The National Security Council welcomed the participation of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) in the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC).
NSC adviser Eduardo M. Año said on Saturday that he is looking forward to working with in achieving peace and security in the country.
“We welcome the CBCP through its Episcopal Commission on Public Affairs to the NTF-ELCAC Executive Committee and we look forward to
working with them in pursuing peace and development in all parts of the country, especially in conflict-affected areas,” he said.
CBCP is the first private sector representative to join forces with NTF-ELCAC.
Año added that the task force is eyeing to adopt “a more moral and ethical approach” in implementing its measures in addressing
insurgency.
“We are opening the doors of NTF-ELCAC to the Church because it has an important role to play in ending violence and terrorism in the
country. For more than 50 years, we have lived under the scourge of the communist armed conflict. With peace now in sight, the Church has
an important role to play in ensuring peace and development in the long term,” he said.
The collaboration between the CBCP and NTF-ELCAC is part of the NSC’s plan to formulate a whole of government approach to tackling armed
conflict across the country and ensuring the pursuit of peace.
Año cited that CBCP would be a significant help in the development of former rebels in their reintegration in society.
Meanwhile, CBCP clarified last Friday that only one of its 31 bodies will be joining the NTF-ELCAC
“The said Commission clarifies that they are engaging with the NTF-ELCAC precisely to address some Church issues vis-a-vis government, including the issue about the red-tagging of some cause-oriented groups and Church organizations by the said body,” CBCP President and Bishop of Kalookan Pablo Virgilio David said.