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Colombians in spotlight over Ecuador, Haiti assassinations
Two years after a Colombian squad allegedly shot dead the president of Haiti, authorities in Ecuador have accused a group of Colombians of being behind the assassination of a top presidential candidate, pointing to the export of a culture of political hit jobs. Colombia has a long history of politicians being assassinated by opponents, drug traffickers, or paramilitaries, and even its president, Gustavo Petro, campaigned before his election from behind a wall of bulletproof shields. After the shock assassination of Ecuador journalist and anti-corruption crusader Fernando Villavicencio on Wednesday, authorities released pictures of six Columbian suspects, one of them splattered with blood. A seventh suspect was killed in a shootout at the scene of the crime. The country's main newspaper, El Universo, reported Villavicencio was assassinated "hitman-style and with three shots to the head." Police said the suspects were arrested in a series of raids in which they also found a rifle, a machine gun, grenades, and ammunition. In a message of support to Ecuador, Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro drew a direct link to the murder of Haitian president Jovenel Moise in his home in July 2021 by a group of 17 Colombian mercenaries. "A gang of Colombian hitmen, mercenaries, went to Haiti to assassinate a president," he said during an official event. "These criminal gangs of hitmen are unfortunately taking this Colombian model of political assassinations outside of its borders." Jorge Mantilla, a Colombian investigator into organized crime, said that the arrests showed the "specialization among Colombian criminals in the use of violence" after six decades of armed conflict between the state and guerrillas, paramilitaries, and drug gangs. He said the two assassinations "show the capacity that these violence professionals have of connecting with transnational crime networks." Cross-border ties Villavicencio said last week he had received several threats from Los Choneros, one of Ecuador's most powerful criminal groups which the Insight Crime thinktank said became the armed wing of a Colombian drug cartel. It also has ties to Mexico's Sinaloa cartel. Late Friday Villavicencio was buried in Quito during a private ceremony after hundreds of people paid tribute at an exhibition center, where his coffin was draped with the flag and a symbolic presidential sash with the words "My power is in the constitution." While there has been no clear claim of responsibility, the murder has highlighted the once-peaceful nation's decline into a violent hotbed of drug trafficking and organized crime. Wedged between the major cocaine producers Colombia and Peru, Ecuador -- seen as having laxer controls -- has in recent years attracted foreign drug cartels that have linked up with local gangs to move drugs through the country to the United States and Europe. Mantilla explains that Ecuador's drug gangs "acquired their power from working with Colombian organizations and later became independent" and grew stronger. On Thursday, Ecuador's Interior Minister Juan Zapata referred to the detainees simply as "foreigners," saying they were "members of a criminal group" that assassinated Villavicencio in an "attempt to sabotage" snap presidential elections due on August 20. Colombian media said the suspects had criminal records in their home country, including for arms manufacturing and trafficking, drug trafficking, murder, or domestic violence. Colombia partly 'responsible' After the Haiti assassination, a US investigation revealed that two men at the head of a Miami security firm had devised a plan to kidnap Moise and replace him with a Haitian-American citizen. In March this year, dual Haitian-Chilean citizen Rodolphe Jaar pled guilty in the United States to housing the Colombian commando team and giving them weapons. That same month Colombia's president Petro said his country was partly responsible for Moise's assassination. "Colombia has a co-responsibility... it was Colombian mercenaries who went to kill the president of Haiti, unleashing a crisis even worse than the one they were already going through," he said. Petro has not commented on the Ecuador assassination. The post Colombians in spotlight over Ecuador, Haiti assassinations appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
OPAPRU welcomes PBBM’s support to Bangsamoro, amnesty program
The Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation, and Unity welcomed President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s unwavering support to the Bangsamoro region and his commitment to helping former rebels in their transformation process. OPAPRU Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. on Tuesday thanked Marcos for mentioning the gains and progress of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao during his second State of the Nation Address on 24 July. "What we have witnessed… is President Marcos' genuine sincerity in implementing all the signed peace agreements, and his commitment to bring sustainable peace throughout the country. This is true to his mantra of unity towards national healing and reconciliation," Galvez said after Marcos cited BARMM’s progress and effective self-governing. Galvez recalled that just less than two months into his administration, Marcos administered the oath of office to 80 newly reappointed members of the Bangsamoro Transition Authority on 12 August 2022. This is the first time that the composition of the BTA includes members of the Moro National Democratic Front, particularly from the group of its founding chairman Nur Misuari. In his speech, Marcos emphasized the great potential of the region and stressed that "through the BARMM, we have strengthened the nation’s prospects for finally achieving sustainable progress anchored on a true and lasting peace in Southern Philippines. We will continue to support the progress of the BARMM, apace with our singular vision for all Filipinos." He said the national government is expanding its energy resources to include the BARMM. On 6 July, Marcos previously witnessed the signing of the Intergovernmental Energy Board Circular (EIB) on the Joint Award of Petroleum Service Contracts and Coal Operating Contracts in the BARMM, which marks another major milestone in the Bangsamoro peace process. The IEB Circular operationalizes the provision in Section 10, Article XIII of Republic Act No. 11054 or the Organic Law for the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region, to jointly grant rights, privileges, and concessions for the exploration, development, and utilization of uranium and fossil fuels such as petroleum, natural gas, and coal within the territorial jurisdiction of the Bangsamoro. The Circular aims to boost economic development and draw foreign capital into the region. Amnesty program Meanwhile, Marcos vowed his administration would push for the completion of the reintegration process of the former combatants into “productive members of society” by fully implementing the amnesty program for them. Galvez also welcomed Marcos' promise to issue a proclamation that will grant amnesty to those former rebels in the country that have returned to the folds of the law. In his speech, the President asked Congress to support his endeavor on pushing the amnesty program in the country. The amnesty program is being facilitated by the National Amnesty Commission—a government agency that was created on 25 March 1994 by then-President Fidel V. Ramos, through Proclamation 347. The NAC is primarily tasked to receive and process applications for amnesty that were filed through the Local Amnesty Board. In 2021, Marcos’s predecessor, former President Rodrigo Duterte, likewise, issued Proclamation 1090, 1091, and 1092—were concurred with by Congress and the Senate—to grant amnesty to the members of revolutionary groups who committed crimes in furtherance of their political beliefs which include Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF), and Rebolusyunaryong Partido ng Manggagawa ng Pilipinas / Revolutionary Proletarian Army / Alex Boncayao Brigade (RPMP-RPA-ABB). However, the Senate did not concur with Proclamation 1093, series of 2021, granting amnesty to former members of the Communist Terrorist Group that have committed crimes punishable under the revised penal code and special penal laws in the furtherance of their political beliefs. Further, Galvez said OPAPRU will be “carrying out the Marcos administration's five-point peace, reconciliation, and unity agenda throughout his term. Among the agenda includes the completion of peace agreements with the MILF and MNLF towards healing and reconciliation in the Bangsamoro; the Ending of local communist armed conflict by expanding the transformation programs for the local conflict peace process; Completion and sustainment of the gains of the signed peace agreements with the RPM-P/RPA/ABB-TPG, and Cordillera Bodong CBA-CPLA; Enhancement of the resilience for peace of communities and vulnerable groups through social healing and peacebuilding approaches in support of the peace processes; and Enhancement of the delivery of Conflict-Sensitive and Peace Promoting-compliant socio-economic interventions in addressing the key drivers of conflict through convergence and complementation in support of the peace processes. The post OPAPRU welcomes PBBM’s support to Bangsamoro, amnesty program appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Decision reversal on amparo against NTF-ELCAC sought
