Lacson: NTF-ELCAC should be streamlined, not abolished

Presidential aspirant and Senator Panfilo Lacson on Monday said the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) should be streamlined and not abolished.

In an ANC interview, Lacson NTF-ELCAC's concept is good but tainted by politics.

“Napakaganda ng concept pero again, pag napasukan ng politika, yan ang masama. Yan ang problema kapag pinasok ang politics sa maski anong endeavor na napakaganda, sira ang kabada,” he said.

(The concept is very good but again, if politics comes into play, that's when the concept gets tainted. That's the problem if you put politics into any endeavor that has good intentions.)

“I don’t think that it should be abolished. It should be streamlined and monitored more closely and make them accountable criminally and administratively, those responsible for the wrong implementation and even the misuse of NTF-ELCAC funds,” he added.

He cited as an example the apparent misappropriations of NTF-ELCAC funds in Davao City. He said even Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte refused to receive P1.64 billion for the 82 barangays, which were declared clear of communist rebels.

This, compared to the 24 barangays in Negros Occidental which have not received any funds from the anti-insurgency task force.

“We talked to Governor Bong Lacson ‘yung Negros meron silang 24 barangays. At P20 million per barangay, malaking tulong talaga sa mga barangays para makapag-move on sila na na-clear na sila from [New People’s Army] influence or control,” he said.

(We talked to Governor Bong Lacson of Negros. He said they have 24 barangays and at P20 million per barangay, that would be a great help so that the barangays could move on from the NPA influence or control.)

He said the NTF-ELCAC has no planning and is being used for political agenda.

“Wala ng planning kasi inisip nila gamitin sa politika ito. Ba’t ka pa magpaplano kung pampulitika lamang?” he asked.

(There is no planning because they think they will use it for politics. Why would I plan if I would use this for politics?)

Apart from this, Lacson proposed the slashing of another P2 billion funds “parked” in different agencies such as the DSWD and the DILG, which are intended to support the NTF-ELCAC’s projects for 2022.

He said it is just “logical” to further cut the budget for the support services of NTF-ELCAC as the Senate has already slashed the task force’s budget from P28 billion to only P4 billion.

Lacson said Senate finance committee chairman Sonny Angara will study his recommendation. —KBK, GMA News