President Duterte has expressed hopes that his successor would continue implementing the programs and projects of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC), saying it is an effective way to eradicate insurgency.
During his weekly “Talk to the People” program on Monday night, the President said creation of the NTF-ELCAC has paved the way for the rebels’ integration into mainstream society.
“It’s a very good program. It has helped a lot of the rebels find their way into the mainstream of society,” he noted.
“I told the communists to come out and if there is time, you will be included in land reform and be granted land. Surrender to ELCAC and you will get help,” the Chief Executive said, adding “you will have house and lot, so don’t join the rebel forces who are in cahoots with the members of the political parties from the other side.”
Duterte underscored the importance of institutionalizing NTF-ELCAC as he reiterated his claims that there was someone running for president (under a party) that has been infiltrated by the communists.
“I am not ready to mention the name but we have a political party headed by someone running for the presidency, and yet they are also playing into the hands of the communists. I think they have been infiltrated,” Duterte said.
Meanwhile, the NTF-ELCAC expressed alarm over a directive by Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong to remove posters and tarpaulins condemning terrorism..
The League of Parents of the Philippines (LPP) shared the NTF-ELECAC’s concern, saying “it is implausible that the mayor does not know that by supporting the Kabataan party-list which is suspected of recruiting students to join the communist terrorist groups.”
The parents said Magalong, a former police official, could be held liable for the lives of “thousands of children and youngsters that would fall into the hands of the communist terrorists.
“It is very alarming to know that Mayor Benjie Magalong, who was a former PNP (Philippine National Police) Deputy Chief for Operations, would be in cahoots with the Makabayan bloc which is, of course, the mouthpiece of the terrorist group CPP-NPA-NDF (Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army-National Democratic Front),” an LPP post on social media stated.
Magalong’s order banned the posting of so-called red-tagging posters contradicted President Duterte’s orders, the NTF-ELCAC said.
The Philippine News Agency (PNA) tried to get Magalong’s side, but his staff texted back that the mayor has no comment yet on the matter.
Magalong’s claims that he issued the order because he cares for the children run counter to his directive because it will lend “his powerful protection to the terrorist CPP-NPA-NDF front, Kabataan
party-list, the top recruiter of our children into the criminal NPA,” the NTF-ELCAC said.
LPP spokesperson Arlene Escalante said Magalong should instead help in stopping the recruitment and brainwashing of students by CPP-NPA-NDF front organizations that include the Kabataan party-list.
From mere activists, Escalante said the students eventually take up arms against the government.
The CPP-NPA has been listed as a terrorist organization by the United States, European Union, the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the Philippines.
The Anti-Terrorism Council also formally classified the NDF as a terrorist organization on June 23, 2021, citing it as “an integral and inseparable part” of the CPP-NPA that was created in April 1973. With PNA