INQUIRER FILE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines — Several senators on Friday had mixed reactions to a proposal to abolish the National Task Force to End Local Communists Armed Conflict (NTF-Elcac).
The senators aired their sentiments after United Nations (UN) Special Rapporteur Irene Khan recommended the abolition of the “outdated” NTF-Elcac.
Khan said the NTF-Elcac had not taken into consideration the peace negotiations sought by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s administration with the National Democratic Front of the Philippines.
Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel III cited the complications regarding the NTC-Elcac’s funds, specifically, the Commission on Audit’s (COA) liquidation.
“I have noticed that NTF-Elcac funds have been very difficult to liquidate with COA,” Pimentel told Senate reporters.
“This is my additional reason for agreeing to its abolition,” he added.
More views
Meanwhile, Sen. Francis Escudero outrightly said he disagrees with Khan’s recommendation.
“I disagree. NTF-Elcac is an inter-agency Task Force that seeks to look into and address the root causes of insurgency,” Escudero told INQUIRER.net.
“Peace talks is a process… NTF-Elcac seeks to provide solutions to deep seated problems,” he added.
Sen. Nancy Binay, on the other hand, did not categorically state whether or not she agrees with Khan.
According to Binay, the president is “more apprised of the insurgency and matters relating to national security.”
“Maliban sa mga naging isyu tulad ng red-tagging, sa ngayon, baka pwedeng tanungin ang DILG kung may value ba ang task force sa usapin ng pagpapababa ng insurgency and internal threats sa nakalipas na mga taon,” said Binay in a statement.
(Aside from issues like red-tagging, it might be worth asking the DILG if the task force has been effective in addressing insurgency and internal threats in recent years.)
“Alam naman natin na yung nature ng task force is temporary, and it’s up to the president to take note of her suggestion at i-consider yan as a gesture of goodwill,” she continued.
(We know that the nature of the task force is temporary, and it’s up to the president to take note of her suggestion and consider it as a gesture of goodwill.)