The National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) on Monday said it respects the decision of the Coordinating Council of Private Educational Associations of the Philippines (COCOPEA) to withdraw from its Executive Committee, stressing that the group’s move is an “internal matter.”

On Sunday, COCOPEA announced its membership withdrawal from the NTF-ELCAC to preserve academic freedom. “COCOPEA’s withdrawal from the task force is of utmost significance in preserving the essentiality of academic freedom and the vital role it plays in a democratic society,” it said in a statement.

Despite this, NTF-ELCAC Executive Director Undersecretary Ernesto Torres Jr. said the task force will continue to engage with COCOPEA.

“While COCOPEA has opted to step back from formal membership, we acknowledge and appreciate their reaffirmed commitment to NTF-ELCAC’s mission of unity, peace, security, and socioeconomic development,” Torres said.

COCOPEA, on the other hand, said it remains “one with NTF-ELCAC’s mission” to achieve unity, peace, security, and socioeconomic development. “COCOPEA will continue to represent the private education sector in dialogues with the task force on matters that align with its goals and objectives,” it added.

Torres stressed that the NTF-ELCAC values its engagement with the private education sector, “especially in advancing academic freedom, countering radicalization and fostering an environment where education remains a pillar of peace and national development.”