BUKLOD Kapayapaan, a national federation of former members of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army (CPP-NPA), was dismayed by the recent acquittal and release of several individuals they identify as leaders and cadres of the armed movement.
In a Facebook post on Aug. 18 by Arian Jane Ramos, national spokesperson, the group highlighted the potential impact of the court’s decision on peacebuilding efforts and public trust in the justice system.
The statement specifically addressed the acquittal of Central Committee members Tirso Alcantara and Renante Gamara, along with Dionisio Almonte, Diony Borre, and Raul Razo.
While acknowledging the independence of the judiciary, Buklod Kapayapaan asserted that these individuals are known to them through their “firsthand experience with the structure, operations, and strategies of the CPP-NPA.”
Gamara, Borre, and Razo were released on Aug. 14, 2025, while Almonte remains in custody and Alcantara is at large.
The five individuals, along with 32 others, were charged in connection with a 2007 case that included the abduction and killing of a soldier in Mauban, Quezon.
Buklod Kapayapaan claimed that Alcantara and Gamara should be held responsible for numerous crimes under the doctrine of command responsibility, citing documented cases of children involved in armed conflict and the willful killings of civilians.
The organization warned that the court’s decision “undermines the message we bring to communities that choosing the path of peace, truth, and accountability remains the right and just course.”
The group noted the painful reality that many former rebels who have surrendered still face legal cases, while their “unrepentant former leaders are the ones who are walking free.”
Buklod Kapayapaan concluded its statement by urging the government and the judiciary to ensure that legal outcomes are aligned with the goals of reconciliation, public trust, and national security, stating that “peace without justice and accountability is fragile and will, ultimately, be unsustainable.”
