(Photo courtesy: United Nations Multimedia Newsroom)
MANILA, (PIA) — A recent Viber survey conducted by the Philippine Daily Inquirer (PDI) has gained significant public attention and has indicated that UN Special Rapporteur Ian Fry was very likely misinformed when he called for abolishing the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC).
As of Friday, November 17, the said poll portal posted by a certain Noelyn Joy Matitu with the question: “Are you favor of dissolving the NTF-ELCAC amid alleged human rights controversies?”, votes cast as of 12 noon show 86.47% (5221 of 6038 votes) for those against and 13.53% (817 of 6038) for those in favor.
The survey results suggest that Dr. Fry made erroneous assumptions that led to his controversial recommendation against the task force, his stance conflicting with overwhelming public sentiment.
Moreover, the Viber poll highlights how he may have lacked accurate context when making statements about the NTF-ELCAC’s operations and impact. The Inquirer’s wide-reaching survey brings to light that Special Rapporteur Fry appears to have based his position on incomplete or flawed information about the body’s activities and the situation on the ground.
Fry’s remarks jolted government officials like National Security Council (NSC) Secretary Eduardo Ano, also the concurrent NTF-ELCAC vice-chairperson, to say that “Fry’s report must be deemed incomplete,” while Senator Ronald dela Rosa calls him, “one of the most misinformed foreigners to set foot in the country.” More so that National Youth Commission (NYC) Chairperson Undersecretary Ronald Gian Carlo Cardema calls on the government to declare Fry persona non grata in the country.
His remarks also drew public uproar and criticisms from civil society organizations, netizens and various government officials. The UN rapporteur is expected to submit his final report before the UN body by June 2024. During his press conference, he told the media his negative impressions about NTF-ELCAC’s alleged human rights violations with impunity.
NTF-ELCAC National Secretariat Executive Director Undersecretary Jun Torres Jr., during Thursday’s interview with DZMM, admitted that even his office was not informed about the presence of Fry in the country.
“To be honest about it, we’re just informed about his presence na in our country nung siya ay naglabas na ng kanyang mga statements…which is very unfair and very biased na maglabas siya ng ganung rekomendasyon,” he said.
Fry’s uncalled for statements have caused public uproar whose support for the NTF-ELCAC is outpouring.
Joel Sy Egco, also head of NTF-ELCAC’s media bureau Integrated Communications Office Center (ICOC), citing the media poll, chided Fry’s gross mistake in tainting the probity and integrity of the body which happened to be under the office President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. as the chairperson.
“The Filipino people have spoken; Mr. Fry should listen, correct his ill-informed initial impressions before drafting his final report. We urge him to do it right because it is the right thing to do,” said Egco.
Meanwhile, Usec. Torres echoed Ano’s offer for Fry to return to the country and have a dialogue with them and other relevant government agencies involved in the government’s “whole-of-nation, whole-of-participation” approach through the NTF-ELCAC in solving the root causes of the decades-old communist armed conflict in the country.
“We’re extending (our) invitation, bumalik po siya sa Pilipinas and he is very much welcome para po tayo magkadayalogo sa kanya,” he said.
Torres believed Fry apparently championed only one side while omitting the government’s noble cause on the other side.
He also downplayed Fry’s criticisms on the alleged involvement of the military in “extra-judicial killings” and many more accusations.
He said the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) has been consistently maintaining its position on top of surveys in terms of trust and confidence of the Filipino people.
Moreover, Torres underscored the importance of the NTF-ELCAC in nation-building by supporting and assisting government national and local agencies deliver basic social services especially to geographically isolated and disadvantage areas (GIDAS).
It can be recalled that the Task Force was created through Executive Order No. 70 in December 2018 during the time of former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte and rejuvenated by the current administration of President Marcos.
Since then from 89 NPA active guerrilla fronts, only one remaining in the Northern Samar area.
“There were 89 active guerrilla fronts all over the country. But right now, ang naiwan na lang po diyan ay 20 weakened guerrilla fronts,” Torres said.
He said they are confident the remaining weakened and the lone active will be all eliminated by the first quarter of next year.
“So if that happens, our focus in our campaign would now shift to attaining unity, peace and development. Siguro we will transition our campaign…focus more in establishing unity, lasting peace and inclusive development particularly doon po sa GIDAS,” he added. (PIA-NCR)
