Metro Manila has emerged as what government officials are calling the new “ground zero” for communist propaganda, the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) said this week.
NTF-ELCAC Executive Director Ernesto Torres Jr. said the shift reflects evolving tactics by the CPP–NPA–NDF. He noted that efforts to sway opinion and spread disinformation have moved from rural fronts to digital platforms and urban centers, especially in Metro Manila.
The anti-insurgency official added that Metro Manila’s position as the nation’s political, economic, and information center has turned it into a key target for coordinated online campaigns designed to twist facts, erode trust in institutions, and stir public unrest.
“As the political, economic and information hub of the country, NCR is deliberately targeted by communist terrorist groups as a primary battleground for propaganda and psychological operations,” Torres said. These propaganda and psychological operations, he said, are most notably carried out through digital platforms and social media.
Torres said the shift comes as armed insurgency in rural areas continues to weaken. He described the movement’s online push not as a sign of strength but as “desperation” because their influence in traditional conflict zones has diminished.
“Today, as insurgency continues to weaken in the countryside, we are witnessing a clear shift of struggle — from rural armed confrontation to urban disinformation,” he said.
The task force chief urged government communicators, the public and civil society groups to treat the information domain as a “decisive front” in maintaining peace and national stability. “Countering disinformation, misinformation, hate speech and calculated falsehoods is no longer optional — it is a shared responsibility,” Torres said.
Torres said these efforts are guided by the National Action Plan on Unity, Peace, and Development 2025–2028, a framework the task force described as central to addressing the root causes of conflict and strengthening community resilience against manipulation. “How we defend the truth here will shape peace and stability not only in the capital, but across the nation,” he said.
Officials said the renewed focus on urban and online spaces underscores the changing threat landscape and the need for coordinated, fact-based communication to protect public trust and preserve gains made in peace efforts.
The NTF-ELCAC previously cautioned that communist groups have adopted a new strategy, saying they are now actively recruiting Filipino-Americans.
