MANILA, Philippines – Tinawag ng National Security Council (NSC) na “unfounded” at “uncalled for” ang panawagan na buwagin na ang National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC).
Sa pahayag nitong Lunes, Mayo 13, sinabi ni NSC spokesperson Jonathan Malaya na nakatulong ang NTF-ELCAC para mapahina ang guerilla fronts.
“The NTF-ELCAC has been the game changer in the battle against the New People’s Army and their allied and front organizations,” ani Malaya.
“Because of the NTF-LCAC, the NPA has been strategically defeated with its last remaining nine weakened guerilla fronts with around 1,000 remaining armed members scattered in remote areas. Peace is finally within our reach,” dagdag pa niya.
Para kay Malaya, nananawagan ang makakaliwang grupo na buwagin ang NTF-ELCAC dahil ayaw umano ng mga ito na matalo ng pamahalaan ang mga komunistang grupo.
“The Leftist groups clearly don’t want us to win against the CPP-NPA-NDF. They are anti-peace and anti-development. They clearly don’t want to see the end of the communist insurgency in our country. Why? We should ask them,” anang opisyal.
Kamakailan ay sinabi ng Human Rights Watch (HRW) na dapat nang gumawa ng hakbang si Pangulong Ferdinand Marcos Jr. para tapusin na ang red-tagging at kasama na rito ang pagbuwag ng NTF-ELCAC.
“The Marcos administration should abandon red-tagging, including eliminating the abusive task force promoting the practice,” ani HRW Asia researcher Carlos Conde. RNT/JGC
