UN rapporteur's call to dismantle NTF-ELCAC 'supremely presumptuous'—Imee Marcos
Senator Imee Marcos on Sunday, February 4 rejected the call of UN Special Rapporteur Irene Khan to dismantle the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) saying it is “supremely presumptuous.”
Marcos noted that Khan never visited the villages that are under the scope of the NTF-ELCAC and only interviewed few witnesses.
“After a mere 10 days in the Philippines, during which she never visited the NTF barangays but only met a chosen few witnesses, she has the knowledge and the right to tell the Philippine government what to do?" Marcos pointed out.
The President’s sister also scored Khan for threatening the Philippines’ plan to lead the UN Commission on the Status of Women and obtain a seat on the UN Security Council.
“Not only are these foreigners meddlesome and out of their depth, she has also threatened that the Philippines' ambitious plan to lead the UN Commission on the Status of Women and obtain a seat on the UN Security Council depends on conforming with her ‘findings.’ Why exactly did we invite her anyway?" the senator further asked.
But Marcos said she is not surprised over Khan’s call since she is known for her long-standing bias on Amnesty International.
Nevertheless, she said dismantling the NTF-ELCAC would be counter-productive, and even dangerous considering thousands of rebels have peacefully returned to the fold of the law.
“The government has practically won against the communist insurgency, with only abouta 1,800 rebels left, according to our military and police,” the lawmaker explained.
Thus, she said, it is important that the government maintain the NTF-ELCAC's presence and strengthen its mandate to continue the peaceful rehabilitation of rebel returnees.