NATIONAL Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon has found ways to ensure that the controversial spokespersons of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) would talk less.
Esperon’s solution — tapping more spokespersons, with each designated to speak on concerns covering what has been individually relegated to them.
In his capacity as NTF-ELCAC vice-chairperson, Esperon named six other spokespersons who would be working with Army Lieutenant General Antonio Parlade and Presidential Communications Operations Office Undersecretary Lorraine Badoy.
Parlade who has been retained as NTF-ELCAC spokesperson would be limited to security sector operations, while Badoy takes on social media affairs and sectoral concerns. The six other mouthpieces include:
- Interior and Local Government Undersecretary Jonathan Malaya for local government affairs, barangay development program, international engagement
- Presidential Human Rights Committee Secretariat Undersecretary Severo Catura for international affairs, peace process, human rights concerns
- Presidential Task Force on Media Security executive director Joel Egco for mass media engagements, fact-checker
- Metropolitan Manila Development Authority spokesperson Celine Pialago for NTF-ELCAC public affairs and information, youth concerns
- Atty. Marlon Bosantog for legal affairs, indigenous peoples’ concerns
- Gaye Florendo. for his part, is delegated assistant spokesperson on NTF-ELCAC public affairs and on indigenous peoples’ concerns
The announcement came weeks after original NTF-ELCAC spokespersons Parlade and Badoy were criticized by several quarters for statements linking community pantry organizers to the communist movement.
“The CPP-NPA is a multifaceted, multilayered [organization]. Just like the NPA, we have to cover everything,” Esperon said when asked to explain the need for additional spokespersons.
“The National Task Force is composed of practically all agencies of government. We are just drawing the support and pool of talents from all government agencies.”