NTF-Elcac gets a second wind from ‘Batman and Robin’ in Senate

Senator Robin Padilla. FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — Robin has found his Batman in the Senate.

According to neophyte Senator Robin Padilla, he and Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela  Rosa would be a “Batman and Robin” when it comes to supporting the programs of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-Elcac).

Dela Rosa has  filed a bill in the Senate to institutionalize the task force.

“Yun pong  magiging panukala ni Sen. Bato diyan, palagay ko po kami po ng Batman and Robin diyan. Talagang ako po ay nakasuporta sa kanya,” Padilla said in an interview on SMNI on Tuesday.

(When it comes to Sen. dela Rosa’s bill, I believe we can be a “Batman and Robin” tandem. So I’m really supporting him.)

The neophyte senator credited the task force for several rebels returning to government, which he personally witnessed while serving in the Philippine Army.

Padilla was part of the Philippine Army’s Multi-Sector Advisory Board, which was formed “to promote the continuity and sustainability of the Army Transformation Roadmap.”

“Meron po kasi tayong tinatawag na localized peace talks, yung mga sumu-surrender. Nakita po natin talaga na mayroon po talagang magandang epekto yung mga proyekto po ng NTF- Elcac lalo na po sa malalayong barangay na hindi na po naabot ng gobyerno,” he said.

(We have what we called localized peace talks. We have seen the positive effects of the NTF-Elcac’s projects, especially in remote barangays that are not accessible to everyone.)

“Ang katotohanan po dyan ano, yung NTF-Elcac, yan po ang naglapit  sa gobyerno sa tao. Yaan po yung  kamay na humimas  sa ating mga kababayan na nasa malalayong lugar,” the senator further said.

“The truth is, it’s the NTF-Elcac that brought the government closer to the people. It serves as a hand that comforts our people in remote areas.)

Padilla then urged everyone to support the localized peace talks and the NTF-Elcac programs.

JPV/abc