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NTF-ELCAC stays
By Nidz Godino
"People who used to clash with government, instead of fighting with them, we are helping them and it had huge effect on reducing internal security threat… because of NTF-ELCAC," President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. rejected calls to abolish government's anti-insurgency task force, saying it has lessened security risks posed by communist rebels and has provided assistance to those who abandoned armed struggle.
New York-based Human Rights Watch (HRW) and Karapatan have asked Marcos to scrap National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) after Supreme Court ruled red-baiting, known in the Philippines as "red-tagging," vilification, labelling and guilt by association threaten person's right to life, liberty, or security.
HRW described NTF-ELCAC as "abusive" and accused task force of promoting practice of red-baiting. Karapatan, meanwhile, claimed anti-insurgency task force has engaged in "rampant and unmitigated fabrication of lies" to quell dissent and has "driven rampant and unmitigated attacks on individuals and organizations."
But Marcos believes there is no reason to terminate NTF-ELCAC, formed through Executive Order No. 70 signed by former president Rodrigo Duterte in 2018.
"Fastest answer to that is no, we will not abolish NTF-ELCAC…we are going to finish its activities because few barangays have yet to be covered…some returnees have yet to receive help," he added.
Marcos said government still needs task force, noting that government promised aid to former insurgents.
In an earlier statement, National Security Council said NTF-ELCAC has been "game changer" in fight against communist rebels.
"Because of NTF, NPA ,New People's Army has been strategically defeated with its last remaining nine weakened guerrilla fronts with around 1,000 remaining armed members scattered in remote areas…peace is finally within our reach," council said.
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