President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has dismissed calls to abolish the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC).

This was in response to clamors made by progressive groups after the Supreme Court ruled that red-tagging, a practice linked to NTF-ELCAC, is a threat to people's life, liberty, and security. 

"Wala namang dahilan kung bakit natin tatanggalin 'yan," said the president in an interview in Cagayan de Oro.

"Ang sinasabi meron daw red tagging na ginagawa. Hindi naman gobyerno ang gumagawa noon eh. Eh sino sino ba ang gumagawa non? yong bureaucracy."

In a 39-page decision, the Supreme Court said that being associated with communists makes a red-tagged person a target of vigilantes, paramilitary groups or even state agents. 

This has prompted human rights groups to demand for the abolition of the NTF-ELCAC. 

Abolishing NTF-ELCAC at this time 'irresponsible': NSC

Since its establishment in 2018 during the Duterte administration, the task force has persistently red-tagged activists, indigenous leaders, and journalists. 

But Marcos said the task force has done a good job cutting down 'internal security threats" by helping the impoverished in the barrio level.

"'Yung sinasabing dating lumalaban sa pamahalaan ay imbis na nilalabanan natin tinutulungan natin at malaki ang epekto dito sa pagbawas ng mga internal security threat dahil sa NTF ELCAC," he said.

"Ang pinakamabilis na sagot dyan ay no, hindi namin itigil."

 Marcos said the task force still has goals to fulfill.

SC recognizes danger of 'red-tagging,' says may justify writ of amparo

"Tatapusin namin may iilan pang mga barangay na hindi pa natpos. May iilan pa na mga returnees na hindi pa nabigyan ng tulong kaya hindi kaya nakakuha ako ng report kanina,kaya tatapusin namin yun bago natin pag isipan galawin ang ELCAC pagka hindi na kailangan," he said.

"Sa ngayon kailangan pa." - with reports from Merlyn Manos