“Batman and Robin.”
This is how Senator Robinhood "Robin" C. Padilla described today, July 19, his potential team-up with Senator Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa in pushing support for the programs of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC).
Padilla said the NTF-ELCAC has good programs to address the threats from the communist rebels via development programs especially in remote areas.
The late Senators Blas Ople and Ernesto Herrera were once described as ‘’Batman and Robin’’ during their press conferences.
“Ang magiging panukala ni Senator Bato diyan, palagay ko po kami ni Senator Bato... palagay ko kami ang Batman and Robin diyan (As far as Senator dela Rosa's intentions to support the NTF-ELCAC are concerned, I believe we can be a 'Batman and Robin' tandem),” Padilla said in a TV interview.
Dela Rosa was a former Philippine National Police (PNP) chief. Padilla, on the other hand, served at the Philippine Army (PA).
“Nakita natin na may magandang epekto ang proyekto ng NTF-ELCAC sa malalayong barangay na hindi naaabot ng gobyerno. Ang katotohanan, ang NTF-ELCAC yan ang nagpapalapit ng gobyerno sa tao (We have seen the positive effects of the NTF-ELCAC's projects especially in remote barangays that are not accessible to everyone. In fact, the NTF-ELCAC in many cases has been the bridge between government and the people),” he added.
On Monday, Padilla voiced support for institutionalizing the NTF-ELCAC because of its development projects in areas cleared of the New People's Army (NPA)'s influence.
The NPA is the armed wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP). Padilla also threw his full support behind localized peace talks which he said have been effective.
“Ang NTF-ELCAC naging mukha tayo niyan noong tayo nasa Philippine Army. Naging mukha tayo niyan nang tayo pumupunta sa malalayong lugar, nakikipagusap tayo ay nag-welcome sa mga nag-surrender. Ito pabor ako rito. Isa ito sa mga programa ng gobyerno na napakaganda (I served as the face of the NTF-ELCAC having been in the Philippine Army. I talked to and welcomed surrenderees. I am in favor of this, this is one very good government program)," he said.