Republic of the Philippines

Department of the Interior and Local Government

Philippine Public Safety College
NATIONAL FIRE TRAINING INSTITUTE
4029 Camp Vicente Lim, Brgy. Mayapa, Calamba City,
Laguna

Name: Group 16 Date of Submission: 16 February 2024

Course/Class Nr/Company: FJLC 2024-08

REACTION PAPER
in
End Local Communist Armed Conflict (ELCAC)

PART I. INTRODUCTION

For more than five (5) decades, the armed struggle of the Communist Party of
the Philippines–New People's Army (CPP-NPA) has sought to destabilize the Philippine
government in favor of a new state governed by the working class to eradicate US
influence from the country. The Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) was
established in 1968 by the late Jose (Joma) Sison, and the New People's Army (NPA),
its military component, was established the following year. The CPP and NPA are so
closely intertwined that they are often jointly referred to as the CPP-NPA. Their Legal
Front, the National Democratic Front (NDF), also participated and performed subversive
tactics to promote mass hysteria that often leads to the destabilization of the National
Government. The CPP-NPA-NDF (CNN) were responsible for several individual and
mass killings, arson, damage to properties, pilferage and robbery and similar activities.
The CNN targets the youths, minorities and marginalized sectors by exploiting issues in
the Philippine government.
President Rodrigo Roa Duterte issued Executive Order (E.O) 70 in December
2018, synchronizing the government's methods of power with the capabilities of private
sector stakeholders in order to end 50 years of deception, lies, and atrocities
perpetrated by communist terrorists against the Filipino people. Thus, the creation of the
National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC). The
NTF-ELCAC is the Whole-of-Nation Approach to eliminating the local communist
terrorist group and achieving long-term and inclusive peace in the Philippines. (See
attachment “A”)
 PART II. CONTENT

SUMMARY
To combat the communist insurgency in the Philippines, former President Duterte
formed the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC).
The task force sought to oppose the influence of communist armed organizations, ad-
dress the underlying reasons of the insurgency, and encourage development in the im-
pacted areas. To resolve the long-standing dispute, the NTF-ELCAC developed several
programs, including localized peace discussions and community development projects.
The task force was criticized, meanwhile, for allegedly violating human rights and for
controversially red-tagging certain people and groups.

The Audio-Visual Presentation (AVP) of the DILG on ELCAC clearly emphasized

that the President Rodrigo Roa Duterte wanted to attain its goal to achieve peace until
the end of his administration, that is, to address insurgency and terrorism and to fight
lawless elements and terrorists that hinders national development. It was presented that
five (5) previous administrations engaged in Peace Talks, which the present
administration finds inconsequential. The CPP-NPA-NDF (CNN) will always try to
subvert the government. The former Secretary Karlo Alexei Nograles also stressed the
importance of the joint and inter-agency executions of plans and programs; from
Barangay Leaders, LGUs, Armed Forces of the Philippines and the National
Government. According to him “We cannot have Peace and Order, if there is no
Socio-Economic Development, vice-versa”. Former Department of the Interior and Local
Government (DILG) Secretary Eduardo M. Año also stressed that the problems of the
Philippines are rooted in Insurgency which immensely hinders national development. It
prevents and scares foreign investors to build businesses and jobs by arson, extortion,
death threats and killings.

THESIS STATEMENT

Between July 1, 2016 to December 28, 2018, around 8,367 communist

insurgents surrendered to the government, indicating that the movement is on the verge
of collapse. According to Secretary Año, 1,117 former rebels have been given benefits
through the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (E-CLIP), one of the
key components of the interagency Task Force Balik Loob Program. As signed in the
Senate Committee Report No. 186, “NTF-ELCAC is effective and provides a better
alternative to the unsustained and intermittent peace talks which the CPP-NPA-NDF
has taken advantage of over the years,”(See Attachment “B”)
 What made those communist rebels and Communist Terrorist Group (CTG)
members return to the folds of law? What are the programs offered by the National
Government through NTF-ELCAC? What are the efforts, plans and programs presented
by the LGUs?

