National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict

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National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict
NTF-ELCAC seal.png
Task force overview
FormedDecember 4, 2018; 4 years ago (2018-12-04)
JurisdictionPhilippines
Task force executives
Parent departmentOffice of the President
Key document
  • Executive Order No. 70, s. 2018
Websitewww.ntfelcac.org

The National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) is a task force organized by the government of the Philippines to respond and raise awareness to the ongoing communist rebellion in the Philippines.[1]

Background

Further information: Communist rebellion in the Philippines
President Rodrigo Duterte (foreground, 3rd from right) presides over a meeting with the NTF-ELCAC at the Malacañan Palace on April 15, 2019

The National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) was formed on December 4, 2018, pursuant to Executive Order No. 70 issued by President Rodrigo Duterte[2] which institutionalized the government's "whole-of-nation" approach in tackling the ongoing communist rebellion in the Philippines led by the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) and its armed wing, the New People's Army (NPA). The "whole-of-nation" approach is contrasted to prior policy which favored irregular peace talks with communist rebels.[1] The executive order was announced to the public on December 10.[2]

The formation of the NTF-ELCAC followed the formal termination of peace talks between the Philippine government and the NPA when President Rodrigo Duterte issued Presidential Proclamation 360 on November 23, 2017, citing continued attacks by the NPA despite the then ongoing peace negotiations. The CPP and NPA were likewise formally designated as terrorist organizations by the government.[3]

Activities and programs

Campaign against suspected front organizations

The NTF-ELCAC maintains a campaign against the ongoing communist rebellion in the Philippines, as well as against groups that it claims to be front organizations of the communist group.[4] It maintains that it has the duty to warn the public against "dubious groups with links to communist terrorist organizations".[5] The task force's allegations has been criticized as an act of "red-tagging". The NTF-ELCAC on its part falsely claim that the term "red-tagging" was invented by the CPP-NPA[6] and the usage of such term is a move to discredit the task force's allegations.[4]

Among the notable groups the NTF-ELCAC has alleged to be the communist rebel front is the Makabayan bloc, whose members were elected to the House of Representatives. The allegations of the NTF-ELCAC is an "official stance" of the task force.[4] The NTF-ELCAC also made the same accusation against left-wing human rights organization Karapatan, which filed a lawsuit against the task force for violations against Philippine Act on Crimes Against International Humanitarian Law, Genocide and Other Crimes Against Humanity in response.[7]

The NTF-ELCAC's also conducted background checks on organizers of community pantries set up by volunteers as a response to the COVID-19 pandemic for possible links to the CPP-NPA,[8] which led to calls to defund the NTC-ELCAC.[9][10][11]

Barangay Development Program

The Barangay Development Program (BDP) is a socioeconomic program of the NTF-ELCAC for barangays that have been deemed free from communist rebel influence by the national government. It is described by the task force as an approach to address the root causes of insurgency such as "hunger, disease, poverty, injustice and hopelessness" so that the communities would be less susceptible to fall under the influence of the communist insurgents.[12][13] The CPP has downplayed the BDP, calling it a "band-aid solution" and believed that the program does not satisfy the "fundamental demand for genuine land reform and the clamor for respect of ancestral lands".[14]

Balik Loob Program

The Balik Loob Program provides a mechanism for former communist rebels who surrendered to the government to reintegrate to mainstream society.[15]

Administrative and criminal complaints

The officials of the NTF-ELCAC face complaints before the Office of the Ombudsman and the Commission on Elections. In December 2020, Karapatan alleged in a complaint that Duterte supporter and NTF-ELCAC spokesperson Lorraine Badoy is criminally and administratively liable for her "persistent, relentless and malicious red-tagging and vilification" of Karapatan.[7] Also named in the complaint was then-NTF-ELCAC spokesperson Lt. Gen. Antonio Parlade.[7]

In March 2022, Kabataan Rep. Sarah Jane Elago, Gabriela Rep. Arlene Brosas, and ACT Rep. France Castro filed criminal complaints against Badoy and nine other NTF-ELCAC executives for electioneering and allegedly violating the Omnibus Election Code.[16] The complaints cited two separate statements issued by the NTF-ELCAC: On March 14, Badoy alleged that presidential candidate Leni Robredo made a pact with the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People's Army-National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF); On March 21, Badoy released a statement alleging that Kabataan, Anakpawis, Bayan Muna, ACT Teachers, and Gabriela are "urban operatives" of the CPP-NPA-NDF.[16] The complaint contends that the statements constitute "political advertisement" or "election propaganda".[16]

Administration

The NTF-ELCAC was created as a government organization under the Office of the President of the Philippines with the Philippine president serving as its chairman, and the National Security Advisor as its vice chairman. Other members include:[2]

