EDITORIAL - Limit NTF-ELCAC’s role

A group of healthcare workers has filed a case against the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) for falsely labeling them as communists.

In addition, the Alliance of Health Workers (AHW) also asked the Office of Ombudsman to put Undersecretary Lorraine Badoy, spokeswoman of the NTF-ELCAC, under preventive suspension.

The group said it was Badoy who issued a press release, claiming that AHW President Robert Mendoza and AHW Secretary General Benjamin Santos were operatives and cadres of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army-National Democratic Front.

As a result, the group said they have been fearing for their own security.

This is not the first time the NTF-ELCAC has been accused of defaming or even endangering someone using red-tagging. Previously, Lt. Gen. Antonio Parlade Jr., a spokesman of the NTF-ELCAC, said he suspected the woman who founded the community pantry movement with being part of the communist movement. He even likened her to Satan.

Much earlier, he practically threatened actress Lisa Soberano after she decided to take up the cause of women.

Badoy is not lacking in her own controversies. She has also red-tagged her own share of people including doctors, lawyers, journalists, partylist representatives, and even Vice President Leni Robredo herself.

In a previous editorial, we suggested to have the NTF-ELCAC deactivated. It’s still something we stand by. Aside from other government agencies already doing what it is does --and doing a better job of it in fact-- other more vital government agencies can better use its humongous ?28-billion budget.

Of course, we know that we can’t always get our way. But the NTF-ELCAC cannot continue to be a nuisance if it is retained. If it stays, its role must be limited to providing livelihood for rebel returnees and the basic services that will stop people from joining the communist insurgency --again what other government agencies are already doing.

It should not involve itself in identifying who it perceives as threats to our democracy. Mainly because the NTF-ELCAC cannot really tell between who is a terrorist, who is a communist, or who is an activist. It does not even know the basic differences between the three.

The NTF-ELCAC doesn’t seem to be exercising caution in whom they red-tag. As we also earlier said, if it looked in the mirror long enough it soon might see red.