The Supreme Court was asked by the Cordillera People’s Alliance on Monday to reverse the Court of Appeals decision denying its plea for the issuance of a writ of amparo against the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict and other law enforcement agencies. The CPA — through some of its officers and members — repeated the call for the issuance of a temporary restraining order enjoining NTF-ELCAC and other respondents from linking the group and its affiliate organizations with communist-terrorist group New People’s Army in their social media posts and other forms of publication. They also asked the SC to compel the respondents to take down all existing social media posts and forms of publicity which tag the group and its officers and members as communist-terrorists. A writ of amparo is a remedy available to any person whose right to life, liberty and security has been violated or under threat through various acts of the respondents. It include the relentless red-tagging and vilification by “state forces” and unknown entities in public place and social media posts such as Facebook and community meetings. It also includes the issuance of Regional Law Enforcement Coordinating Committee Resolution paving the way for the conduct of house visitations of individuals identified as associated or members of communist front organizations and visitations, stalking, surveillance, and harassment allegedly perpetrated by officers of the respondents NTF-ELCAC, Armed Forces of the Philippines, Philippine National Police, National Intelligence Coordinating Agency, Philippine Army and the Department of the Interior and Local Government-Cordillera Administrative Region, who are named respondents in the case. Also, the petitioners assailed the encampment by the AFP in indigenous villages, residential houses and use of civilian facilities or structures and the alleged filing of baseless charges against some of the petitioners that were eventually dismissed. The CA’s former Seventeenth Division in a decision issued last April, through Associate Justice Angeline Mary Quimpo-Sale affirmed with finality its October 2022 decision denying CPA’s petition for a writ of amparo. It held that the CPA failed to present sufficient evidence that would warrant the issuance of a writ of amparo and it did not give merit to CPA’s claim that it set the bar “too high for any aggrieved citizen to seek succor from the courts in times of threats to his life and liberty” when it denied their petition for a writ of amparo. The Appellate court also noted that the “sheer volume” of screenshot attached to their affidavits “does not automatically amount to substantial evidence proving that the Facebook posts were made by or under the direction of the respondents.” The CPA is a corporation registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission, with the primary purpose of upholding the collective rights and welfare of indigenous peoples of the Cordillera. The post Decision reversal on amparo against NTF-ELCAC sought appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Cordillera activists seek protection writ from SC over red-tagging
Cordillera activists have run to the Supreme Court to seek the issuance of a protection writ against perceived danger on their lives, liberty and security that stem from red-tagging of some government agencies such as the police, army and the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict......»»
Katrina Ponce Enrile: A woman worthy of her name
Anyone who had come of age in the late 1970s and the 1980s would surely know about the most famous names and faces of the younger set of the era known for the coming of age of feminism and women’s lib. The 1960s may have ushered in a cultural revolution but it was in the succeeding decades that the cataclysmic events of the decade that was, in the Philippines, would manifest in the ways and attitudes of Filipino women. I mention this phase in our history because I am sharing my thoughts on one woman whom many consider as one of the country’s most powerful, influential and successful. She is Katrina Ponce Enrile. I may not privy to the growing-up years of Katrina Ponce Enrile, and I would not have the advantage of seeing her from the point of view of someone old enough to observe the growth of a child, but as a teenager, I would occasionally read about her and see her on photographs published in newspapers and magazines, although not too frequent. I just knew she was not only well-bred and beautiful in the mestiza sense being the daughter of a striking beauty of a mother (and the granddaughter of a handsome playboy of a paternal grandfather), but that, she too was brilliant. I would assume that she got her brains from her father, one of the wonder boys of the Marcos administration. Katrina would, in time, be mentioned in juicy gossip now and then, but it was her smarts in enterprise and management that she would eventually be recognized, this notwithstanding the controversial stories that one occasionally heard of her family members. [caption id="attachment_134172" align="aligncenter" width="525"] KATRINA Ponce Enrile has always lived up to her parents ‘ expectations.