Makabayan senatorial bet and ACT Teachers Party-list Rep. France Castro and ACT Teachers Party-list nominee Antonio Tinio strongly criticized President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. for perpetuating the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC), a notorious red-tagging agency established under the Duterte administration.
“President Marcos Jr. is continuing one of the worst legacies of the Duterte regime – the systematic red-tagging of legitimate dissenters, activists, and progressive organizations through the NTF-ELCAC,” Rep. Castro said. “This is a major reason why his administration refuses to rejoin the International Criminal Court. The same machinery that enabled Duterte’s bloody war against critics and the opposition remains intact and operational.”
Castro emphasized that the perpetuation of NTF-ELCAC contradicts Marcos Jr.’s campaign promises of unity and healing. “Paano magkakaroon ng tunay na pagkakaisa kung patuloy ang red-tagging at pag-atake sa mga lehitimong kritiko ng gobyerno? Hindi magkakaroon ng tunay na pagbabago habang buhay pa ang NTF-ELCAC,” she stated.
Former ACT Teachers Party-list Rep. Antonio Tinio warned about the questionable loyalties within the task force. “President Marcos should be careful about the officers of NTF-ELCAC. They remain Duterte’s minions and continue to echo their former boss’s and his daugther’s rhetoric. The NTF-ELCAC has become a dangerous political tool rather than a genuine peace and development body,” Tinio said.
“Malinaw na may mga alas pa rin si Sara Duterte sa NTF-ELCAC. Dapat imbestigahan kung may konelsyon ba ito sa confidential funds ng OVP.,” Tinio added.
Both Castro and Tinio highlighted the task force’s dismal performance despite its massive budget. “The NTF-ELCAC has zero accomplishment for 2024’s Barangay Development Program despite nearly 99% of its 2024 budget already being released. Bakit patuloy na binibigyan ng bilyun-bilyong pondo ang ahensyang ito na walang maipakitang resulta kundi red-tagging?” Castro questioned.
“The task force asked for P7.8 billion for 2025 – almost four times its 2024 budget – without showing any significant accomplishments. This is unconscionable waste of public funds that could be better used for education, healthcare, and genuine social services,” Tinio emphasized.
Castro linked the continuation of NTF-ELCAC to the Philippines’ refusal to rejoin the ICC. “The Marcos administration fears ICC investigation not just for Duterte but for themselves as well. By maintaining the same oppressive machinery and refusing accountability, they are complicit in perpetuating impunity.”
“Hangga’t hindi bumibitaw si Marcos sa NTF-ELCAC at sa mga polisiyang mana sa rehimeng Duterte, hindi siya tunay na makakapagdala ng pagbabago. Ang kailangan natin ay hustisya, accountability, at paggalang sa karapatang pantao – hindi perpetuation ng red-tagging at repression,” Castro concluded.#
