Abalos, Marbil express support for NTF-ELCAC

NTF-ELCAC file photo

MANILA, Philippines — Interior Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr. and Philippine National Police chief Gen. Rommel Marbil on Thursday expresses their support for the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) which some lawmakers want to abolish.

Sen. Robin Padilla pressed Abalos Jr. Marbil on Thursday whether or not their agencies are in favor of calls to abolish the NTF-ELCAC. 

Padilla, speaking before the Senate subpanel on finance’s deliberation on the proposed 2025 budget of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), said his question came after the House of Representatives’ Makabayan bloc called for the abolition of NTF-ELCAC. 

“Kahapon ay umalingawngaw ang sinasabi ng Makabayan bloc na gusto nilang alisin talaga ang NTF-ELCAC. Gusto ko marinig sa ating mahal na kalihim at PNP chief kung tama po ba yun?” asked Padilla. 

(Yesterday, Makabayan bloc made calls to abolish NTF-ELCAC. I want to hear from our secretary and PNP chief, is that right?)

Abalos maintained that the NTF-ELCAC contributes to the betterment of the lives of former rebels. 

“[P]ara sa akin hindi lang dapat ipagpatuloy ito [kundi] lakasan at tutukan pa lalo para pakita sa kanila di sila nagsisisi naniwala sila na talagang magbagong buhay sila. Yan ang take ko rito,” said Abalos. 

(For me, this should not only be continued but also strengthened. We also need to focus on showing former  that they should not regret their decisions. That’s my take.)

Marbil echoed Abalos’ remarks, saying that there is a need to maintain the presence of NTF-ELCAC. 

“[M]arami kaming natulungan po dito. And of course it’s also information dissemination, education ng tao natin. Karamihan ng nahuli nating mga rebelde, they are misinformed. That’s really a problem natin akala nila ganito government, pero pag na-inform sila ang ganda ng government I think it’s a really big help for us na i-maintain natin ang NTF-ELCAC,” said Marbil. 

(We’ve helped many people here. And, of course, it’s also information dissemination and education of our people. Most of the rebels we’ve apprehended are misinformed. That’s a problem because they think the government acts this way, but whenever we inform them, they change their mind and think the government is good. It’s a really big help for us if we maintain NTF-ELCAC.)

“Dapat [yakapin] natin sila at bigyan ng assistance para magbagong buhay. At siguro isa pa rito dapat tanggalin ang branding na dati kang rebelde. Dapat maski sa trabaho, sa anak nila sa school. Yan lang sa akin,” said Abalos. 

(We need to embrace them and extend  assistance in order for them to be able to navigate back in life. We also need to remove the branding of former rebels, especially at work and in schools.)