MANILA – Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla on Wednesday asserted the Philippine government's independence in solving its problems following supposed calls by a foreign official to abolish the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC), the government's localized approach to disband remnants of the decades-old Communist terror groups in the country.
"Huwag na silang makialam. Ito ay internal mechanism ng Pilipinas at epektibo sya (They should not meddle in the internal mechanism of the Philippines which is effective in achieving its goals)," Remulla said in reaction to UN Special Rapporteur Ian Fry's published statement after visiting parts of the country in the past two weeks.
Meanwhile, National Security Adviser Secretary Eduardo M. Año, who is concurrent vice chairman of the NTF ELCAC, said the agency takes strong exception to the call made by the visiting UN Special Rapporteur on human rights in the context of climate change to “disband” the NTF ELCAC based on allegations of violations against environmental human rights defenders.
"Fry, in his capacity as a UNSR on a country visit, has been given the freedom to move and inquire on matters related to his mandate. But apparently, due to reasons beyond us, he has not exercised this to its full potential. In the interest of fairness and justice, he should have raised his concerns with us to ensure that he has a full appreciation of the body’s mandate, operations, and overall directions. Sadly, even if he had issues on the NTF ELCAC that are relevant to his report, he did not find time to do so," Año said in a statement.
"We could have helped him define it in his study. Specifically, we would have been able to provide valuable inputs on how the NTF-ELCAC has brought peace and development in far-flung communities, many of which are indigenous cultural communities greatly affected by the impact of climate change, apart from being victims of violent extremists and terrorists," he added.
"(I)n the absence of this clarificatory engagement with the NTF-ELCAC, Fry’s report must be deemed incomplete. Clarity in context is required to enrich his report and render the same relevant."
Fry, the agency said has had a very limited time in his visit.
"We extend an open invitation to him for a dialogue in the near future before he finalizes his report. We would consider his acceptance of this offer as an indication to truly preserve the integrity of his mandate to engage States on matters of human rights in an inclusive, impartial, and non-discriminatory manner," the NTF-ELCAC said. (PNA)