[/caption] ‘Treat everybody with respect’ But to imagine her childhood and teenage years, one would suppose that for all the comforts that she might have enjoyed while living first in Urdaneta and then Dasmarinas Village, she had had to assert herself, she had once been overheard to say: “At 10, I had to fight a little bit harder to be heard” -- which was expected if one were the only daughter of a famous lawyer of a father and a lovely talented mother, herself a respected stage actress. But no matter that she had to deal with being the daughter of awe-inspiring parents, what she had been showered with, aside from her parents’ affection, was well-meaning advice. For one, it was from her dad and mom that she first heard the word of wisdom. “Treat everybody with respect — everybody. Because you don’t know what fate will bring you or them. People that you meet when you are going up, you also meet when you are going down.” No wonder that years later, as a businesswoman, she was very thoughtful in making decisions whether she was dealing with other top businessmen, her executives or the employees who served the family company at her beck and call. “I always think of how my actions and decisions would affect others,” she said in an interview with the Daily Tribune Lifestyle. No, for all the feisty woman that we know her to be, Katrina, was not advised to be aggressively pro-active when facing a conflict. The legendary Juan Ponce Enrile, instead, cautioned his daughter: “Never throw the first punch. But if they throw the first punch, then…” This, she would take to heart whenever she had had to face corporate, social or emotional bullies, not that she is one to attract people prone to violating her rights. [caption id="attachment_134173" align="aligncenter" width="525"] As the only daughter of Juan Ponce Enrile, the most famous native son of Cagayan, Katrina brings to her new job an affection for the province and Cagayanos and the whole Cagayan Valley.[/caption] One imagines her father might have preferred her to be a boy, JPE being a man’s man, but to which she would have retorted: “Dad, I don’t have to be a boy to be what I am now… Girls can do it too.” Call it outright confidence, or chutzpah, or maybe it’s Pinay pride, but Katrina is not one to be cowed. And yes, she could lead and fight and attack, but as her father would most likely say: “Only if they attack first.” Self-assured executive What I have heard of Katrina, especially from my dear friend, Carol Mercado, who was her classmate at St. Paul College, is her signature confidence. “From our youth, when she could be stubborn, she has matured steadily into a self-assured executive no wonder that she has accomplish much as an entrepreneur. “It’s a paradox that while she may have been underestimated at times and even flat out rejected, she knows how to overcome these challenges because she is one creative person and she is not one to easily bow down or to say no. But then, she is not even outright assertive. She could be very charming and before any nemesis would know it, she has gotten what she wants without lifting a finger.” It would seem that the lady would have aimed for political eminence, being the daughter of the powerful JPE, but to everyone’s surprise, she had chosen to create a name outside of her inherited box (or confines), so to speak. While she takes pride in being an Enrile, she has not taken advantage of her family name as though an amulet that would do wonders for her. Instead, she has chosen to rely on the old-fashioned values of industry, respect for others, commitment and determination. She might as well be girl scout, except more courageous, daring and trailblazing. Flexing her risk-taking muscles In her 20s, when her friends were disco dancing, she was, to use another friend’s words, “flexing her risk-taking muscle and sharpening her foresight for the first time — pivotal experiences that would shape her business sense now admired by many.” She surprised everyone when, at 26, she bought properties in Palawan. “It was a big joke to many,” she recalled. “They could not see any reason I should take the risk and invest in a place where no one dared go. It was then no man’s country and perceived to be mosquito-infested.” Today, Palawan is a safe haven from the pandemic, and, of course, an investors’ paradise. On the other hand, her parents saw a promise in her, someone who would play a key role in the family enterprises. They appointed her as Group Treasurer even before her 30th birthday, and with it the added role of overseeing the many concerns of the JAKA Group of Companies. It is quite a daunting responsibility given its extensive industrial reach –- food manufacturing and product distribution to marketing and logistics; forest plantation management; safety match manufacturing, property management and development; as well as IT, security and financial services. It would seem that, for a “beginner” in the big league, it was beyond Katrina’s grasp, and yet she lived up to her parents’ expectations. [caption id="attachment_134175" align="aligncenter" width="525"] SOME of Delimondo’s best products.