Kabataan solon calls on CHED to stop NTF-ELCAC ‘infiltration’ of schools

Kabataan party-list Representative Sarah Elago on Tuesday called on the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) to stop the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) from "infiltrating" universities and giving lectures with “libelous content."

Elago said she received reports that NTF-ELCAC “lectures that have successfully infiltrated the National Service Training Program (NSTP) in several colleges and universities contain libelous content that could hold school administrators liable in criminal and civil proceedings.”

The lawmaker further said that the lectures were “unauthorized and unapproved” by the relevant authorities.

“But the worst thing about the NTF-ELCAC ‘lectures’ is that the content and authors seek to demonize and threaten students involved in activist student organizations, most or all of whom are duly-recognized by school authorities,” Elago said.

“That this is allowed to happen in colleges and universities, especially during the NSTP program is an indirect endorsement by school authorities," she added.

Elago said that the presence of the NTF-ELCAC “destroys” safe zones in universities and “endangers all students.”

She also advised the Board of Regents and Trustees, and university and college presidents to take pro-active steps in banning the NTF-ELCAC lectures ahead of the CHED's actions.

“We are now consulting with lawyers on what legal steps may be taken by students and student organizations who have been targeted and demonized,” Elago said.

The lawmaker also called on mayors and local governments to monitor the NTF-ELCAC's influence on the NSTP program.

“NTF-ELCAC has no business endangering, infecting, and infiltrating the campuses through the NSTP program which is supposed to provide students a demilitarized and non-military service training program,” Elago said.

Elago also expressed hope that school authorities would join in the appeal to abolish the NTF-ELCAC.

“Support instead of the resumption of peace talks, and redirect NTF-ELCAC’s P19.1 billion budget to education and health. I am certain that colleges and universities could find better used for such a huge fund at this time,” She said.

GMA News Online has sought the comment of CHED but has yet to receive a response as of posting time. — DVM, GMA News