Did VP Leni Robredo change her position on the abolition of the NTF-ELCAC?

Wazzup Pilipinas!?

The NTF ELCAC fund is being used as a milking cow to gather and maintain support of the LGUs.

Campaign fund.

An arm to red-tag government critics.

Should we abolish the NTF-ELCAC and switch to a parliamentary form of government; then legalize and consider all political parties and beliefs as long as they are peaceful; and address the root cause of insurgency?

When Vice President Leni Robredo attended AFP’s security briefing, from it she made a speech regarding her contradictory stand about the NTF-ELCAC.

Her spokesperson Barry Gutierrez said the Vice President still wants the task force abolished.

“NTF abolition does not mean an abandonment of the local development programs or the whole-of-nation approach. She's been very clear about that,” Gutierrez said.

From what I understand, she says she supports the mandate of NTF-ELCAC, which is to end the insurgency. But by addressing its roots and not through red-tagging.

However, did she went soft in that meeting? To give her the benefit of the doubt, perhaps that security briefing wasn't the proper venue to discuss the issues.

The OVP actually has the right formula in beating the insurgency. She's keeping the agency but will be replacing some parts to make it better at solving the root cause which is poverty.

It is her trying to get support from the military brass and talking to them in language they can understand and appreciate and will not immediately turn them hostile. 

Understanding where people are coming from goes both ways.

It's difficult to understand for simple-minded generals who have been indoctrinated. That's why we need to talk to them in a certain way.

She knows the problem, but she also needs to get these men on her side so she tells them what they want to hear.

When she's president, she can actually do something. For now she needs to consolidate support. It's a difficult thing to do with all the other candidates (who are ok with killing citizens) building alliances. 

This is where the bus vs taxi analogy in elections fits.

"Many thanks to our new AFP chief of staff, Lt. Gen. Andres Centino, and to the honorable men and women of the AFP Joint Staff for the insightful discussion that we had at today’s security briefing. 

Sa gitna ng maraming pagsubok na hinaharap ng ating bansa, masuwerte tayo na nananatiling matatag at tapat sa taumbayan ang ating sandatahang lakas.

I want to address the elephant in the room kasi I've been quoted so many times already that I'm for the abolition of NTF-ELCAC. 

And I want to emphasize today that I am all for the mandate and the functions of ELCAC. In fact, yung Barangay Development Fund, I think that's the best part of everything.

Paniniwala ko, talagang it is only through concepts like this that the problems of insurgency can be addressed upfront." 

VP Leni says the entire NTF-ELCAC  task force has been cast in a bad light because of “careless statements of some of the members.” 

"Ako mismo, I've been on the receiving end of unfair accusations. I've been red tagged and the red tagging has been baseless. Kaisa nyo ako sa pagsubok na masugpo ito (insurgency) by addressing the core of these problems, and the peripheral issues surrounding it."

Robredo says OVP has projects focused on some of the country’s poorest provinces. 

“And that's basically the main idea, [which is] really to work with LGUs to do projects that will address not just the social injustices but the inequality that's been happening." 

I believe VP Leni’s stance on the NTF-ELCAC did not change, she just stated it in a more diplomatic way in front of the AFP top brass.

VP Leni has the wisdom and candor to see merit when there is. She sees the positiveness of the goals of the NTF Bgy Devt Program. It mirrors Jesse's Participatory Governance Program minus the HR violations and red-tagging, blots that are mainly due to Esperon's direction.

The program was used to red-tagged groups/personalities/members of the opposition. The people behind the program based from Senate inquiries has mismanaged their funds since there were Barangays that have big number of surrenderies but didn't received any from NTF-ELCAC. 

There's too much to talk about this program. I think what VP @lenirobredo did was binuksan niya yung room for everyone to discuss. Para mag-usap ang mga stakeholders. Totoo naman kasi talaga, maganda ang program mali lang ang mga nag-implement. 

The mandate is always good but how they went about it is wrong. Instead of making it feel inclusive they are excluding people. 

I believe the above is the mandate & function of the NTF-ENLAC which the VP believes in. However, it does not abide by its mandate, That's problematic and should be addressed. 

In theory, it is almost perfect. But if you have shady leaders heading the agency, that is where the demons surface.

The "armed struggle" no longer serve a purpose in this time. Democracy was reinstated and our brothers at arm should think about leading their fight within the democratic fold of a duly constituted government and participate in a democratic process than fire a gun.

May issue against dito ang mga nasa loob mismo ng ilang government agencies na kasali sa implementation. Halos lahat ng work nila nakatali sa objectives ng NTF-ELCAC. Imbes na tutukan ang mandato nila, hindi na magawa kasi ang focus ay ang pagtugis sa mga rebelde gamit ang IP leaders.

I actually appreciate that there is more discussion about the NTF-ELCAC, kasi I don’t think that many people know what it’s all about. 

Maybe let’s give space for that discussion. Information about it will be useful. We have to trust Leni as our chosen candidate to have our best interests at heart.

Those attacking VP Leni on her statement on the NTF-ELCAC are either clutching at straws or are willfully lacking in comprehension. 

Has there been a rigorous study on how effective NTF-ELCAC's pork-like "development projects" have been in achieving development targets/goals?

This has to be clarified to people who do not understand politics.

Communism is counter-productive. The name itself incites violence. Maybe educate people about Communism in a non-elitist way. Karamihan kase ng nakakaalam ng komunismo napaka-pompous mag-explain.

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