Secretaries of the following executive departments
Other

Communications

The NTF-ELCAC has eight spokespersons, each dedicated to certain matter/s.[17] Prior to May 10, 2021, the task force only had two spokespersons. There are plans to have additional spokespersons to cover each of the Philippines' regions.[18]

NTF-ELCAC Spokespersons
Official Official designations and agency Coverage
Vacant n/a Security Sector Operations
Lorraine Marie Badoy Undersecretary, New Media and External Affairs

Presidential Communications Operations Office

Social Media Affairs, Sectoral Concerns
Jonathan Malaya Undersecretary, Plans, Public Affairs and Communication

Department of Interior and Local Government

Local Government Affairs, Barangay Development Program
Severo Catura Undersecretary, Presidential Human Rights Committee Secretariat International Affairs, Peace Process, Human Rights Concerns
Jose Joel Sy Egco Undersecretary, Presidential Task Force on Media Security Mass Media Engagement, Fact-Checker
Vacant n/a NTF-ELCAC Public Affairs and Information Youth Concerns
Marlon Bosantog Regional Director, Cordillera Autonomous Region

Regional Director, Caraga Region National Commission on Indigenous Peoples

Legal Affairs, Indigenous Peoples Concerns
Gaye Florendo National Commission on Indigenous Peoples Assistant spokesperson on NTF-ELCAC Public Affairs and on Indigenous Peoples Concerns

References

  1. ^ a b Moaje, Marita (February 26, 2021). "NTF-ELCAC whole-of-nation approach vs Reds most effective: Senate". Philippine News Agency. Retrieved April 28, 2021.
  2. ^ a b c Gita, Ruth Abbey (December 10, 2018). "Duterte creates task force to end local communist armed conflict". Sunstar. Retrieved May 3, 2021.
  3. ^ Colcol, Erwin (February 21, 2021). "Peace talks can't simply resume due to existing termination order —Esperon". GMA News. Retrieved May 2, 2021.
  4. ^ a b c "NTF-ELCAC stands on solid ground when identifying CPP-NPA fronts". Philippine News Agency. June 6, 2021. Retrieved June 10, 2021.
  5. ^ "Gov't duty to expose dubious groups profiting from charity orgs". Philippine News Agency. April 21, 2021. Retrieved June 10, 2021.
  6. ^ "FALSE: 'Red-tagging' a term invented by CPP-NPA-NDF". Rappler. Retrieved June 16, 2021.
  7. ^ a b c Valenzuela, Nikka G. (December 5, 2020). "Rights group files raps vs anti-red task force". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved June 10, 2021.
  8. ^ Luna, Franco. "NTF-ELCAC admits to 'monitoring' community pantries but not profiling". The Philippine Star. Retrieved June 10, 2021.
  9. ^ "Esperon defends NTF-ELCAC's budget amid defunding calls". CNN Philippines. April 25, 2021. Retrieved April 28, 2021.
  10. ^ "Senators push to defund NTF-ELCAC amid red-tagging issue". CNN Philippines. April 22, 2021. Retrieved May 2, 2021.
  11. ^ Buan, Lian (April 23, 2021). "DOJ sidesteps question on NTF-ELCAC's red-tagging". Rappler. Retrieved May 2, 2021.
  12. ^ Salaverria, Leila B.; Corrales, Nestor (October 2, 2020). "P16B for anti-insurgency task force questioned". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved May 2, 2021.
  13. ^ Rita, Joviland (April 23, 2021). "Esperon says NTF-ELCAC funds directly being released to LGUs". GMA News. Retrieved May 2, 2021.
  14. ^ "CPP: NTF-ELCAC's barangay development programs a 'band-aid solution'". GMA News. January 28, 2021. Retrieved April 28, 2021.
  15. ^ Escosio, Jan V. (May 26, 2021). "Success of BDP, BLP main reason not to defund NTF-ELCAC, says Rep. Torres-Gomez". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved June 10, 2021.
  16. ^ a b c Lopez, Melissa Luz (March 25, 2022). "Makabayan bloc nominees sue Badoy, NTF-ELCAC officials for alleged electioneering". CNN. Retrieved March 29, 2022.
  17. ^ Lopez, Virgil (May 10, 2021). "Parlade, Badoy remain as NTF-ELCAC spokespersons, 6 more added". GMA News. Retrieved June 10, 2021.
  18. ^ "'Eight's not enough': NTF-ELCAC to add more 'regional spokespersons' vs CPP 'propaganda machine' – Manila Bulletin". Manila Bulletin. May 15, 2021. Retrieved June 10, 2021.
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