KABATAAN Party-list is facing severe scrutiny following a former member’s public allegations of sexual assault and an organizational culture of silence and inaction regarding gender-based violence.
The revelations, published by the Kontra-Kwento collective, highlight a pattern of alleged abuse within the “white area” of the national democratic movement.
Identified as “Karima,” the former member bravely came forward, stating she endured three separate incidents of sexual assault between 2023 and 2025 by fellow members and leaders. Despite immediately informing the organization after the first incident, Karima claims KPL leadership failed to deliver justice, prompting her to go public with her ordeal.
According to the Kontra-Kwento report, Karima’s experience is not isolated, with her testimony suggesting at least 20 individuals have been victimized by KPL members and leaders.
Instead of addressing these abuses, the report alleges that incidents are often dismissed or concealed, particularly when influential figures within the organization are involved.
This situation exposes a stark contradiction, as groups like KPL, which are vocal champions of women’s rights and denouncers of systemic abuse, are accused of failing to address similar issues within their own ranks.
The report states that victims are often pressured to “bury their pain for the sake of activism,” sacrificing their mental and emotional well-being.
Karima herself recounted a condescending exchange where a “Chief Membership Deputy Officer” reportedly advised her to “focus on campaigning for KPL,” asking, “Isn’t that better than being idle?”
The Kontra-Kwento collective, composed of former cadres of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army-National Democratic Front of the Philippines (CPP-NPA-NDFP), asserted that Kabataan’s insistence on handling such issues “internally” amounts to shielding abusers and discrediting victims to protect the organization’s image.
They contend that KPL lacked the capacity for genuine psychological support, credible grievance processes, or independent accountability mechanisms.
Following the public outcry on social media, KPL national president Julius Cantiga issued a statement, acknowledging that the organization’s “efforts though have not been sufficient so far and it has led to her disillusionment in the organization itself.”
Equally concerning, the group also assailed the silence from allied organizations such as Gabriela, a prominent women’s rights group.
The group questioned why Gabriela has not taken a leading role in demanding justice for these alleged internal abuses, despite their quickness to denounce perceived injustices by the government. This “selective outrage,” Kontra-Kwento argues, undermines the very principles these organizations claim to uphold.
The Kontra-Kwento collective, which aims to “expose false narratives and foster critical but constructive social awareness and activism,” emphasizes that the “wishy-washy response of Kabataan’s leadership—and the silence of the rest of the NatDem groups—isn’t just a way to downplay the stench of sexual assault and abuse within their ranks. It is an attempt to escape accountability.” They maintain that “no placards, no protests, and no congressional seats can wash away the filth on their hands” until genuine accountability is established.
