Palace: Anti-insurgency programs under NTF-ELCAC’s budget a ‘valid expenditure’

Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO / JOAN BONDOC

MANILA, Philippines — Malacañang on Monday justified the multi-billion proposed budget of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) for 2021, saying anti-insurgency projects are “valid” expenditures.

This development came after the Makabayan bloc of the House of Representatives called for the removal of NTF-ELCAC’s P16.44 billion budget as it may be used as a “pork barrel.”

“Ang pagkakaintindi ko po, lahat po yan ay projects related to the anti-insurgency campaign ng ating gobyerno and that is valid expenditure,” presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said in an online briefing when sought for comment on the matter.

(From what I understand, all of the projects related to the anti-insurgency campaign of the government. And that is valid expenditure.)

“In any case, hindi po para sa Makabayan bloc alone na kuwestiyonin yan. Sana po makuha nila ang mas maraming suporta ng nasa Kongreso para mawala yung ganyang entry,” he added.

(In any case, it is not for the Makabayan bloc alone to question this. We hope they will get the support of those in Congress for this entry to be removed.)

Regardless, Roque said the executive “bows” to the wisdom of Congress in scrutinizing the budget proposal.

Interior Secretary Eduardo Año had denied that the P16-billion budget for NTF-ELCAC is a form of pork barrel, saying some 822 barangays affected by insurgencies in the country will benefit from the funds.

Año said among the projects included in the budget are the construction of farm-to-market roads, barangay health centers, school buildings, and more.

JPV