Giit ng NTF ELCAC: Ang pagsasabi ng katotohanan ay hindi red-tagging

“WE are not red-tagging; we are truth-telling.”

Ito ang sinabi ni The National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) executive director at Undersecretary Ernesto Torres Jr. sa roundtable discussion na inorganisa ng Ateneo de Davao University noong Oktubre 11.

Sa katunayan, ang NTF-ELCAC ay “it is not in the business of red-tagging”. Tungkulin nito aniya na ipabatid at protektahan ang vulnerable sectors gaya ng mga kabataan laban sa tangkang pagre-recruit ng communist insurgents.

Bukod dito, misyon din ng NTF-ELCAC ang pangalagaan ang publiko lalo na ang mga kabataan mula sa mapanlinlang na recruitment practices ng front organizations na nakaugnay sa Communist Party of the Philippines-New Peoples’ Army-National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF).

Nauna rito, tinugunan naman ni Toress kasama ang iba pang opisyal ng NTF-ELCAC at dating mga rebelde ang alegasyon ng red-tagging.

“It is our responsibility to ensure the safety of our youth from organizations that, while claiming to champion democracy, are actively working to further the violent agenda of these terrorist groups,” ayon kay Torres.

Pinag-usapan din ang akusasayon na di umano’y dinedemonyo ng NTF-ELCAC ang grupong Anakbayan at iba pang youth organizations.

“We respect legitimate activism as a crucial part of our democracy.

However, there is a line between advocacy and recruitment into terrorism. NTF-ELCAC is dedicated to exposing those organizations that serve the interests of the CPP-NPA-NDF, to protect our youth from being misled,” ang sinabi ni Torres.

May mga lumutang pang alegasyon na ang red-tagging ng NTF-ELCAC ay nauuwi sa ‘harassment, enforced disappearances, at human rights violations’ na itinanggi naman ni Torres.

Muling pinagtibay ni Torres na ang operasyon ng task force ay nakapaloob sa balangkas ng batas.

“Our mission is to promote peace and development, and we do not condone any form of violence or harassment. Any suggestion otherwise is a baseless attempt to discredit the government’s legitimate efforts to combat terrorism,” aniya pa rin.

Binigyang diin ni Torres ang commitment ng NTF-ELCAC sa ‘transparency at public safety.’

“The government offers peaceful avenues for addressing grievances, including economic programs and local peace initiatives. It is the terrorist organizations that manipulate the idealism of the youth and lure them into violence,” ang winika ni Torres.

Samantala, binigyang diin pa rin ni Torres ang nagpapatuloy na pagsisikap ng pamahalaan na makapagbigay ng mas maayos na oportunidad para sa mga kabataan sa pamamagitan ng edukasyon, livelihood programs, at reporma na naglalayong iangat ang komunidad. (Daris Jose)