The Manila Times

Why the NTF-Elcac is undefundable

1983. Thus, did the discussions find their way to top echelons of the Philippine military.

It …as the most exquisite feelM ing of satisfaction I had …hen soon after, President Duterte isM sued Executive Order 70 creating the NTF-Elcac. And, as goes the favorite cliché, the rest is history.

In his latest report on develM opments taken by the Task Force BalikMLoob, National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon, vice chairman of the NTF-Elcac, reiterates ho… the overall objecM tives of the task force are being realized through the Barangay Development Program (BDP), …hich in turn is carried out by the Task Force BalikMLoob through the Enhanced ComM prehensive Local Initiative Program (TFBL E-Clip), thus (as translated from the original Tagalog that appeared in the May 1 issue of P…ersa):

“If you …ould recall, the BDP is a package of projects …hich aim[s] to address the problems used by the terrorist CPP (Communist Party of the Philippines)MNPA in recruiting ne… members...

“From 2016 to 2019, 822 baM rangay (villages) have been freed from the influence of the terrorist CPPMNPA. For the years 2020 and 2021, 1,406 barangay have been cleansed of influence by the terrorist group. AccordM ing to reports, the most number of barangay freed from CPPM NPA influence are in Region 5 or Bicol Region, Region 8 or Eastern Visayas and Region 10 or Northern Mindanao.”

For directly addressing the …oes …rought upon the counM try’s economy by the CPPM NPAMNDF (National DemoM cratic Front) insurgency, the NTF-Elcac has come to be the yardstick for gauging …hether the Philippines is to continue plunging into further economic retardation (for one, huge capiM tal flight took place in reaction to such insurgency) or shall the Filipino nation finally make that big leap for…ard and recapture its hitherto enviable slot as the secondMlargest economy in Asia during the martialMla… years.

Defund NTF-Elcac, deny Philippine progress

Philippine progress has been conditioned on …hether the NTF-Elcac succeeds in its misM sion. To defund the task force is to deny Philippine progress. Tell me no… if, indeed, it is not stupid of the senatorMenemies of Lt. Gen. Antonio Parlade Jr. to blackmail the task force to fire the general as its spokesman or suffer defunding.

Reacting to the raging controM versy, General Balutan took time texting us his take on the issue, which we quote in its entirety:

“Why political oppositions and CTG (communist terror group) are very hot in scrapping the [P19B NTF ELCAC Budget — a vile reason beyond the ‘stupid’ remarks of Gen. Jun Parlade:

“1. The P19 B NTF ELCAC Budget is seen as a Duterte’s War Chest in the 2022 national elecM tion that may perpetuate his poM litical influence beyond his term.

“2. The 822 barangays identiM fied and targeted by NTF ELCAC as recipients of Barangay DevelM opment Program (BDP) are the very COG/baili…ick of CTG and opposition as a rich source of social issues for fomenting haM tred and …eaponizing the same against the present political order.

“3. Insurgency as …ell as poM litical exercise is a tug of …ar for mass support bet…een adversarM ies. These neglected vulnerable barangays are simply the subject of exploitation to …in them. Ho…ever, the timely intervenM tion of the Duterte administraM tion to release the P 16.5 B at P20 M per cleared barangay for uplifting socioMeconomic …ellM being, …ill certainly derail the opposition’s evil designs.

“4. The Budget …ill be given directly to the recipients …ith minimum supervision of the LEs, hence the CTG/oppositions cannot influence its disposition.

“The challenge no… is ho… the Duterte administration …ill counter this and effectively …in in the Tug of War.

“My take…

“While the apprehension of the oppositions/CTG is valid, the true …inners …ill still be the people in these terrorMstricken areas …ho …ill be benefited from the fund. When selfish interests of the fe… collides …ith the …elfare of the people, the latter must prevail.”

Ergo, take away the NTF-Elcac funds, you take a…ay the very …elfare of the people.

Take it from General Balutan …ho in 2000, even as he …as only a major at the time, led the capture of the MILF mother fortress Camp Abubakar.

Opinion

en-ph

2021-05-09T07:00:00.0000000Z

2021-05-09T07:00:00.0000000Z

https://manilatimes.pressreader.com/article/281676847785503

The Manila Times