Manila, June 23 -- The National Task Force to End Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) dismissed reports claiming that the body is a threat to the Philippine civic space.

In a statement Sunday night, NTF-ELCAC Executive Director Undersecretary Ernesto Torres Jr. defended the task force's mission and stressed that it has actually opened democratic spaces and not closed them.

He also challenged the global community to listen to the voices of victims, not just lobbyists.

"Peace cannot be built on partial narratives. The report describes NTF-ELCAC as a threat, but the past six years say differently. We have fostered dialogue in places the government was once unwelcome," he added.

Torres was referring to the report issued by UN Special Rap...