UN envoy’s abolish NTF-Elcac call just preliminary – gov’t

The government is taking a UN special rapporteur’s recommendation to abolish the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-Elcac) as just part of a “preliminary investigation.” (INQUIRER FILE PHOTO)

MANILA, Philippines — The government is taking a UN special rapporteur’s recommendation to abolish the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-Elcac) as just part of a “preliminary investigation.”

United Nations (UN) Special Rapporteur Irene Khan recommended the abolition of NTF-Elcac on Friday, saying it was already outdated.

“We consider this as a preliminary investigation,” said National Security Council Assistant Director General Jonathan Malaya, who received the news during a press briefing at the Department of Foreign Affairs in Pasay City on Friday.

According to him, Khan’s made her final recommendation months later as the UN envoy even requested additional documents from the government.

Malaya stressed, however, that the government would also be open to reform.

In the same press conference, Malaya revealed that the NTF-Elcac will eventually transition into the National Task Force on Unity, Peace, and Development.