A newly designated deputy national security adviser has expressed hopes the Marcos administration would change the image of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) which was tainted due to its ‘red-tagging’ issues over the past years.
In a press briefing, Undersecretary Dr. Rommel Banlaoi on Friday said the task force will continue to operate under the current administration, welcoming improvements in different areas such as addressing the issue of ‘red-tagging’.
The presser, held at the Kamuning Bakery Café in Quezon City, had the topic “The present status and future direction of NTF-ELCAC plus Other Security Issue.”
“Red tagging is a product of labeling and stereotyping and that is counterproductive for good governance so there will be no ‘red-tagging,” Banlaio said.
The undersecretary said the government will be more cautious and prudent over the speculated personalities and groups involved in facilitating the armed conflicts in the Philippines.
Banlaoi highlighted the importance of human rights, which he said will be observed and implemented on NTF-ELCAC following the principles of human rights law and international humanitarian law.
“Mag protesta kayo sa streets, welcome po ‘yan kasi human rights ‘yan eh, freedom of speech (protests on the streets are welcome since it is a human right, freedom of speech),” he said on those legal groups from universities, communities, and professional sectors. “We will encourage you to do more legal activities than armed activities,” he added.
Banlaoi warned that persons who supported, facilitated, encouraged, trained and financed the armed activities of the New People’s Army (NPA) would be held liable by the law.
On March 23, three separate administrative complaints were filed against the NTF-ELCAC spokesperson Lorraine Badoy after she accused former vice-president Leni Robredo of alleged alliance with the Communist Party of the Philippines.
Last election, the University of the Philippines’ advisory council president denounced the NTF-ELCAC after it ‘red tagged’ students who called for walkouts following the landslide win of Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. in the presidential race. Chelsea Din
