By Ruth Abbey Gita-Carlos / Philippine News Agency
President Rodrigo Duterte on Thursday (Nov. 18) praised the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) for undertaking initiatives to bring development to insurgency-cleared areas in the country.
Duterte gave the commendation as he expressed dismay over the Senate Committee on Finance’s recent decision to slash the proposed 2022 funding for the NTF-ELCAC from P28.12 billion to P4 billion.
During the NTF-ELCAC’s joint meeting with the ELCAC’s regional task force (RTF) in Calapan City, Oriental Mindoro, Duterte hailed the anti-insurgency task force for its development projects in areas no longer infested by the presence of the Communist Party of the Philippines’ (CPP) armed wing, the New People’s Army (NPA).
“Itong ELCAC, pinakamahusay na sanang program to date na binigay natin sa kanila,” Duterte said. “Eh ‘yung budget nilang P28 billion, ginawa na lang P4 billion ng mga senador. ‘Yun sana is to give every barangay P20 million.”
Duterte was referring to the NTF-ELCAC’s Barangay Development Program (BDP) which seeks to bring development to former conflict-prone communities.
The BDP is a package of socio-economic development programs that include farm-to-market roads, livelihood, irrigation, and health stations.
Duterte said he is grateful to the NTF-ELCAC and RTF-ELCAC for their commitment to stop the insurgency problems in the country.
He also expressed hope that local chief executives and community leaders will continue to help his administration in its fight against communism.
“To our local chief executives and community leaders who play a crucial role not only in addressing insurgency but also fighting crime and the illegal drugs in your respective localities, your cooperation will likewise advance the government’s goal of securing and safeguarding the nation,” Duterte said.
Duterte made the call as he chided the communists anew for their killing spree. “So, diyan din ako galit ako sa mga komunista. Talagang galit ako hanggang ngayon,” he said.
The CPP-NPA has been listed as a terror organization by the Philippines, the United States, the European Union, the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, and New Zealand.
The CPP’s political wing, the National Democratic Front (NDF), was formally designated as a terrorist organization by the Anti-Terrorism Council on June 23, 2021, citing it as “an integral and separate part” of the CPP-NPA created in April 1973.
The peace talks between the national government and NDF have been intermittent since 1986.
Duterte tried to hold a series of peace talks with the NDF, but decided to terminate the negotiations following the NPA’s relentless attacks against government troops and civilians.
He formally ended the peace negotiations with the NDF through Proclamation No. 360 inked on Nov. 23, 2017.
The termination of talks was followed by the Dec. 5, 2017 signing of Proclamation No. 273 which declared the CPP-NPA a terror group. (PNA) – jlo
