MANILA – The National Security Council (NSC) has rejected calls for the abolition of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC).
According to NSC assistant director general Jonathan Malaya, the Supreme Court never stated in its recent decision that the NTF-ELCAC was responsible for red-tagging.
Leftist groups Karapatan, Gabriela, and Human Rights Watch recently urged for NTF-ELCAC’s abolition following the SC ruling declaring red-tagging a threat to people’s life, liberty, and security, and could warrant the issuance of a protection order.
“The SC never said that the NTF-ELCAC is a notorious red-tagger. The NTF-ELCAC is not a party to the case nor was it impleaded so why it is now being linked to this decision boggles the mind? It’s non-sequitur,” Malaya said on Monday.
“The SC, in its ruling, was not making a categorical ruling on the merits of the writ of amparo. The NTF-ELCAC has nothing to do with this case. Period,” he added.
Malaya further said these abolition calls are unfounded and uncalled for as the body has been instrumental and a “game changer” in the successful campaign against the New People’s Army (NPA) and their allied and front organizations.
“Because of the NTF-ELCAC, the NPA has been strategically defeated with its last remaining nine weakened guerilla fronts with around 1,000 remaining armed members scattered in remote areas. Peace is finally within our reach,” Malaya said.
The NTC official said leftist groups have been adamant about their calls on the NTF-ELCAC’s abolition because the government is now nearing its objective of achieving complete victory against the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP), NPA and National Democratic Front (NDF).
Malaya also said that President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr. would never abolish a task force that he chairs and has proven to be successful in bringing peace and development to remote areas of the country.
“In the last NTF-ELCAC meeting in Malacañang, the President, as task force chairperson, was very happy with the achievements of the NTF ELCAC,” Malaya said./PN