REACTION

The NTF-ELCAC were divided into twelve (12) Clusters, namely: Local
Government Empowerment; Basic Services; Localized Peace Engagement; E-CLIP and
Amnesty Program; Sectoral Unification, Capacity Building Empowerment and
Mobilization; International Engagement; Legal Cooperation; Strategic Communication;
Poverty Reduction, Livelihood and Empowerment; Peace, Law Enforcement and
Development Support; Infrastructure, Resource Management and Employment; and
Situational Awareness and Knowledge Management (See Attachment “C”). With this, we
will be reckoning substantial information, particularly in the Regions LGU’s , on how
NTF-ELCAC influenced the lives of the people. Expectantly, we would be asserting
some of our personal experience and opinions.
The conduct of Regional ELCAC Barangay Summit clearly made the Executive
Order 70 possible in some Region in Mindanao which was infested with NPA’s. Through
this, the LGUs and other government agencies were able to identify possible threats in
achieving its goal. Plans and programs that are needed to prioritize in far-flung areas
were raised. In one Municipality of the Region wherein one the group member (GROUP
16) currently assigned, when he categorically narrates the after effect of this EO 70, We
could proudly say that there is an opulent effect on the lives of the people. Livelihood
and Empowerment were made accessible. Some LGU conducted “Lokal Serbisyo
Caravan” as part of ELCAC Program in some identified Barangays who are very
vulnerable from deception of the communist.
Some LGU spent millions worth of Infrastructure Projects for Barangays under
ELCAC. They received and constructed farm-to-market roads (FMR), Rehabilitation and
Improvement of Level II Water Supply System, Bridges, dryers and so on. Through this,
road accessibility for crops market and improvement of water system greatly affect in
fighting insurgency and sustaining peace and development, especially to those former
conflict areas/communities.
For the BFP’s role in this approach, unreservedly dedicated their assistance to
the ELCAC Project. The BFP also collaborated with the local health workers in
performing Healthcare Info Drive. Through this, we believe that this will not only improve
the quality of life of the locals, but it would gradually suppress impending threats and
conflicts. We believe that this has long-term impact on the community.
 APPLICATION

To end the insurgency in the country and the Communist-Terrorist Groups, we

must apply this EO 70 drastically to win and achieve the lasting peace that we dreamed
of. It is not about merely pure military offensives, capture and death of their leaders but
also to encourage all members of the society to regain their trust and support to the
government. We believe we have to prioritize the marginalized by providing them
livelihood programs and quality education. We must be vigilant all the time to our youths
because they are the main target for deception of communist ideology and radicalization
for arm struggle in state run educational facilities. Thus, this will keep them away from
the snares of the CPP-NPA-NDF and prevent them from holding arms against the
government.
We, Filipinos, should bear in mind that troubled nations will greatly affect our
lives. Our future. We also believe that being a member of the Bureau of Fire Protection
(BFP) made us swear and uphold the value of life; to preserve and to save lives. We
believe that everyone of us, whether we work for the government or not, has a moral
obligation for the good of others and not to inflict harm at all cost. We may never know
what our future holds, if we still continue being of service to others. We believe that for
each action we make, there is a rippling effect. We should be a beacon of hope to
everyone that would make a big difference in their lives.

PART III. CONCLUSION

Major breakthrough, the NTF-ELCAC stated that the government's surrenderers

of over 24,000 communist rebels is proof that President Duterte administration's
"whole-of-nation approach" is working since its activation. We might be seeing and
hearing from news about the defunding and abolishment of the NTF-ELCAC by the
progressive group or the MAKABAYAN Bloc, it shows how effective the EO 70 is. It
should not be defunded. It should be sustained and supported. It has generally changed
a lot of lives. The war against insurgency has claimed countless lives and damaged
properties. To reiterate Sec Nograles, “We cannot have Peace and Order, if there is no
Socio-Economic Development, vice-versa.”

We need to inculcate in our minds Patriotism. We believe this is what our country
really needs. We often complain about what our government can’t provide us, but we
might not be doing our part as a Filipino. We must act and will start from ourselves; and
this act might lead us to our nation’s success. This nation’s success will be attained if
we would completely eradicate the long problem of Insurgency in our country. Thus,
True lasting peace will be realized by every Filipino.
 ATTACHMENTS/ DOCUMENTATION

A.

https://www.ntfelcac.org/about

B.
https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1131914
C.
https://ilocos.neda.gov.ph/rtf1-elcac-recommends-additional-beneficiaries-of-barangay-d
evelopment-program/#:~:text=During%20the%20meeting%2C%20the%2012,)%20Lega
l%20Cooperation%3B%208)%20Strategic

D. Part IV includes photos, certificates and other documents related to the

Topic/Presentation and/or documentation photos of exposure to the presentation.
F/T Kristella Mariz A Santosl/ 16 February 2024
Signature Over Printed Name / Date

F/T Leo Sedfrey S Selecio/ 16 February 2024

Signature Over Printed Name / Date

F/T Mohammad Saudi A Simpal/ 16 February 2024

Signature Over Printed Name / Date

F/T Mauris Anthoni C Solis/ 16 February 2024

Signature Over Printed Name / Date

F/T Leandri Mar L Tayan/ 16 February 2024

Signature Over Printed Name / Date

F/T Michael John M Tingson/16 February 2024

Signature Over Printed Name / Date

F/T Eden C Ubas/16 February 2024

Signature Over Printed Name / Date

F/T Arvin C Valencia/16 February 2024

Signature Over Printed Name / Date

F/T Liezl B Wee/16 February 2024

Signature Over Printed Name / Date

F/T Eric Van A Yurong/16 February 2024

Signature Over Printed Name / Date