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COCOPEA pulls out of NTF-ELCAC execom

February 3, 2025 Chona Yu 105 views

THE National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) acknowledges and respects the decision of the Coordinating Council of Private Educational Associations of the Philippines (COCOPEA) to withdraw from the Executive Committee.

COCOPEA announced its departure from the NTF-ELCAC executive committee (execom) citing its intention to preserve academic freedom among its student communities.

NTF-ELCAC Executive Director Ernesto Torres said that this is an internal matter for COCOPEA.

Torres said the NTF-ELCAC will continue its collaboration with COCOPEA.

“The task force values its engagement with the private education sector, especially in advancing academic freedom, countering radicalization, and fostering an environment where education remains a pillar of peace and national development,” Torres said

“NTF-ELCAC remains firm in its campaign against violent extremism and terrorist-grooming, particularly the deceptive recruitment of young students into armed struggle,” Torres added.

COCOPEA formally asked President Marcos to withdraw its membership from NTF-ELCAC.

“We believe that schools should be centers of learning, free from exploitation by radical and extremist elements who prey on the idealism of youth to push their destructive agendas. Moving forward, we will continue close engagements with COCOPEA and all educational institutions that share our vision of safe, secure, and development-oriented learning spaces for all Filipino students,” Torres said.

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