NTF-Elcac denies P8.08-B barangay funds are ‘reward for peace’

MANILA, Philippines — The National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-Elcac) on Thursday pushed back against criticism from Catholic groups, denying claims that a proposed P8.08 billion allocation for conflict-affected barangays was a discretionary fund or a “reward for peace” tied to counterinsurgency efforts. The task force said the amount refers to the Barangay