[/caption] In time she would qualify as the firm’s COO and eventually CEO. Not one used to trumpeting her achievements, Katrina candidly shared: “I was able to turn around the company, helping navigate it through the debilitating Asian Financial Crisis in the mid-1990s. And when the peso devalued in 2008 to 2009, when we had [a] one dollar denominated loan which I had to quickly deal with, I was able to restructure our company and keep it afloat.” Soon, she would be trusted to manage JAKA’s investments, which “allowed me to dream of bigger things, this in the midst of an economic crisis and the pressure to survive it.” Her baby Delimondo When shopping in a supermarket or a grocery, the Filipino consumers, especially those who take their corned beef seriously, would pick the Delimondo brand. They would also put the brand’s Bolognese Pasta, Luncheon Meat, Yellowfin Tuna spreads and aromatic oils in their cart or shopping bags. Katrina confides, “Delimondo was my baby and was purely our family’s venture.” Her was a one-woman team that managed the brand’s marketing, sales and R&D. To introduce it to the market, she gave away cans of their initial recipes for free. “I wanted to offer something deliciously different, one that I enjoyed from my travels abroad.” [caption id="attachment_134174" align="aligncenter" width="525"] SHE is most proud of her baby, Delimondo.[/caption] It wasn’t long before investors would come in too aware that Delimondo operates its own plants that produce and package its own products. The company would soon expand and offers its manufacturing services to other products all the way to exporting them. In time and with Katrina at the helm, JAKA shifted to investing in other companies. But if her JAKA performance is impressive, anyone should take a look at her other achievements. To cite one, as the Philippines Overseas Telecommunications Operations director and CEO/president. She led the efforts to renew the company’s franchise that would allow it to provide the Philippines satellite services. For another, as director and president, she has brought into the Montemar Resorts Development Corporation and Montemar Beach Club Inc. not only her management expertise, but her exposure to top international resorts as a frequent guest. No wonder that Manila’s well-heeled consider these resorts as standard-bearers of local luxury travel. [caption id="attachment_134171" align="aligncenter" width="525"] ‘Delimondo was my baby and was purely our family’s venture,’ said Katrina.[/caption] Transforming the upper east corner of Luzon Katrina also sits as the Cagayan Economic Zone Authority’s vice chairperson. In this role, she envisions making the province a model destination that easily rivals the country’s capital. “They’re considering appointing me as administrator. Once that post is confirmed, I will be fully committed to transforming the upper east corner of Luzon into another business area that the Philippines will be proud of.” As part of her vision, she plans to build a stronger point of economy with the available freeport and expand its potential by constructing an airport. To attract investors, she plans to boost incentives to encourage more players to relocate. “We plan to make smart cities there. I plan to make it very green. I plan to protect the lush forests. It’s really also known as the rice granary of the Philippines. I plan to push the transition from GMOs (genetically modified organism) to non-GMOs. I know that that will be a hard task but I plan to do it. I want to give the Filipinos healthy food for the next generations to come,” she states. Worthy and deserving As the only daughter of the most famous native son of Cagayan, Katrina brings to her new job an affection for the province and Cagayanos and the whole Cagayan Valley. She may have grown up in Manila, travelled the whole world, but her heart has always remained in the home of her father, Juan Ponce Enrile, and it is among his people, relatives and townsmen that she intends to pursue her next dream. There is no stopping this feisty Cagayanon. For her home province, she is out to conquer the world. But then, I must insist that this is not about being her father’s daughter, although there is no denying the great influence of JPE on Katrina becoming the woman that she has become -- strong-willed, passionate, forward-thinking. Still, Katrina could only thank herself most for being herself. That she accepted the challenges that came her way and faced them head on using her own gifts and advantages – which undoubtedly brought her to her destiny, one that she has arrived at and one that she has yet to fulfill. Indeed, if the women’s movement has reached this far, and women today now enjoy key positions in government, private sector and civil society, this may be attributed to the generations of women who have looked toward the future and embraced their destinies as key players in the affairs of humanity. Katrina is one of these women and we wish her all the best. No one could be more worthy of the challenge and deserving of the honor. The post Katrina Ponce Enrile: A woman worthy of her name appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Banks urged: Shift backing for RE
