National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon is wondering if Bayan Muna Representative Ferdinand Gaite is afraid of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) following the latter's accusations of pork barrel funds.
In a statement, Esperon, who serves as vice-chairman of the said task force, said he was amused and dismayed by Gaite's "irresponsible" allegations against the NTF-ELCAC.
"His statement clearly seeks to undermine the integrity of the administrative mechanisms and audit capabilities of the entire bureaucracy," Esperon said Thursday.
According to Esperon, he has ensured that all activities of the task force have been conducted within the bounds of pertinent laws.
"The guiding principle behind the NTF-ELCAC has been the marching orders of the President to ensure Good Governance by way of the delivery of basic services, especially to the countryside," he said.
Esperon clarified that the P16.1-billion budget allotted to the NTF-ELCAC is earmarked for Barangay Development Programs that are to be implemented in geographically isolated barangays
According to Esperon, the task force has identified 1,431 barangays which have been cleared and are ripe for government intervention. Meanwhile, 2,379 threatened barangays have yet to be cleared of influence of community terrorist groups (CTGs).
Barangays cleared of the communist terrorist influence are to become recipients of programs and projects by different government agencies like farm-to-market roads; school buildings; water and sanitation systems; national greening and reforestation programs; health stations; raising of livestock, crops, and fisheries; electrification; internet connectivity; and capacity-building activities.
Esperon said that Gaite failed to grasp that the funds for the said programs will be sourced from the budgets of agencies spearheading them while the NTF-ELCAC will serve as a conduit between the national and local government units.
"Ultimately, the implementor of these initiatives shall be the Mayors and Barangay Chairpersons, whose localities will benefit from basic services and development," he said.
"I wish to state, in the strongest of terms, that at no time shall funds be controlled or manipulated by the NTF-ELCAC in the pursuit of development for our communities," he added.
The retired Army general questioned the motives behind Gaite's comments on the budget allocation and accused him of objecting to the empowerment and development of vulnerable communities.
"It is so easy for him to make such grave accusations against a legitimate initiative," Esperon said.
"Why are you against community development and empowerment, which is exactly the mandate of the Task Force created by this Administration? Who stands to benefit from the continued stunting and underdevelopment of our communities but those who feed on strife, want, and despair?" he added
According to Esperon, CTGs would want to make it appear that they are fighting for the poor, the marginalized, and those with less in life.
"Their ideology is dependent upon the existence of convict, strife, and deprivation within society...Therefore, it is in their best interests to maintain the status quo of want and discontent in order to fuel their 'cause,'" he said.
"Conversely, when our society has freed itself from the burdens of poverty, hunger, injustice, and underdevelopment, there remains no valid justification for the existence of the CTG... This is the reason why they are vehemently opposed to any form of development or progress to improve the living conditions of our vulnerable communities," he added.