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NOTWITHSTANDING the Supreme Court ruling which defined red-tagging as a threat to one’s life, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. doesn’t seem inclined on dissolving the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC).
In an ambush interview with local newsmen, Marcos said that the NTF-ELCAC still has a long way to go insofar as clearing the country of insurgency.
“Ito nga. Ako na nagtatanong sa inyo – Bakit lagi niyong tinatanong sa akin yan? Wala namang dahilan kung bakit natin tatanggalin yan. Ang sinasabi, dahil meron daw red-tagging na ginagawa,” Marcos was quoted as saying, even as he insisted that it is not the government which does the labeling individuals as communist
“Hindi naman gobyerno gumagawa noon. Kung sinu-sino ang gumagawa noon. Quite the opposite,” the President noted in defense of the anti-insurgency task force.
He however clarified NTF-ELCAC should focus on clearing the remaining barangays from insurgency.
“Tatapusin namin kasi mayroon pa yatang iilan na barangay na hindi pa natapos. May mga returnees na hindi pa nabigyan ng tulong,” Marcos said.
When asked as to how long would the government be able to clear the country from insurgents, Marcos responded by saying “Tatapusin namin lahat yan bago natin pag-isipan na mai-ano yung NTF-ELCAC. Tanggalin na natin ‘yan NTF-ELCAC pagka hindi na kailangan.”
Previously, the Human Rights Watch (HRW) urged the President to seriously consider measures to end red-tagging – one of which is the abolition of the NTF-ELCAC.(ANGEL F. JOSE)
