Dela Rosa: Defunding NTF-ELCAC will only benefit communist rebels

Contrary to the views of his colleagues, Senator Ronald Dela Rosa said defunding the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) was the "wrong move" as it would only benefit communist rebels.

"Hindi ako sang-ayon doon na i-defund ang [NTF-ELCAC] dahil kung gagawin natin 'yun, alam mo kung sino makikinabang d'yan? Ang [Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army-National Democratic Front],” Dela Rosa was quoted in a statement.

(I am not in favor of defunding the NTF-ELCAC. Do you know who will benefit from that? The CPP-NPA-NDF.)

Dela Rosa, a former national police chief, said residents of barangays that were cleared of insurgents might join the communist rebels anew if the Barangay Development Program under the NTF-ELCAC would not be implemented.

“Sabihin nila ‘itong gobyerno na ito walang isang salita. Mabuti pa bumalik na lang tayo sa NPA.’ So, sino makikinabang? Yung NPA, ‘di ba?” he argued, saying defunding the task force is a “wrong move.”

(The residents will say, ‘The government is not true to its word. It is better to join the NPA again.’ Who will benefit from that? The NPA, right?)

Further, Dela Rosa said NTF-ELCAC spokesperson Lieutenant General Antonio Parlade Jr.’s personal “anti-communist” views should be taken separately from the NTF-ELCAC’s position, maintaining that the task force is very effective in addressing the insurgency problems in the country.

“Dapat i-separate natin 'yung personality ni Parlade bilang isang anti-communist at 'yung National Task Force-ELCAC bilang isang ahensya ng gobyerno na very effective in gaining grounds against the CPP-NPA-NDF," Dela Rosa said.

(We should take Parlade’s personal anti-communist views separately from the National Task Force-ELCAC, as an agency that is very effective in gaining grounds against the CPP-NPA-NDF.)

Earlier, senators called for the defunding of the NTF-ELCAC following the red-tagging of community pantry initiators, who provide free food for those severely affected by the COVID-19 lockdown.

Like Dela Rosa, Senate President Vicente Sotto III was against the defunding proposal, arguing that doing so would give the gains made by the government back to the rebels.

Instead, Sotto said the officials who issued the “irresponsible statements” should be replaced.

Lawmakers, both in the House of Representatives and the Senate, have also filed resolutions to scrutinize the budget and the performance of the anti-insurgency task force.

National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon, vice chairman of the NTF-ELCAC, defended the anti-insurgency task force funds, saying it was being released to local government units for their barangay development program. — DVM, GMA News