Philippine banks must quickly shift project funding for fossil fuels to renewable energy as demand for the latter is seen to skyrocket due to shrinking supplies and rising prices for climate change-inducing fossil fuels, said a report released Tuesday by the Center for Energy, Ecology and Development Philippines. Citing data from the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, a CEED report says unit costs for renewables have been decreasing at substantial rates globally: 85 percent both for solar energy and lithium-ion batteries and 55 percent for wind energy. Meanwhile, fossil fuel prices for coal and natural gas could further increase due to ongoing armed conflict between oil-rich countries Russia and Ukraine. Meralco, the country’s largest electricity provider, has increased rates to over P10 per kilowatt hour, while 11 new import terminals for liquified natural gas are under negotiations, according to the Department of Energy. Despite these, CEED researchers found 15 Philippine banks have heavily invested in fossil fuel projects through bonds, loans and stocks. Researchers say these will further heat up the planet and harm aquatic resources as the Verde Island Passage is eyed as an alternative to Malampaya. Dirtiest banks Banks were analyzed through CEED’s Fossil Fuel Divestment Scorecard which looked at their green policies and projects to mitigate the impacts of climate change such as drought, floods, and wildfires. New data covered April 2022 to March 2023. The scorecard shows Philippine banks invested $867.08 million within that period, mostly through bonds. Meanwhile, investments for new fossil gas projects reached $930 million. Among them involved the project of SMC Global Power of San Miguel Corporation in Bataan and Batangas which required principal funding of P30 billion and bond oversubscription option up to P10 billion in July last year. Eight out of the 15 banks studied supported this project. However, CEED shared that the SMC energy firm lost P15 billion last year due to higher fossil fuel prices. CEED added that the firm scrapped its application for the three proposed fossil gas projects in Visayas last year. Among the 15 banks, Bank of the Philippines Islands (BPI) was deemed the dirtiest bank, followed by BDO Unibank Inc. CEED researchers say BPI topped the list for the fourth time, with an unclear commitment to reduce coal projects, notably the Atimonan One Energy (A1E) Coal Plant. “In fact, in a letter addressed to CEED dated 1 July 2021, the DOE said that Meralco PowerGen Corporation, which wholly owns A1E, is still in communication with lenders to extend the loan facility given the challenges encountered in securing power supply agreements.” In general, BPI had vowed to reduce outstanding loans to coal projects by 50 percent by 2026 and zero percent by 2032. Meanwhile, BDO had announced to reduce coal exposure also by 50 percent by 2033. CEED, however, criticized the banks for not having detailed plans to achieve their goals. “BPI’s overall score is also slightly higher due to improved sustainability policies. Nonetheless, BPI’s high overall fossil fuel exposure and insufficient policies keep it at the top,” CEED researchers said. For BDO, “Its coal exposure remains significant and its place as the top financier of the fossil gas expansion also garners it a high score. Its rank is lowered, however, by its Sustainability Policies Criteria score,” it said. Model banks Government-owned Land Bank of the Philippines (LandBank) and Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) are the cleanest banks. CEED said that LandBank approved loans amounting to P20.1 billion for renewables. It added that the bank agreed in January to help build Aboitiz renewable energy plants worth P20 billion. Meanwhile, DBP approved a total loan of P600 million for a hydropower plant in Nueva Ecija and other 27 renewable energy projects last year. The post Banks urged: Shift backing for RE appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Cordillera anti-insurgency task force endorses P160 million projects
The Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict in the Cordillera Administrative Region has endorsed programs and projects amounting to P160 million for barangays declared insurgency-free......»»
