The Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) joined the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) to become its first private sector representative as the government bolsters its campaign against insurgency through a “wholistic” approach.

National Security Adviser Eduardo M. Año welcomed on Saturday, September 2, the inclusion of the CBCP, through its Episcopal Commission, to the NTF-ELCAC Executive Committee.

“We are opening the doors of NTF ELCAC to the Church because it has an important role to play in ending violence and terrorism in the country. For more than 50 years, we have lived under the scourge of the communist armed conflict. With peace now in sight, the Church has an important role to play in ensuring peace and development in the long term,” he said.

Año added that the NTF-ELCAC was looking forward to a “productive engagement” with the CBCP, adding that they are open to suggestions from the Church in adopting “moral and ethical approaches in addressing communist insurgency” as mentioned by CBCP President and Kalookan Bishop Pablo Virgilio David.

“We look forward to working with them in pursuing peace and development in all parts of the country, especially in conflict-affected areas,” he continued.

The NTF-ELCAC is leading the government’s charge to end the country’s 54-year-long problem on insurgency. It’s main mandate is to formulate a “whole-of-government” approach in ending armed conflict.

Under the previous Duterte administration, the CBCP had been a vocal critic of the NTF-ELCAC as the task force was embroiled in various red-tagging accusations.

Now that the CBCP and NTF-ELCAC are working together, Año said that both groups can immediately address concerns raised by the Church or by cause-oriented groups supported by them.

He said the CBCP’s membership in the task force “ensures a whole of nation participation because the religious sector is an important component of the nation.”

"Because of this development, the Church will have more opportunity to relay its concerns, since its mandate is to act as a liaison of the CBCP to government,” he added.

The CBCP’s Fr. Jerome Secillano attended the NTF ELCAC’s Execom Meeting last Thursday, August 31, which was presided by President Ferdinand Marcos. Jr. in Malacañang.

At present, a total of 19 out of 20 remaining guerilla fronts in the country have already been weakened as most of its leaders and members died or have been arrested in operations, or surrendered to authorities.

Año said he sees the end of the New People’s Army (NPA) under the current administration. 

“Given that we are now on the road to total victory, it’s necessary that we recalibrate the way we do things and the entry of the CBCP to NTF ELCAC is one of changes we implemented under the Marcos Jr. Administration,” he said.