By HANA BORDEY, GMA News
Published April 20, 2021 5:27pm Eight senators from the majority and the minority blocs of the Senate want law enforcement to launch an investigation into the profiling and red-tagging of community pantry organizers. The senators released a joint statement on Tuesday slamming the social media posts of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) apparently linking the community pantry initiatives to the communist movement. The senators also urged the authorities to hold a dialogue with the organizers of the community pantries an initiative which is intended to help people by donating food and other essentials.
Published March 11, 2021 12:33pm
Updated March 11, 2021 12:50pm Lieutenant General Antonio Parlade Jr. has no intention to resign as spokesperson of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) despite the recommendation of the Senate to remove him from the post. “Very good. Welcome ‘yan. Makes my job easier. But it’s just a recommendation and it’s the executive branch who will decide on it. It’s up to them,” Parlade said in a text message to Super Radyo dzBB’s Mark Makalalad when asked on the matter. The Senate recommendation was part of the national defense panel s report on its inquiry into incidents of red-tagging, which was approved on Wednesday.
By JOVILAND RITA, GMA News
Published February 21, 2021 2:09pm National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon Jr. once again defended the inclusion of Davao City in the Barangay Development Program (BDP) of the anti-insurgency council with an allocation of P1.6 billion. In making his point for Davao City s inclusion in the BDP, Esperon cited economic activities, size of landmass, rural areas, and the presence of armed rebel groups in Davao Region that is supposedly threatening the city. “The fact remains that there are numerous isolated and remote barangays within the city. Hence, with the large land area of Davao City, there still is a need for development and infrastructure for its growth,” Esperon said in a statement on Sunday.
Bayan Muna Representative Ferdinand Gaite on Sunday called out the allocation of the anti-insurgency task force’s budget for Davao City, expressing doubts the area is infiltrated by armed communist rebels.
During an activity facilitated by the Philippine Army, the 17 barangays of Negros Occidental's Sipalay City passed a resolution declaring the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People's Army-National Democratic Front persona non grata in their areas.