Agusan del Norte residents rebuild lives after armed conflict
A team from the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) visited Barangay Puting Bato in March 2023 to assess the condition of the displaced people......»»
NTF-Elcac seeks more funds for former ‘rebel-infested’ brgys
THE National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-Elcac) is seeking more funding support for barangays that were formerly infiltrated or influenced by communist rebels......»»
Badoy guilty of indirect contempt for threats vs judge
The Supreme Court has slapped a P30,000 fine against Lorraine Badoy, former spokesperson for the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict for indirect contempt over her “vitriolic statements and outright threats” against a judge......»»
Youth groups in Southern Tagalog oppose reso urging military-led ‘national security awareness’ bid in schools
By JACINTO LINGATONG Bulatlat.com SANTA CRUZ, Laguna — Youth groups in Southern Tagalog have strongly opposed the proposed resolution of the 202nd Infantry Brigade, Philippine Army and CALABARZON Regional Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (RTF ELCAC) urging the Department of Education (DepEd) Region IV-A, Commission on Higher Education (CHED) Region IV-A, Technical… The post Youth groups in Southern Tagalog oppose reso urging military-led ‘national security awareness’ bid in schools appeared first on Bulatlat......»»
Government sees total victory vs Reds, end of NTF-ELCAC
The government expects to achieve “total victory” over communist rebels this year, which will mean the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict will no longer be needed, the assistant director general of the National Security Council said yesterday......»»
Group hits Imee reaction on NTF-ELCAC
The progressive group Karapatan criticized the reactions of Sen. Imee Marcos and the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict to the call of UN Special Rapporteur Irene Khan to have the NTF-ELCAC abolished......»»
United Nations rapporteur urges NTF-ELCAC abolition; government says no
Following her 10-day official visit to the Philippines, United Nations Special Rapporteur on freedom of opinion and expression Irene Khan on Friday urged the government to abolish the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC), which she said will address red-tagging and allow for more inclusive peace-making platforms in the country......»»
NTF-ELCAC should have ended with Duterte — ex-senator
Former senator and justice secretary Leila de Lima said that the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict should have been disbanded since former President Rodrigo Duterte stepped out of office......»»
NSC s Malaya told: Red-tagging can be prosecuted
The statement released by the NUJP on Thursday came a day after the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict quoting Malaya mentioned that criminalizing red-tagging is “impossible......»»
Statement | For exposing NTF-ELCAC’s lies, Bicol journo red-tagged anew
Bulatlat condemns the latest red-tagging of Albay-based journalist Reynard Magtoto who wrote an in-depth report about the lies and deceptive activities of the National Task Force to End the Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) in the region. The post Statement | For exposing NTF-ELCAC’s lies, Bicol journo red-tagged anew appeared first on Bulatlat......»»
With over 460 million children living in conflict, child protection systems must be strengthened, says UNODC Executive Director
In a world where "460 million children were living in contexts of conflict in 2022", child protection systems must be strengthened, said Ms. Ghada Waly, Executive Director of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), at a high-level conference at the European Parliament. At the Protection of Children in Armed Conflict conference in Brussels, organize.....»»
Conflict-stricken villagers in Agusan del Norte get farm machinery from ICRC
The International Committee of the Red Cross has provided post-harvest facilities to 107 marginalized families in Cabadbaran City in Agusan Del Norte to boost their agricultural productivity, badly stifled by armed conflicts in their villages......»»
NTF-ELCAC in 2023 – the year at a glance
Last Wednesday, the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict invited all existing, or what remains to be what is left of rebels from the New People’s Army, to surrender and begin a new chapter in their lives as they enter the new year......»»