‘Intelligence Funds Cannot Buy You Intelligence’; Congress Seeks To Defund NTF-ELCAC Over Pantry Profiling

Former senator Orlando “Orly” Mercado, who also served as defense secretary, bewailed National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) spokesperson Lt. Gen. Antonio Parlade Jr.’s handling of community pantry organizers, particularly Ana Patricia Non, saying armed rebellion could not be defeated by simply profiling or red-tagging people.

“It confirmed one of the lessons I learned as secretary of defense: intelligence funds cannot buy you intelligence. It can only buy you information,” Mercado told “Sa Totoo Lang” on One PH on Thursday night, April 22.

Mercado said Parlade and the NTF-ELCAC possibly linked Non and other community pantry organizers to communists because of the Marxist slogan, “From each according to his ability, to each according to his need,” or “Magbigay ayon sa kakayahan, kumuha batay sa pangangailangan.”

But Mercado stressed the most important thing for defense, military and police officials is to keep in mind the teachings of Sun Tzu – a Chinese general, military strategist, writer, and philosopher – in dealing with enemies.

“Know your enemy and know who you are,” Mercado said in Filipino.

He described Parlade’s pronouncements and actions as lacking in clear direction. “Napakalabo nung ginawa nila,” he said.

Mercado also noted he could not understand why Parlade would hit Non for becoming emotional after the profiling and red-tagging when these are serious matters.

The former defense chief saw nothing wrong with the use of the slogan of Karl Marx – a German philosopher, economist, historian, sociologist, political theorist, journalist and socialist revolutionary – because that is also practiced in government.

For instance, Mercado said the people who are not earning enough are not made to pay taxes. The individuals’ taxes are computed based on how much they earn, he added.

He explained that even the concept of the universal health care is socialist, the reason why the root causes of issues must be understood.

Mercado also warned that the statements of Parlade insulting Non and even chastising her for “crying” were dangerous in the sense that he could influence others, especially those who may not be in their right minds, to harm her.

Mercado reminded Parlade that he has a position in the military and a badge that he must honor.

“Maiiyak ka talaga ‘pag merong  heneral na may baril ‘yan, may organisasyon, may tsapa tapos eh  sinabing komunista ka, maraming may toyo sa utak dito babarilin ka na lang sa kalsada,” Mercado said.

The people are not the enemy but “poverty,” Mercado pointed out. He suggested that NTF-ELCAC funds be used instead for poverty alleviation.

He said the budget is so huge that it could make a big difference if distributed directly as cash aid to the people or used for vaccination in this time of the pandemic.

Mercado said what the people are doing “make us proud to be Filipinos” and that the ingenuity could really make anyone shed tears of joy.

“Maiiyak ka sa tuwa,” he added, noting that the Filipinos were intelligent enough to think about this as solution to the current problems rather than conduct street protests. Mercado underscored it would be better for people to help, or just keep quiet it they cannot.

Defund NTF-ELCAC, divert budget

Lawmakers from both the Senate and House of Representatives want the P19.1-billion budget of the NTF-ELCAC removed after Parlade likened Non and the community pantry initiative to Satan for giving free food to poor people affected by the pandemic.

In their Twitter accounts, Senators Joel Villanueva and Sherwin Gatchalian proposed that the 2021 NTF-ELCAC budget be instead be given as ayuda or assistance for the hungry and jobless, noting that the money is just going to waste with Parlade’s baseless red-tagging of community pantry organizers.

Gatchalian told Sa Totoo Lang that he does not know anyone involved in the community pantries in their area as members of the Communist Party of the Philippines and its armed wing, the New People’s Army.

Gatchalian said the statements of Parlade were so irresponsible he would not know where they are coming from.

With the many media interviews that he gave, Gatchalian emphasized that Parlade did not present evidence to back his pronouncements.

Gatchalian expressed belief that the people must be united in this time of the pandemic instead of being made to doubt an initiative like the community pantry and divide them.

