Presidential aspirant Vice President Leni Robredo is eyeing the abolition of the controversial National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) if she wins the presidential race in 2022.
Facing members of the Rotary Club of Makati in an online forum on Tuesday, Nov. 9, Robredo noted the “duplication of mandate” with the anti-insurgency task force under the Duterte administration, saying its authority will be “abused, used to harass people.”
“There is really a duplication of many efforts, the duplication of the mandate and it has to be abolished,” she said, citing the body can end up like the infamous Oplan Tokhang.
“Ang pinaka-takot ko dito ay magiging Tokhang ulit ito, magiging (My fear here is that this will become Tokhang again), Tokhang version 2 in the sense that the mandate given to the body will be abused, used to harass people,” she added.
Oplan Tokhang, which means “Knock and Plead,” is the police’s anti-drug campaign, where the homes of drug suspects will be visited by authorities.
READ: Group denounces 'tokhang' vs communists
The vice president said her administration will create “conducive environment” for peace talks with insurgents to resume.
But before doing so, Robredo explained there must be a “call for complete cessation of hostilities and violence.”
“I am demanding not just from the CPP-NPA-NDF but also from the government to create a more conducive and enabling environment for peace negotiations to resume,” she said.
The vice president believes the militaristic approach is not the only way to end the internal armed conflict.
READ: Esperon talks of political will after NTF-ELCAC suffers P24-B budget cut
“Instead encourage strong participation of CSOs (civil society organizations), the private sector, the church, in the peace process. ‘Yong nangyayari kasi ngayon parang sobrang (What is happening now is too much) emphasis on a purely militaristic approach,” she said.
“Also, improve the targeting and increase of resources for basic services and communities with special focus on conflict-affected areas. Kapag sinabi nating (When we say) services, that would include education, health, social protection, basic infrastructure for livelihood, communication and connectivity, microfinance,” she added.
Robredo also pointed out the government reintegration programs must be strengthened for “former rebels, families and communities, to allow them to lead peaceful and productive civilian lives.”