‘Bato’ wants NTF-ELCAC ‘institutionalize’

FORMER Philippine National Police (PNP) director general and now senator, Ronald ‘Bato’ dela Rosa, has filed a bill seeking to “institutionalize” the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) until such time that the threat to the country’s national security and stability has been finally stamped out.

Under SBN 200, the task force shall be converted into a “national council” to be chaired by the President with its members comprising the current government departments and agencies that composed the NTF-ELCAC.

After President Rodrigo Duterte officially terminated the national peace talks with the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) and abrogated all previously signed agreements the government signed with the CPP thru its National Democratic Front (NDF) in 2017, he signed a year later, on December 4, 2018, Executive Order (EO) 70, creating the NTF-ELCAC.

The NTF-ELCAC adopts as its core policy the ‘Whole of Nation, Whole of Government Participation’ in dealing with the CPP-NDF and their armed wing, the New People’s Army (NPA).

“The NTF-ELCAC was able to significantly uplift the lives of those living in communities which were impoverished by the presence of communist terrorist groups,” dela Rosa said.

“The effectiveness of the implementation of EO 70 is felt by the people in the countryside who now live in peaceful communities with accessible government services including infrastructure development. As such, to sustain the progress in our goal to attain inclusive and sustainable peace, there is a need to legislate and put into a permanent stature the Whole-of-Nation approach.

“This proposed bill is an emulation of EO 70. Our people deserve lasting peace and safe communities. Hence, the earnest approval of this bill is sought,” he explained further.

Filed last July 7, 2022, the bill was first tackled during a hearing called for the purpose by Sen. Jinggoy Estrada, chair of the Senate Committee on National Defense, Security, Peace, Unification and Reconciliation, last September 20, 2022, with National Security Adviser Prof. Clarita Carlos as the main resource person.

An academician, Carlos had initially opposed the institutionalization of the NTF-ELCAC but later on changed her mind.

Carlos backpedaled from her earlier position after hearing the “compelling arguments” raised by dela Rosa who narrated his combat experience while fighting the NPA.

“Nakita ko itong glimmer of hope nang ginawa itong task force na ito, itong ELCAC na ito, nakita ko napakaganda pala nito. Ito na ang hinihintay namin noon,” Dela Rosa said.

“Sabi nga namin nu’ng teniyente pa kami, ‘What kind of war is this? Tayo lang pinabayaan ng gobyerno makipaggiyera, makipagpatayan sa mga NPA…they’re sitting in their chair, inside their office, nagpapalamig lang sa opisina.

“Kami du’n sa field, kami ang nakipagpatayan. Kami ang nasasaktan, kami ang nahihirapan,” he added.

Dela Rosa also pointed out that once its core mission has been accomplished, the ELCAC National Council shall cease to exist, unless earlier dissolved by the President.

In calling for the bill’s approval dela Rosa said it would also be one way of honoring the men and women who have died fighting CPP-NPA-NDF terrorism that has been plaguing the country for some 54 years now.