COCOPEA withdraws from NTF-ELCAC | ABS-CBN

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COCOPEA withdraws from NTF-ELCAC
COCOPEA withdraws from NTF-ELCAC
President Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos Jr. presides over the 5th National Task Force To End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) Executive Committee Meeting on Thursday, April 04, 2024 at Heroes Hall, Malacanang Palace. Yummie Dinging, PPA pool/File

MANILA — The largest group of private schools, colleges, universities, and technical and vocational education and training institutions in the country has withdrawn its membership from the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) in a bid to preserve its academic freedom.
MANILA — The largest group of private schools, colleges, universities, and technical and vocational education and training institutions in the country has withdrawn its membership from the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) in a bid to preserve its academic freedom.
In a statement posted Sunday, the Coordinating Council of Private Educational Associations (COCOPEA) said it has formally asked the President to withdraw the Council's membership from the NTF-ELCAC.
In a statement posted Sunday, the Coordinating Council of Private Educational Associations (COCOPEA) said it has formally asked the President to withdraw the Council's membership from the NTF-ELCAC.
“After further consultation among its member associations, and upon review of its core advocacies, COCOPEA has opted to strengthen its education initiatives by preserving its collaborative role outside of a formal membership in the NTF-ELCAC,” the Council said.
“After further consultation among its member associations, and upon review of its core advocacies, COCOPEA has opted to strengthen its education initiatives by preserving its collaborative role outside of a formal membership in the NTF-ELCAC,” the Council said.
“Recognized as the unifying voice of private education in the Philippines, the COCOPEA remains steadfast in its role as an independent non-government organization that represents the interests and concerns of the private education sector as it seeks to promote, advance, and safeguard quality education in the country,” it continued.
“Recognized as the unifying voice of private education in the Philippines, the COCOPEA remains steadfast in its role as an independent non-government organization that represents the interests and concerns of the private education sector as it seeks to promote, advance, and safeguard quality education in the country,” it continued.
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“As a council of education associations composed of diverse members from faith-based mission schools to nonsectarian schools, universities, colleges, and tech-voc institutes, COCOPEA's withdrawal from the task force is of utmost significance in preserving the essentiality of academic freedom and the vital role it plavs in a democratic society.”
“As a council of education associations composed of diverse members from faith-based mission schools to nonsectarian schools, universities, colleges, and tech-voc institutes, COCOPEA's withdrawal from the task force is of utmost significance in preserving the essentiality of academic freedom and the vital role it plavs in a democratic society.”
It said despite the withdrawal, the Council remains one with NTF-ELCAC's mission to achieve unity, peace, security, and socioeconomic development.”
It said despite the withdrawal, the Council remains one with NTF-ELCAC's mission to achieve unity, peace, security, and socioeconomic development.”
“COCOPEA will continue to represent the private education sector in dialogues with the task force on matters that align with its goals and objectives,” they said.
“COCOPEA will continue to represent the private education sector in dialogues with the task force on matters that align with its goals and objectives,” they said.
The NTF-ELCAC, meanwhile, said it respects the Council’s decision to withdraw from the Executive Committee, which they said is an internal matter.
The NTF-ELCAC, meanwhile, said it respects the Council’s decision to withdraw from the Executive Committee, which they said is an internal matter.
“While COCOPEA has opted to step back from formal membership, we acknowledge and appreciate their reaffirmed commitment to NTF-ELCAC’s mission of unity, peace, security, and socioeconomic development as COCOPEA itself stated in its statement,” NTF-ELCAC Executive Director Usec Ernesto Torres said in a statement.
“While COCOPEA has opted to step back from formal membership, we acknowledge and appreciate their reaffirmed commitment to NTF-ELCAC’s mission of unity, peace, security, and socioeconomic development as COCOPEA itself stated in its statement,” NTF-ELCAC Executive Director Usec Ernesto Torres said in a statement.
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“This distinction is crucial—withdrawal from the Execom is one thing, but continued collaboration is another. 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,” he continued.
“This distinction is crucial—withdrawal from the Execom is one thing, but continued collaboration is another. 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,” he continued.
NTF-ELCAC remains firm in its campaign against violent extremism and terrorist-grooming, “particularly the deceptive recruitment of young students into armed struggle. 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,” 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. 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,” Torres said.
“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,” he said.
“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,” he said.
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