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Private Schools Quit NTF-ELCAC to Protect Academic Freedom
The Coordinating Council of Private Educational Associations (COCOPEA), the largest private school network in the Philippines, has withdrawn from the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) after just three months of membership. The decision, made after consultations, was aimed at preserving academic freedom and focusing on education issues rather than insurgency concerns. COCOPEA’s involvement with NTF-ELCAC was controversial, with student groups criticizing the task force for its alleged militarization of schools and history of red-tagging activists. The United Nations (UN) and human rights groups have also called for the task force’s abolition, citing concerns over human rights violations and misuse of public funds.
MANILA, Philippines – The largest network of private schools in the country, the Coordinating Council of Private Educational Associations (COCOPEA), has formally ended its membership with the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) after just three months.
In a statement on February 2, COCOPEA explained that the withdrawal followed consultations with its members and a review of its core advocacies, emphasizing the need to uphold academic freedom. While the organization supports the goal of peace and development, it will now engage with NTF-ELCAC only through external dialogue rather than formal participation.
COCOPEA’s involvement with NTF-ELCAC sparked backlash from student groups, who accused the task force of red-tagging, militarizing schools, and violating human rights. Critics also pointed to cases of alleged harassment, including the abduction of activists Jhed Tamano and Jonila Castro in 2023.
Created in 2018 under former President Rodrigo Duterte, NTF-ELCAC has been accused of misusing funds and targeting legitimate activists. Reports from the Commission on Audit (COA) and the United Nations (UN) have called for its abolition, citing concerns over low fund utilization, incomplete documentation, and questionable projects.
Despite these criticisms, security officials continue to defend the task force’s role in counterinsurgency efforts.
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