About P16 billion of the P19-billion 2021 budget for the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-Elcac) was allocated for the development of 800 barangays around the country that had been “freed” of communist rebel influence. Hontiveros made the statement on Tuesday after the hearing on the alleged Red-tagging by the task force of members of the Makabayan bloc in the House of Representatives and some celebrities. But if the task force can be the source of these funds, “our economic managers should not hesitate to entertain this suggestion,” he said. Drilon for defundingSenate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon also supported defunding the task force and channeling the money to housing and disaster response. The group was represented in the Senate hearing by lawyer Maneeka Sarza.

Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer November 03, 2020 21:22 UTC