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PDP-Laban senatorial bets to continue NTF-ELCAC gains

By Lade Jean Kabagani

April 5, 2022, 7:36 pm

<p><strong>BDP PROJECT.</strong> A school building with three classrooms funded by the Barangay Development Program of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict is turned over to residents of Barangay Coronobe in Maragusan, Davao de Oro on March 10, 2022. The building is part of the PHP20 million allocation per village under the BDP.<em> (Photo courtesy of Davao de Oro-PIO)</em></p>

BDP PROJECT. A school building with three classrooms funded by the Barangay Development Program of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict is turned over to residents of Barangay Coronobe in Maragusan, Davao de Oro on March 10, 2022. The building is part of the PHP20 million allocation per village under the BDP. (Photo courtesy of Davao de Oro-PIO)

MANILA – The senatorial candidates of the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino–Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) on Tuesday vowed they will sustain the gains of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) under the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte.

In a press conference, Astravel Pimentel-Naik cited the need to end the illegal recruitment of the youth, particularly from indigenous peoples (IPs) communities in the countryside, by the New People’s Army (NPA).

Ito ay nais natin labanan. In fact, I have expressed my disappointment doon sa pagkaltas ng pondo ng NTF-ELCAC (We want to fight this. In fact, I have expressed my disappointment against the cut on NTF-ELCAC’s fund),” she said.

For a long time, Naik lamented that various areas in Mindanao were long deprived of developmental funding until the Duterte administration took over.

She said only President Duterte gave attention to the long-standing call of Mindanao for peace and development.

Through the NTF-ELCAC, she said the government brought economic progress to Mindanao, like the flagship Barangay Development Program (BDP), which Pimentel hoped the next administration would continue.

The BDP provides funds to villages that have been cleared of insurgency.

Rey Langit said the PHP24 billion NTF-ELCAC budget cut last year affected the BDP in the countryside, including the provision of road networks and farm-to-market roads.

“Partly, dito po sa budget ng NTF-ELCAC, ang dami po natulungan at ang dami ang na-address na problema hindi lamang po sa armed conflict (Partly, the NTF-ELCAC budget has helped many and it addressed many problems, not only issues on armed conflict),” Langit said.

Meanwhile, Rodante Marcoleta hit militant organizations that have links with the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP).

Bakit kahit minsan hindi nila kinondena ang ginagawa nung mga insurgent groups sa ating bansa (Why won’t they condemn the acts of insurgent groups in the country)?” Marcoleta said, adding it is the reason why the public sees them as sympathizers of communist terrorist groups.

The CPP-NPA is listed as a terrorist organization by the United States, European Union, the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the Philippines.

New supporters

Naik, Langit, Marcoleta, and the rest of the PDP-Laban slate with the faction of Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi have the backing of the Movement for Reform and Regional Development towards New Economic and Cultural Cooperation Inc (MRRD-NECC).

The volunteer group earlier endorsed the UniTeam tandem of Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. and Sara Duterte.

John Castriciones, Robin Padilla, Greco Belgica, and Salvador Panelo are the other Cusi faction-backed candidates.

“We commit ourselves to campaign and mobilize to push for their victory on May 9, 2022,” read the MRRD-NECC statement on Tuesday.

On the other hand, Castriciones declared support for Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso. (PNA)

 

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