Dialogue, Not Disinformation, Builds Peace: NTF ELCAC Statement on the New York Engagement

03 July 2026

The National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF ELCAC) welcomes every opportunity to speak with the international community and with Filipinos abroad on peace, security, democracy, and development. 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.

This week, a Philippine delegation joined the Fourth High-Level Conference of Heads of Counter-Terrorism Agencies at the United Nations, as part of our country’s steadfast commitment to global cooperation. The discussions dealt with real and urgent concerns—transnational terrorist networks, illicit financing, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, online influence, and community resilience. These shared challenges demand shared responsibility.

Perhaps even more significant was the chance to hold a dialogue with the Filipino community in New York. More than fifty community leaders and representatives took part in the engagement at the Philippine Consulate General Office. We discussed the National Action Plan for Unity, Peace and Development, the Barangay Development Program, the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (E-CLIP), the Amnesty Program, and the vital role of overseas Filipinos in advancing peace, good governance, and community resilience.

During the forum, a youth leader asked how the Filipino community can 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.

We were made aware that some groups tried to distort the purpose of the engagement—an unfortunate but unsurprising tactic. 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.

The Task Force maintains that dialogue should not be feared. Filipinos abroad deserve to hear directly from their government, to ask difficult questions, to disagree when they must, and to decide for themselves based on complete information. They also deserve to hear from former rebels, indigenous peoples, conflict-affected communities, victims of violence, and local leaders who know firsthand the cost of this conflict.

The Task Force remains firm in protecting democratic space, just as it is firm in confronting recruitment into armed violence, terror-grooming, coercion, and the exploitation of democratic freedoms to sustain violent extremism.

We thank the Filipino community leaders and members in New York who joined the discussion with openness and seriousness. 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.

The Philippines will continue to engage Filipino communities overseas and our partners in the international community 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.

USec Ernesto C Torres Jr

Executive Director

NTF ELCAC