A Christian students' group is calling anew for the abolition of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) after its budget was cut by the Senate Finance Committee from P28 billion to P4 billion.
In a statement on Tuesday, Nov. 9, the Student Christian Movement of the Philippines (SCMP) welcomed the recent move of the Senate during the recent budget deliberations to defund the NTF-ELCAC.
“The Filipino people recognize the news on defunding an agency that has systematically red-tagged farmers, unionists, youth leaders as terrorists. NTF-ELCAC has put the lives of ordinary and peace-loving Filipinos in grave danger; thus, we challenge our Representatives in both the Upper and Lower Houses to finally bring down its 2022 budget to zero, and abolish the agency altogether," said SCMP National Spokesperson Kej Andres.
“NTF-ELCAC has been wasting public funds among NSTP classes amidst the pandemic to red-tag progressive youth organizations. Students have been demanding to realign wasted public funds towards what students need: 10,000 financial aid, pro-student mode of learning, support for teachers and staff, and safe resumption of classes," he added.
SCMP also hit the NTF-ELCAC for red-tagging celebrities such as Catriona Gray, Liza Soberano, Angel Locsin, as well as faith-based formations and personalities, such as the National Council of Churches in the Philippines.
NTF-ELCAC, the group alleged, "has been wasting public funds among NSTP classes amidst the pandemic to red-tag progressive youth organizations."
"Students have been demanding to realign wasted public funds towards what students need: 10,000 financial aid, pro-student mode of learning, support for teachers and staff, and safe resumption of classes," Andres underscored.
Established on Dec. 18, 2018 through Executive Order 70, NTF-ELCAC aims to institutionalize a "whole-of-nation" approach in ending the communist belligerency in the Philippines.