPA to abandon the path of armed conflict, return to the rule of law, and embrace constructive dialogue through legal and peaceful means,” she said.

According to reports, the Taguig Regional Trial Court Branch 266 cleared Alcantara, Gamara, Borre, Almonte, and Razo over the kidnap-slay of Eclavea and Cortizano after the prosecution failed to prove their guilt beyond reasonable doubt.

The court said that the killing of Eclavea and Cortizano was established through a witness’ testimony, who claimed that he knew about the victims and the suspects, and who stated that he was informed of the killing by two other individuals. The court ruled that the witness’ statements were mere hearsay and not based on personal knowledge.

Human rights watch group Karapatan hailed the acquittal of the NDFP consultants and activists, saying the charges filed against them were “trumped-up”.

Karapatan Secretary-General Cristina Palabay said that while Gamara and Alcantara were NDFP consultants, Almonte, Borre and Razo were not communist rebels, contrary to what the military alleged. She said Borre and Razo were construction workers and activists, while Almonte was a peasant organizer.

“We are glad that the court saw through the lies and inconsistencies in the testimonies of the prosecution witnesses,” Palabay said, “and we hail the efforts of the defense lawyers in ferreting out the truth and securing the liberty of those who had been wrongfully accused and unjustly detained for so long. Free all political prisoners!”