The UN Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights in the context of climate change Ian Fry called for the disbandment of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC), which he called a “counter-insurgency force” within the Philippines.

In a press conference that was held after his ten-day trip to the Philippines, Fry stated that the NTF-ELCAC was a group that “operated with impunity” and that an independent investigation into the group’s operations was necessary. The trip, which was meant to assess how climate change is impacting the human rights of people in the Philippines began to focus on the NTF-ELCAC as several human rights groups have accused them in the past of using tactics such as “red-tagging” to further their agenda. 

The NTF-ELCAC was established in 2018 when it was set up by the executive orders of former President Rodrigo Duterte to allegedly combat Communism and terrorism. While the Special Rapporteur acknowledged that the origins and goals of the NTF-ELCAC were noble, he also commented that it has “Moved beyond its mandate” and that the most prudent move for the government to make would be the disbandment of the group.

The NTF-ELCAC has taken “strong exception to the call” and claims that it is working on an effective human rights solution to the issues that have been raised.