THE Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany in Manila yesterday joined the calls for justice in the still unsolved murder of Bacolod City-based activist Zara Alvarez.
In a statement, the embassy also called on the authorities to exert more effort to identify and arrest Alvarez’s killers.
“We strongly urge the Philippine authorities to intensify the efforts to conduct a thorough and impartial investigation and bring those responsible to justice,” the embassy said, adding the killing is a stark reminder of the dangers facing human rights defenders.
“Germany firmly believes that a vibrant society, where defenders can operate without fear of reprisal or red-tagging, is essential for any thriving democracy. Germany reaffirms its solidarity with all who bravely work to uphold human rights and the rule of law in the Philippines,” it added.
In a social media post, German Ambassador Andreas Pfaffernoschke also called for justice for the family of Alvarez.
“On the 5th anniversary of her killing, Germany remembers Zara Alvarez, a courageous human rights defender. Justice remains essential but elusive. We stand in solidarity with all who bravely work to protect human rights in the Philippines,” Pfaffernoschke said.
Alvarez was gunned down by unidentified gunmen near her boarding house in Barangay Mandalagan in Bacolod City on August 17, 2020, at the height of the extrajudicial killings under the then-Duterte administration.
DISAPPOINTED
The National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) yesterday expressed disappointment over the decision of a Taguig City court acquitting Communist Party of the Philippines chairman Tirso Alcantara and four other communist leaders of charges of kidnapping with murder and frustrated murder.
NTF-ELCAC executive director Ernesto Torres Jr. said the decision would not affect the government’s resolve to end the more than 50 decades of the insurgency problem.
“This outcome is a profound disappointment and reopens wounds for the families of victims who have waited nearly two decades for closure,” Torre said of the decision.
The court cleared Alcantara, Renante Gamara, Diony Borre, Dionisio Almonte and Raul Razo for failure of the prosecution to prove their guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
Torres said the decision “underscores a painful reality.”
The reality, Torres said, is the “immense difficulty in securing convictions, even against high-ranking cadres, often due to the nature of insurgency warfare and the challenges of gathering court-admissible evidence years after the fact.”
Torres said testimonies from victims and former rebels, which are “crucial” in establishing the pattern of violence of the communist movement, “continue to face significant hurdles within the legal system.”
“The acquittal highlights the sophisticated use of lawfare by the CPP-NPA-NDF – manipulating legal processes not to seek justice, but to evade accountability and perpetuate impunity,” said Torres.
He said the ruling also serves as a “stark challenge” to law enforcement and prosecutorial agencies to strengthen collaboration in pursuing insurgency-related cases.
“We owe this to the victims and our security personnel who risk their lives to apprehend perpetrators,” said Torres.
Nevertheless, Torres said the task force respects the “independence of the judiciary and the legal process.”
Torre said the decision “does not diminish our resolve” in the fight against insurgency.
“It reinforces the fundamental truth that sustainable peace cannot be built on impunity. True reconciliation requires accountability,” Torres said.
“More importantly, it validates the core mission of the NTF-ELCAC: addressing the root causes of insurgency – poverty, injustice, lack of opportunity – that groups like the CPP-NPA-NDF exploit to recruit and sustain their violent campaign. They twist legitimate grievances into fuel for terrorism,” said Torres.
While the acquittal of the CPP leaders is a “chapter closed in court,” Torres said, “the broader struggle for justice and lasting peace continues.”
“The NTF-ELCAC is committed to writing the next chapter: one where insurgency has no fertile ground, and communities thrive in security and prosperity,” said Torres.
AFP spokesperson Col. Francel Margareth Padilla said the acquittal of Alcantara and the others will strengthen the military’s resolve to end insurgency.
“We view the court’s ruling not as an endpoint, but as a call to double our resolve,” said Padilla.
“Judicial outcomes, whether convictions or acquittals, underscore the critical importance of sustained operations, community engagement, and intelligence-driven actions,” said Padilla.
Padilla said the decision reinforces the need for a “unified, lawful efforts to ensure they remain irrelevant—denied both the resources and public support needed to continue armed struggle.”
Padilla said the Armed Forces respect the independence of the judiciary.
Nevertheless, Padilla said the military “will continue to implement our mandate to defend the Philippine Constitution, uphold public safety, and protect our 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 added. – With VICTOR REYES
