Groups renew call for the abolition of task force vs communist rebellion

SEEING RED A meeting of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-Elcac) (File photo from INDAY SARA DUTERTE’s Facebook page)

MANILA, Philippines — Members of progressive groups have reiterated their call to abolish the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-Elcac).

It comes after the Supreme Court (SC) declared that red-tagging or linking people to communist rebels threatens life and liberty.

Former Bayan Muna Rep. Carlos Zarate said that since alleged trumped-up cases and harassment — including red-tagging — originated from the NTF-Elcac, the government must now move to repeal Executive Order (EO) No. 70.

He made the statement in a press briefing on Thursday at the Batasang Pambansa complex.

READ: Supreme Court: Red-tagging threatens one’s right to life, security 

EO No. 70, which gave life to NTF-Elcac, was crafted during the time of former President Rodrigo Duterte.

While member-agencies maintained that the task force seeks to counter armed insurgency, several groups have claimed that NTF-Elcac is only out to malign and threaten people expressing legitimate dissent.

“Because of this decision from the SC, our call to hold accountable people responsible for red-tagging is stronger,” he said.

“Threats and killings happened because of these trumped-up cases, which we know was really initiated by NTF-Elcac,” said Zarate.

“So we reiterate our call to abolish this, repeal Executive Order No. 70 released by former president Rodrigo Roa Duterte, and remove powers from the NTF-Elcac,” he added.

READ: Robredo vows to abolish NTF-ELCAC, create ‘conducive environment’ for peace talks

Kabataan party-list Rep. Raoul Manuel, meanwhile, said foreign observers have criticized red-tagging a long time ago, and it should be a signal for the government to stop the NTF-Elcac from engaging in these activities.

“International experts have already warned against this, and now the SC has released a ruling confirming our long-time appeal that red-tagging is a threat to life, especially with what the government of former President Duterte did,” he said.

“But this continues today even without the sitting President doing (the) red-tagging because […] there are seminars in schools where red-tagging is done,” he pointed out.

“These forums by the police, military and NTF-Elcac… because there is no place for these activities in schools, which should be considered zones of peace. We should also have red-tagging criminalized,” he said.

READ: Abolish the outdated NTF-Elcac – UN Special Rapporteur Khan 

On Wednesday, the SC released a 39-page decision saying that the practice of red-baiting or red-tagging threatens “a person’s right to life, liberty or security, which may justify the issuance of a writ of amparo.”

A writ of amparo is a remedy available to any person whose right to life, liberty and security has been violated or is threatened with violation by an unlawful act or omission of a public official or employee or of a private individual.