The National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict defended its recent engagement with the Filipino community in New York, saying the government must continue opening spaces for dialogue on peace, security, democracy, and development amid what it described as disinformation surrounding its programs.
In a statement, the NTF-ELCAC said it welcomes opportunities to engage the international community and Filipinos overseas, especially as terrorism, violent extremism, and online radicalization increasingly cross borders.
“These conversations matter in a world where terrorism, violent extremism, and online radicalization now move across borders with ease. In this context, silence is not an option,” the task force said.
The statement came after a Philippine delegation attended the Fourth High-Level Conference of Heads of Counter-Terrorism Agencies at the United Nations, where discussions focused on transnational terrorist networks, illicit financing, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, online influence, and community resilience.
According to the NTF-ELCAC, the Philippines’ participation reflected the country’s continuing commitment to global cooperation in addressing security threats.
The task force said the delegation also met with more than 50 Filipino community leaders and representatives at the Philippine Consulate General Office in New York.
During the dialogue, participants discussed the National Action Plan for Unity, Peace and Development, the Barangay Development Program, the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program, the Amnesty Program, and the role of overseas Filipinos in promoting peace, good governance, and community resilience.
The NTF-ELCAC said one youth leader asked how Filipino communities could help prevent recruitment and radicalization.
“The delegation’s answer was clear: we need to strengthen youth engagement, support organizations that build rather than destroy, and encourage young people to take part in civic life. Activism is not the enemy; constructive activism is an essential part of democracy,” the task force said.
The NTF-ELCAC said it was also informed that some groups allegedly tried to distort the purpose of the engagement.
“When the government explains peace programs, they call it propaganda. When communities ask about recruitment, they label it red-tagging. When former rebels speak, they are dismissed instead of heard,” it said.
The task force maintained that dialogue should not be feared, saying Filipinos overseas deserve to hear directly from their government, ask difficult questions, disagree when necessary, and make their own decisions based on complete information.
It said Filipinos abroad also deserve to hear from former rebels, indigenous peoples, conflict-affected communities, victims of violence, and local leaders with firsthand knowledge of the impact of the conflict.
The NTF-ELCAC said it remains committed to protecting democratic space while confronting recruitment into armed violence, terror-grooming, coercion, and the exploitation of democratic freedoms to sustain violent extremism.
The task force thanked Filipino community leaders and members in New York who joined the discussion, while also recognizing the right of those who expressed disagreement outside the venue.
“We also recognize the right of those who expressed disagreement outside the venue, even though the disorderly conduct was unfortunate. While it would have been more productive had they chosen to attend the dialogue and engage in honest, peaceful discussion, that too is democracy at work,” it said.
The NTF-ELCAC said the Philippines will continue engaging Filipino communities overseas and international partners “with facts, transparency, and respect.”
“To our fellow Filipinos working abroad for their families, rest assured that the government is hard at work building a peace founded on listening, questioning, correcting falsehoods, protecting rights, and rejecting violence,” the task force said.