The Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) strongly condemned President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s recent statement affirming that his administration will not abolish the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC), calling it a blatant disregard for human rights and justice.

“Marcos’ decision to keep NTF-ELCAC operational proves that his regime is bent on continuing the state’s campaign of terror and repression against farmers, rural communities, and progressive organizations,” said Ronnie Manalo, KMP Secretary-General and spokesperson of Tanggol Magsasaka. “NTF-ELCAC has long been used as a weapon to red-tag, harass, and intimidate farmers and peasant leaders who are fighting for genuine land reform and social justice. Its existence perpetuates a climate of fear and impunity in the countryside.”

Manalo underscored that the NTF-ELCAC has been at the center of numerous cases of illegal arrests, enforced disappearances, extrajudicial killings, and militarization of rural areas. “Instead of addressing the root causes of poverty and armed conflict, the government is using NTF-ELCAC to justify the violent suppression of legitimate dissent and peasant struggles,” Manalo added.

KMP reiterated its call for the immediate abolition of NTF-ELCAC and the reallocation of its multi-billion peso budget towards genuine agrarian reform and rural development. “The billions of pesos wasted on state terrorism should be redirected to provide farmers with land, support services, and social protection. The government should be investing in food security and agricultural development — not funding militarization and human rights violations,” the peasant leader stressed.

“The existence of NTF-ELCAC reflects the Marcos administration’s real priorities — protecting elite interests and suppressing the legitimate demands of farmers and rural poor,” Manalo said.

Based on Karapatan’s 2024 Human Rights Year-end Report, militarization and NTF-ELCAC activities impact farmers and peasant communities, harassment and threats continue as farmers and peasant leaders faced intimidation and were forced to attend “surrender ceremonies.” In 2024 alone, over 200 cases of threats, harassment, and intimidation against farmers were recorded and peasant communities resisting land grabs were targeted.

KMP and Tanggol Magsasaka vowed to intensify demands for the abolition of the NTF-ELCAC and to push for genuine agrarian reform and rural development. There can be no peace without justice — and there can be no justice while NTF-ELCAC continues to exist,” Manalo concluded. ###