NATIONAL DAY OF ACTION AGAINST STATE TERROR: STATEMENT OF THE UPD UNIVERSITY FRESHIE COUNCIL

ABOLISH NTF-ELCAC!

This National Day of Action Against State Terror, we, the UPD University Freshie Council, call for the abolishment of the NTF-ELCAC!

Contrary to its name which calls to end local armed conflict, the NTF-ELCAC remains notorious for their history of red-tagging of students and activists who voice dissent against the atrocities of the Duterte administration. Even with their slashed P4-billion budget for 2022, this remains too lavish of an amount for an organization that instills fear and violence instead of peaceful dialogues to resolve the decades of insurgency in the country.

These heinous acts, which are the manifestations of state terror and outright extension of the administration’s authoritarian response to critical thinking, free speech, and armed conflict are vehemently condemned by the UPD UFC. More than defunding, we demand that the NTF-ELCAC be abolished entirely, and we emphasize the importance of a conflict-free strategy through peaceful dialogues. Alongside the Freshies, Shiftees, and Transferees ng Bayan, let us stand firm against state terror and preserve the protection of basic human rights!