Manila Bulletin
Leyte solon rejects call to defund gov’t anti-insurgency program
Leyte Rep. Lucy Torres-Gomez stated that defunding the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) would mean forfeiting the government's progress in combating insurgency.
She argued that the call to defund the NTF-ELCAC by some lawmakers is an inappropriate response to frustrations over red-tagging incidents.
The NTF-ELCAC's budget, particularly the PHP16.5 billion allocated for the Barangay Development Program (BDP), has been instrumental in addressing the root causes of insurgency and fostering peace in cleared communities.
According to Gomez, the BDP has aided former rebels in their reintegration into society, marking significant progress towards achieving peace, especially in rural areas.
She suggested that the government can simultaneously support community pantries and continue its peace initiatives through the NTF-ELCAC.
While agreeing that public officials should be held accountable for their statements and actions, Gomez emphasized the need for rational decisions that do not endanger localized anti-insurgency programs.
🤖
This story was generated by AI to help you understand the key points. For more detailed coverage, please see the news articles from trusted media outlets below.
News Sources
See how different news organizations are covering this story. Below are the original articles from various Philippine news sources that contributed to this summary.
Deputy Speaker Rufus Rodriguez described calls to defund the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) as a 'knee-jerk reaction'.
Read more →
Davao Oriental Governor Nelson Dayanghirang urged Congress not to defund the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF ELCAC), stating that doing so would harm barangays successfully cleared of communist influence.
Read more →
Senator Ronald Dela Rosa stated that defunding the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) would be a detrimental move that would primarily benefit communist rebels.
Read more →
Interior Secretary Eduardo Año urged lawmakers not to defund the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC), emphasizing that its budget is crucial for developing remote barangays.
Read more →
Davao de Oro Governor Jayvee Tyron Uy urged legislators not to defund the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF ELCAC), warning that doing so would disrupt development projects.
Read more →