NSC denies NTF-ELCAC’s links to 2 missing youth activists

The National Security Council on Thursday challenged Human Rights watchdog Karapatan to provide proof that the government's anti-insurgency task force is behind the reported abduction of two youth activists involved in an anti-reclamation campaign in Bataan province.

NSC Assistant Director-General, Jonathan Malaya, insisted there was no way that the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict would do such an act.

"As if on cue, the alleged abduction of the two individuals has once again been blamed on the NTF-ELCAC, without any shred of evidence whatsoever," Malaya said in a statement.

According to Karapatan, Jhed Tamano, 22, and Jonila Castro, 21, have gone missing as of Monday.

Amador Cadano, Karapatan-Central Luzon spokesperson, cited accounts of witnesses that suspected armed men were seen forcing Tamano and Castro inside a gray Toyota Innova in front of the Orion Water District in Barangay Lati around 8 p.m. on 2 September.

"Before they went missing, the two reported being tailed by men wearing civilian clothes. The two stayed in Sitio Ormoc in Barangay Balut (also in Orion) for at least three days, consulting the community for a possible relief operation," Cadano said.

The group held state forces, the NTF-ELCAC, and the Marcos administration should be held "accountable for the enforced disappearance of Jhed and Jonila and all others who disappeared in the region and in the nation."

Malaya described this as a 'usual playbook' of the group saying, "The NTF-ELCAC is the convenient  scapegoat by this front organization for any alleged deficiency of government."

"We challenge Karapatan to come up with any evidence or proof of wrong-doing by the NTF ELCAC and submit the same to the Department of Justice for preliminary investigation," Malaya said.

Should there be no evidence be presented, Malaya said the group must let the Philippine National Police-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group do their job.

"If they have none, then they should let the PNP CIDG conduct its investigation rather than pointing fingers at the NTF ELCAC with complete disregard for the truth," he added.

The NSC serves as the vice chair of the anti-communist insurgency body.