NTF-ELCAC lectures in schools are ‘evidence-based,’ says Badoy

The spokesperson of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) on Wednesday strongly opposed the remark of Kabataan party-list Representative Sarah Elago that the task force's lectures in universities have libelous content.

Elago earlier urged the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) to stop NTF-ELCAC from "infiltrating" universities through the National Service Training Program (NSTP).

In a phone interview with GMA News Online, Undersecretary Lorraine Marie Badoy said that all their lectures have been evidence-based.

"Every statement that we come up with, everything that we say in public, everything that we teach our children, our people, mga kawani ng gobyerno, are all evidence-based," Badoy said.

"Mayroon kaming powerful na weapon at 'yun ang katotohanan. Doon kami parati, walang bawas, walang kulang. It's really about time na natuturuan natin ang mga anak natin kung ano ang totoo para mulat sila," she added.

"Maliwanag naman 'yung mandato namin eh. Hindi kami umaalis sa mandato namin at hindi kami nagiimbento, evidence-based lahat 'yan. 'Yung sinasabi niya, we do not clearly agree with that. It's not true," Badoy said.

Badoy said it is the duty of the government to protect the public, especially the youth from being recruited to join in communist groups. She said Elago can do her job but the task force will still continue its mandate.

"It's really the job of government to protect our citizens lalo na 'yung college students where sila talaga 'yung target ng recruitment..." Badoy said.

"The outrage kasi there is for the longest time parang nagging acceptable na 'yung hindi dapat acceptable. Schools are supposed to be safe places and yet so many of our children have been recruited in the armed struggle by 'yung mga prente na nandiyan. We cannot allow this to continue," she added.

Lieutenant General Antonio Parlade Jr. , who has denied red-tagging actress Liza Soberano for her support for the women's organization Gabriela, earlier accused several universities of allowing the recruitment of students by communist groups. 

Elago has 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. — BM, GMA News