Parlade, Badoy remain as NTF-ELCAC spokespersons, 6 more added

The National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) has tapped more spokespersons who will explain the body’s position on several matters.

The eight spokespersons, who were identified by NTF-ELCAC vice chairperson and National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon Jr. during a press conference on Monday, are the following:

• Army Lieutenant General Antonio Parlade Jr. (primary coverage: security sector operations)
• Presidential Communications Operations Office Undersecretary Lorraine Badoy (social media affairs, sectoral concerns)
• Interior and Local Government Undersecretary Jonathan Malaya (local government affairs, barangay development program, international engagement)
• Presidential Human Rights Committee Secretariat Undersecretary Severo Catura (international affairs, peace process, human rights concerns)
• Presidential Task Force on Media Security executive director Joel Egco (mass media engagements, fact-checker)
• Metropolitan Manila Development Authority spokesperson Celine Pialago (NTF-ELCAC public affairs and information, youth concerns)
• Atty. Marlon Bosantog (legal affairs, indigenous peoples’ concerns)
• Gaye Florendo (assistant spokesperson on NTF-ELCAC public affairs and on indigenous peoples’ concerns)

The announcement came weeks after original NTF-ELCAC spokespersons Parlade and Badoy were criticized by several quarters for statements linking community pantry organizers to the communist movement.

“The CPP-NPA is a multifaceted, multilayered [organization]. Just like the NPA, we have to cover everything,” Esperon said when asked to explain the need for additional spokespersons.

“The National Task Force is composed of practically all agencies of government. We are just drawing the support and pool of talents from all government agencies.”—AOL, GMA News