Abolish NTF-ELCAC!
There is no genuine development where people are being persecuted
The Asia Pacific Coalition for Human Rights in the Philippine (APCHRP) strongly opposes National Anti-Poverty Commission Secretary Lope Santos III’s suggestion regarding the extension of the NTF-ELCAC Barangay Development Program (BDP). Under this program, it is said to address the challenges faced by people living in Geographically Isolated and Disadvantaged Areas (GIDAs) and to bring peace to provinces that are vulnerable to natural disasters and armed conflicts. But based on data from the Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey in March 2026, this is contrary to the recorded 52% of Filipino families who say they are poor. This number has grown further under Marcos Jr.’s tenure, from 12.2 million families in June 2022 to 14.5 million families in March 2026. Many of the villages in fur flang areas are also in dire straits.
“Since the establishment of the NTF-ELCAC, there has been an increase in militarization in the provinces, red tagging of human rights defenders, forced disappearances, extrajudicial killings, especially in provinces where the people have resistance against mining, plantation, so-called green energy project and land grabbing. There are also a number of fake surrenderees that are fabricated stories and cases from the ranks of the military” Sis. Patricia Fox, APCHRP spokesperson said.
“The Marcos Jr. administration’s implementation of the National Action Plan for Unity, Peace and Development (NAP-UPD) is not for peace but it has exacerbated the attacks on the people.” Sis. Patricia Fox added.
The counter-insurgency of US-Marcos Jr. regime, killed and displaced many civilians mostly farmers due to its reckless area bombing, indiscriminate firing etc. in countryside like the recent case of Toboso massacre in Negros on April 19, 2026 where 9 of the 19 killed in the alleged encounter between the 79th Infantry Battalion of the Philippine Army and the New Peoples’ Army (NPAs) were civilians. The civilians included University of the Philippines students Alyssa Alano and Maureen Keil Santuyo, poet and journalist RJ Nichole Ledesma of Paghimutad-Negros, community researcher Errol Wendel, and American activists Lyle Prijoles and Kai Dana-Rene Sorem.
This kind of violation of human rights is also a direct attack on the right of press freedom and the pursuit of peace based on justice. That is why the APCHRP fully supports the democratic struggle of the Filipino people against US-Marcos Jr. tyranny and fascism.
“The APCHRP reiterates the calls to Abolish NTF-ELCAC and allocate its funds to address the long standing demand of the Filipino people for genuine agrarian reform, job security, food security, basic social services such as education & health care, environmental protection etc. There is no genuine development if the root causes of armed conflict remain untouched and people are living harassed and persecuted. The Barangay Development Program (BDP) which used state fascism and source of corruption only emboldens bureaucrat capitalism depriving the Filipino people to live justly and humanely.” Sis. Patricia Fox concluded.###
