EDUARDO Año, National Security Adviser, has rejected the recommendation of United Nations Special Rapporteur Irene Khan to abolish the government’s anti-insurgency task force, which has been accused of red-tagging government critics or linking them to the insurgency.
Año said he “respectfully disagree[s]” with Khan’s call as dismantling the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict would set back the successes of the government’s campaign against communist rebels.
In a statement, Año said: “We are already at strategic victory in our campaign against the CPP-NPA-NDF and to turn back now will be counterproductive and would render moot the ‘whole of nation’ approach that has been very successful in breaking the back of the CPP-NPA-NDF in the past 5 years.”
He also said the communist rebels are continuing with their campaign, and noted that it has 11 “weakened” guerilla fronts with some 1,500 armed members who want to overthrow the democratic government.
But he also said that once the government dismantles all guerilla fronts, the NTF-ELCAC plans to transition to become the NTF-Unity Peace and Development.
As for red-tagging concerns, Año said the NTF-ELCAC does not encourage or support this activity.
“We wish to underscore once again the Marcos Administration has not issued any law, rule, or policy instrument that implements ‘red tagging’ or even uses the word ‘red-tagging.’ The term has no basis and cannot be attributed to any current government policy, program or activity,” he said.
Red-tagging is not a crime under Philippine laws, he noted.
But he also said those who feel aggrieved may file cases for libel, oral defamation or whatever offense they think took place.
They may also file administrative cases with the Ombudsman or the Civil Service Commission against government employees, he added.
Año said he has relayed this position to Khan and hopes she would consider this in her final report.
Khan, the special rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression, recommended the NTF-ELCAC’s abolition as she noted that it was established in a different context, and there are now prospects for peace negotiations.
She also said abolishing it would address some of the most critical drivers of red tagging, and allow the administration to modernize peace building approaches.
The UN expert visited the Philippines for 10 days to look into its situation, and met with government officials and members of different sectors.
