THE National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-Elcac) was offended by the United Nations Special Rapporteur Irene Khan's proposal to abolish the task force, its official said on Saturday.
"We were hijacked. Irene Khan's visit to the Philippines is counterproductive. She was invited here for a different purpose," NTF-Elcac Executive Director Undersecretary Ernesto Torres Jr. said.
"She seems to come here with an agenda — an agenda to undermine and demolish the NTF-Elcac without understanding the essence of the NTF-Elcac," he added.
Khan, a UN special rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression, made the recommendation during her exit briefing in Mandaluyong City on Friday, which was preceded by meetings with groups associated with the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People's Army-National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF).
Torres said Khan "allowed herself to be used by those who want the government and the NTF-Elcac to fail."
"Her call for the abolition of the NTF-Elcac is a lame attempt to breathe life into a dying terrorist movement," he said.
Khan said the NTF-Elcac had not taken into consideration the ongoing peace negotiations of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s administration with the NDF, adding the task force was established six years ago in a different context, thus making it outdated.
Torres said that contrary to Khan's belief, the NTF-Elcac remains the single most relevant task force in the Philippines with undeniable accomplishments.
He said the NTF-Elcac would continue to work for peace, unity and development within the framework of justice and the rule of law.
Meanwhile, the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) thanked Khan for recommendations that would strengthen the protection of journalists and media freedom in the country.
The NUJP on Friday said they agree with Khan's recommendation to abolish the NTF-Elcac, citing its role in vilifying dissent, reportage, and the legitimate exercise of civil and political rights.
"We hope that the Philippine government issues a categorical policy against such practice," the NUJP said in a statement.
Labor group Nagkaisa also supported Khan's call to dismantle the task force, citing its involvement in red-tagging civilians and organizations.
"Ms. Khan's findings, stemming from her extensive ten-day study involving engagement with a wide range of stakeholders nationwide, underscore the critical importance of adopting policies that protect individuals and organizations against unfounded accusations and promote a more peaceful and productive path towards peace," Nagkaisa said.
The government has agreed to sustain further consultations with Khan on how to strengthen structures and mechanisms that uphold human rights.
At the exit conference on Friday at the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), senior representatives of 20 agencies led by the Department of Justice (DoJ), the Presidential Task Force on Media Security (PTFoMS), the Presidential Human Rights Committee Secretariat, and the National Security Council, shared their perspectives on Khan's observations and preliminary recommendations.
DFA-Office of the United Nations and International Organizations (UNIO) Assistant Secretary Maria Teresa Almojuela said that Khan's engagements with the three branches of government, as well as the media, were crucial in understanding efforts to promote and safeguard freedom of expression in the Philippines.
PTFoMS Undersecretary Paul Gutierrez said Khan's visit signified the transparency of the Philippine government under the Marcos Jr. administration.
Justice Undersecretary Raul Vasquez affirmed the government's willingness to engage closely and constructively with the special rapporteur until and after the completion of her report.
Khan's final report will be submitted and considered at the 59th Session of the UN Human Rights Council in June 2025.
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