Manila, Senator Ronald 'Bato' dela Rosa has criticized the visiting UN Special Rapporteur on human rights in the context of climate change, Ian Fry, for being "misinformed" about the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF ELCAC). Dela Rosa's remarks came in response to Fry's call for the abolition of NTF ELCAC based on allegations of violations against environmental human rights defenders.
According to Philippines News Agency, during the defense of the proposed 2024 budgets for the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace, Reconciliation and Unity (OPAPRU), Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB), and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) in the Senate, he expressed confusion over the criticism of NTF ELCAC. Dela Rosa maintained that NTF ELCAC is focused on good governance and delivery of basic services, not armed confrontation. He suggested that the UN rapporteur might have received incorrect information and did not consult with the government prior to making his call.
Dela Rosa confirmed that OPAPRU was not involved in Fry's visit and implied that the rapporteur's perspective might have been different had there been engagement with the government. This sentiment was in response to a query from Senator Francis Tolentino.
National Security Adviser Secretary Eduardo M. Año, concurrently the vice chairman of NTF ELCAC, also expressed strong objections to Fry's call. Año argued that Fry did not attempt to understand the mandate, operations, and objectives of NTF ELCAC by engaging with the body. He stressed that NTF ELCAC has contributed to peace and development, especially in indigenous cultural communities affected by climate change and extremism.
Año emphasized that without a thorough engagement with NTF ELCAC, Fry's report should be considered incomplete and lacking necessary context.
In the same session, Dela Rosa successfully defended the proposed 2024 budgets for OPAPRU, DDB, and PDEA, which amount to PHP7 billion, PHP334 million, and PHP4.07 billion, respectively. He also addressed questions regarding the integration of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front into society, the PHP70 billion block grant and Special Development Fund of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, and its unutilized funds.