VP Leni not an 'obstructionist' for urging abolition of NTF-ELCAC —spox

The camp of Vice President Leni Robredo on Sunday denied claims that Robredo is against curbing terrorism in the country after proposing to abolish the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC).

In Robredo's weekly radio program, her spokesman Attorney Barry Gutierrez defended the Vice President, saying that the NTF-ELCAC was creating more enemies than suppressing insurgency.

"Ako nadidismaya ako sa posisyon na dahil pinuna ang NTF-ELCAC ay hindi siya kontra sa terorismo. Kalokohan 'yun. Ibig sabihin ang Senado kontra din?" Gutierrez said.

(I express dismay over the position that just because Robredo is against the NTF-ELCAC, she is not supporting the efforts to eradicate terrorism. That's nonsense. Does that mean the Senate is also contradicting the efforts against terrorism?)

"Lahat tayo sumasang-ayon dito, pero 'yung NTF-ELCAC mismo at nakaupo, 'yung liderato, medyo may kaunting problema. Nag-create ng dagdag na kalaban kaysa bumawas sa tinututukan na kalaban," he added.

(We are all agreeing here but the NTF-ELCAC and its officials, leaders have problems. They create more enemies than focus on their job.)

Gutierrez made the statement after NTF-ELCAC spokesperson for sectoral concerns Lorraine Badoy called Robredo an obstructionist, adding that the task force is implementing a whole-of-nation approach to put an end to local communist armed conflict. 

But Gutierrez contradicted Badoy's statement, saying that the anti-insurgency task force is only adding more conflict by criticizing students, universities, senators and lawyers.

"Imbes na nagkakasama tayo para sa labanan ang terorismo sa ating bansa, lalo na nagdadagdag sa kaguluhan. 'Yun ang hindi natin gusto," Gutierrez pointed out.

(Instead of coming together against terrorism, they are adding more conflict.  We don't want that to happen.)

Robredo on Tuesday said she is in favor of the abolition of the NTF-ELCAC, citing duplication of duty.

"There is really a duplication of many efforts — the duplication of the mandate — and it has to be abolished," she said during a forum organized by the Rotary Club of Makati.

"Ang pinakatakot ko dito is that, magiging [I fear that this will become] Tokhang Version 2 in the sense that the mandate given to the body will be abused, will be used to harass people," the vice president added.

The Senate finance panel had slashed that NTF-ELCAC budget from P28 billion to P4 billion, realigning the rest of the budget to health-related programs amid the pandemic. —KG, GMA News