NSC nixes calls to abolish NTF-ELCAC

Calls to abolish the government’s anti-insurgency task force are “unfounded” and “uncalled for,” the National Security Council (NSC) said on Monday.

In a statement, NSC spokesperson Jonathan Malaya pointed out that the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) helped in weakening guerilla fronts.

“The NTF-ELCAC has been the game changer in the battle against the New People's Army and their allied and front organizations,” Malaya said.

“Because of the NTF-LCAC, the NPA has been strategically defeated with its last remaining nine weakened guerilla fronts with around 1,000 remaining armed members scattered in remote areas. Peace is finally within our reach," he added.

For Malaya, leftist groups call for the abolition of the NTF-ELCAC because they allegedly do not want the government to defeat communist rebels.

"The Leftist groups clearly don't want us to win against the CPP-NPA-NDF. They are anti-peace and anti-development. They clearly don't want to see the end of the communist insurgency in our country. Why? We should ask them," he said.

Recently, Human Rights Watch (HRW) said President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. should adopt measures to end red-tagging, such as the abolition of the NTF-ELCAC.

“The Marcos administration should abandon red-tagging, including eliminating the abusive task force promoting the practice,” HRW Asia researcher Carlos Conde said.

The HRW issued its  statement after the Supreme Court (SC) ruled that red-tagging and guilt by association threaten a person’s right to life, liberty, or security as it granted a writ of amparo in favor of former Bayan Muna lawmaker Siegfred Deduro.

But Malaya said the SC decision has nothing to do with the NTF-ELCAC.

"So clearly, the Supreme Court was merely correcting a procedural lapse on the part of the Regional Trial Court and ordered the remanding of the case to the RTC for the conduct of summary hearing. The NTF ELCAC has nothing to do with this case. Period," Malaya said. — RSJ, GMA Integrated News