NTF-ELCAC to voters: No to party-lists promoting terrorism, violence

The National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict on Monday called on the public to be careful of party-list group they will vote in the upcoming May 12 midterm elections. 

Although he did not mention any specific party-lists, NTF-ELCAC executive director Ernesto Torres Jr. said there are groups who are allegedly advocating for terrorism and violence. 

“Tayo ay nananawagan sa ating mga kababayan, lalo na 'yung mga boboto ngayong May 12 na maging mapanuri po. Sana po suriin nating mabuti iyong mga kandidato, iyong mga organisasyon na tumatakbo as party-list at huwag nating suportahan iyong mga nag-a-advocate ng terorismo at violence,” said Torres in an interview in Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon. 

(We call on our countrymen, especially those who will vote this May 12 to be critical. I hope that we will carefully examine the candidates, the organizations running as party-lists and not support those who advocate terrorism and violence.) 

“Suportahan po natin iyong mga party-list, iyong mga kandidato na tumatakbo na may ginintuang kalooban po na mapaganda iyong ating harmony, ang ating unity, ang ating kapayapaan, at pag-unlad ng ating bansa,” he added. 

(Let us support those party-lists, those candidates who are running with a golden heart to improve our harmony, our unity, our peace, and the development of our country.) 

Gabriela Party-list earlier filed a complaint against NTF-ELCAC with the Commission on Elections for alleged red-tagging and gender-based harassment. The task force denied the allegations then. 

“That is a complete falsehood. NTF-ELCAC does not engage in red tagging. It has never and will never be government policy,” said NTF-ELCAC spokesperson Jonathan Malaya.

Despite calls to abolish the NTF-ELCAC, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said that it has to be maintained.

“Tayo, po’y lubos na natutuwa at nagpapasalamat po sa ating mahal na Pangulo at iyan po ay expression ng commitment ng ating gobyerno na magpapatuloy pa iyong mga magagandang programa po ng National Task Force To End Local Communist Armed Conflict, particularly po iyong mga programa na makakatulong doon sa mga kababayan natin na naninirahan sa laylayan ng ating lipunan,” said Torres. 

(We are very happy and grateful to our beloved President and that is an expression of our government's commitment to continue the programs of the National Task Force To End Local Communist Armed Conflict, particularly those that will help our countrymen who live on the fringes of our society.) —AOL, GMA Integrated News

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