He said the NTF-ELCAC must admit that there is a problem with its spokesperson and that he is not doing the organization any good. 

Sen. Nancy Binay suggested Parlade might be better in “contact tracing” efforts for COVID-19 than “profiling” while Sen. Panfilo Lacson said Parlade’s “Satan” remark is totally uncalled for.

Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon said he objected to the NTF-ELCAC budget from Day 1 but the bicameral body junked his amendment.

Drilon told “The Chiefs” on One News / TV5 on Thursday night that the funding for NTF-ELCAC could no longer be withdrawn because it’s already a law. But he said the budget could be realigned to other programs like vaccination, cash aid, among others.

Drilon sought clear accounting of the funds allocated for NTF-ELCAC.

Sen. Sonny Angara said Parlade is “becoming a liability to NTF-ELCAC” while Sen. Francis Pangilinan said the spokesperson “should remain silent because his baseless and out-of-place words are damaging the image” of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).

Sen. Risa Hontiveros supported her colleagues and filed Senate Resolution No. 705 calling the Senate to strongly condemn the harassment and red-tagging.

For his part, Senate President Vicente III defended the programs of NTF-ELCAC, but suggested that it replace its officials.

At the House of Representatives, the militant Makabayan bloc filed House Resolution No. 1723 asking the committee on human rights to probe the reported harassment and red-tagging of community pantry organizers. They also called for disciplinary action to be made against the NTF-ELCAC and Parlade.

“It has come out straight from the horse’s mouth that the anti-communist task force is engaged in profiling people involved in the community pantries. Their official Facebook page is also blatantly red-tagging this laudable initiative,” the group stressed.

Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU) also supported calls to defund the NTF-ELCAC. “Workers support the move to defund the NTF-ELCAC and it should be done right way. These funds can be better used as ayuda rather than harassing ordinary people. What we need is aid, not red-tagging,” KMU secretary general Jerome Adonis said in Filipino.

Let them bloom

Malacañang gave assurance on Thursday that government allows the setting up of more community pantries, as some organizers worry about their safety because of attempts to link them to communist rebels.

“As far as the community pantry is concerned, the position of the President is clear. The position of the DILG (Department of the Interior and Local Government) and PNP (Philippine National Police) is clear. Let a thousand community pantries bloom,” presidential spokesman Harry Roque said.

While supportive of community pantries, Malacañang opposed calls to defund the anti-insurgency body.

“I think the funds of ELCAC are for projects that spur development and progress in places where there are rebels. I think it is not justified,” Roque said.

Spare the AFP

AFP chief of staff Gen. Cirilito Sobejana distanced the military from Parlade’s controversial comments, saying that Parlade does not speak for the military.

Profiling is unlawful

Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said the profiling of community pantry organizers might be a violation of Republic Act No. 10173 or the Data Privacy Law. He also stated people being profiled could take legal recourse, depending on the type of complaint.

“There might be violations, possibly the Data Privacy Law, depending on the kind of personal data obtained without the consent of the person concerned, and the purpose for which the data was obtained,” Guevarra noted.

The National Privacy Commission (NPC) said it “denounces in the strongest terms any act of unjust profiling” of community pantry volunteers.

“We have always been firm in our stand that unjust profiling activities are unwelcome due to the risks it entails to our citizens, such as discrimination and stereotyping,” the NPC said.

Help the poor

Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) president and Davao City Archbishop Romulo Valles asked bishops, parish priests and church administrators to continue helping the poor amid the pandemic, as well as those affected by Typhoon Bising.

“Let us continue bringing food packs and other forms of assistance to them. We are happy to know that in recent days, in true bayanihan spirit, neighborhoods and communities have organized themselves to help needy families, especially with food and other basic necessities,” Valles said. – With Edu Punay, Mayen Jaymalin, Alexis Romero, Romina Cabrera, Evelyn Macairan, Rainier Allan Ronda, Robertzon Ramirez