A show of force.
This was how Vice President and Education Secretary Sara Duterte on Wednesday, May 10, described her appointment as co-vice chairperson of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC).
Executive committee meeting of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) in Malacañang. (Photo from the Office of the Vice President)
The official herself is no stranger to the anti-insurgency task force, which was formed through Executive Order (EO) 70 signed by her father, former president Rodrigo Duterte, as fighting terrorism and insurgency has been her rallying call since winning the vice presidential race and sitting as Education chief.
“This is a show of force — a clear, strong, and powerful statement and warning — against the enemies of the state who slaughter civilians and Indigenous Peoples, abduct and murder and execute members of our security forces, and attempt to pin down our progress as a nation through their ideals anchored on brainwashing, fear, and terrorism,“ she said during her message for the first NTF-ELCAC executive committee meeting in Malacañang.
Duterte serves as government caretaker while President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. attends the ASEAN regional bloc summit in Indonesia.
“We cannot let these things continue,” she added. “The so-called protracted war must end. And it must end now.”
Under EO 70, the NTF-ELCAC was organized by the government to respond and raise awareness of the ongoing atrocities perpetrated by the rebel New People’s Army (NPA).
However, it did not come without controversies as the task force had been previously embroiled in the alleged red-tagging of activists, critics, and even some showbiz personalities.
As Education secretary, the official underscored the role of educating the youth in addressing issues of insurgency and terrorism.
“Education, therefore, is one of the greatest weapons we can use in suppressing the lies and deceptions of these terrorists and their allied organizations,” she said in response to how communist groups “have infiltrated our institutions and sectors and remained a serious threat to the well-being of the Filipino people, particularly our youth.”
“We cannot let them continue preying on the innocence and idealistic nature of the Filipino youth,” she stressed.
But while the number of communist groups has diminished, Duterte warned against complacency in the efforts of ending local communist armed conflict as failing to do so will “cause more suffering to the Filipino people — and their victory means the fall of the nation.”
She lauded the NTF-ELCAC for remaining vigilant and proactively orchestrating responsive measures against attempts by communist groups.
The official called for a whole-of-government and whole-of-nation approach against the “despicable ways” of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP)-NPA-National Democratic Front (NDF).
“We shall take advantage of strength derived from unity and good governance as we promote sustainable peace and development for every Filipino to enjoy,” she said.