MANILA, Philippines- Ibinasura ng Pilipinas ang rekomendasyon ng bumisitang United Nations special rapporteur na buwagin ang counter-insurgency task force, tinukoy ang progreso ng gobyerno sa pagsugpo sa decades-old rebellion at ang humihinang armed guerillas.
Winika ni Jonathan Malaya, Assistant Director General ng National Security Council, na hindi pa tamang panahon para buwagin ang National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict o NTF-ELCAC dahil na rin sa dalawang “supervening events” gaya ng “strategic victory” ng gobyerno laban sa New People’s Army at ang “exploratory peace talks” kasama ang Communist People’s Party-NPA-National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF).
“The NTF-ELCAC has been the game-changer in the government’s fight against communist terrorism,” ayon kay Malaya.
“Please take note that this is a 52-year old running insurgency. Now that we have reached this stage in the campaign, we feel it is improper to call for its abolition,” dagdag niya.
Sa kabilang dako, tinawag naman na “outdated” ni Irene Khan, UN Special Rapporteur for Freedom of Opinion and Expression, ang task force at binigyang-diin na hindi nito kinikilala ang “ongoing prospects for peace negotiations.”
“The abolition will allow for a more inclusive peace-making platform or platforms with participation of women peacemakers and communities as a genuine whole of nation approach to peace,” ayon kay Khan.
Inihayag din ni Khan ang kanyang pagkabahala sa usapin ng “red-tagging” o pag-uugnay sa mga aktibista at human rights defenders sa insurgents, inilalagay aniya nito sa panganib ang buhay at seguridad ng mga nababansagan.
Ang NTF-ELCAC ay itinatag noong Disyembre 2018 ni dating Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte para wakasan ang communist insurgency sa bansa.
Winika ni Malaya na ipinaaalam ng mga opisyal ng Pilipinas kay Khan na ang pamahalaan ay walang polisiya sa red-tagging.
“We do not condone or encourage red-tagging,” ayon kay Malaya sabay sabing, “We said there are legal remedies available for people who feel that they are aggrieved by red-tagging.”
Itinatag noong 1969, ang New People’s Army sa mga nakalipas na taon ay itinuturing na pinakamahalagang national security threat, subalit sinabi ni Malaya na mayroong na lamang 11 guerilla fronts ang umiiral at mahina na ngayon, mayroon naman aniyang 1,500 armed regulars ng Maoist rebel group ang nananatili.
Ipinarating din aniya ng mga opisyal ng bansa kay Khan sa meeting ng mga ito na ang NTF-ELCAC “will eventually transition to a peace and development entity since we expect that the remaining guerilla fronts will be dismantled before the end of the year.”
“We told her that given the successes in the anti-insurgency campaign, the NTF-ELCAC’s roadmap is to transition to a different body which is the national task force on unity peace and development,” ayon kay Malaya.
Dahil sa rebelyon, may 40,000 sibilyan at combatants ang nasawi at nagsilbing hadlang sa economic development sa ilang rehiyon sa iba’t ibang panig ng bansa.
“It would be best, if necessary, to undertake the transition now that we’re winning,” ayon kay Malaya sabay sabing, “We relayed that to her and said she will consider following these recommendations of the Philippine government once she completes her report.” Kris Jose
