THE COORDINATING Council of Private Educational Associations (Cocopea) has pulled out of its membership with the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-Elcac), citing the need to “preserve academic freedom.”
In a statement released Feb. 2, Cocopea, the largest network of private schools in the country representing at least 1,500 educational institutions, announced its departure from the government’s anti-insurgency task force after less than three months of membership.
“Recognized as the unifying voice of private education in the Philippines, 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,” the statement posted on Facebook read.
“Cocopea’s withdrawal from the task force is of utmost significance in preserving the essentiality of academic freedom and the vital role it plays in a democratic society,” it added.
In a controversial move, Cocopea joined NTF-Elcac in November 2024 to supposedly “elevate the quality of education” in the Philippines by fostering conducive learning environments, particularly in rural areas.
READ: Private schools group joins NTF-Elcac, says it wants to ‘protect students’
The move was met with backlash from student groups, which saw the partnership as a threat to academic freedom primarily due to the task force’s history of red-tagging.
“It is the NTF-Elcac’s attempt to enter private schools to threaten academic freedom and suppress critical thinking. These advances are further linked with the state’s larger scheme of militarizing schools around the country — both private and public,” 35 student progressive and political groups wrote in a Nov. 16 manifesto.
Then-Cocopea chair Fr. Albert Delvo told the Varsitarian that the task force had already shifted from a militaristic approach and was focusing on peace-building and unity.
Delvo added that Cocopea had established clear boundaries with NTF-Elcac before joining: no red-tagging, and there should be respect for academic freedom, human rights, and the protection of life, even of rebels.
Despite withdrawing, Cocopea said it would continue engaging with the task force on issues aligned with its goals
“While COCOPEA respectfully withdraws membership from NTF-ELCAC, it remains one with NTF-ELCAC’s mission to achieve unity, peace, security, and socioeconomic development,” the group said.
Responding to the withdrawal, NTF-Elcac Director Ernesto Torres Jr. on Feb. 3 said the task force respects Cocopea’s move and emphasized that it would remain open to collaborations in the future.
“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,” Torres said in a statement.
“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 added.
Toress reaffirmed NTF-Elcac’s commitment to pursuing a campaign against violent extremism and terrorist-grooming, especially in schools.
“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,” he said.
Cocopea is an umbrella organization of several associations: the Philippine Association of Colleges and Universities, the Association of Christian Schools, Colleges, and Universities, the Philippine Association of Private Schools, Colleges, and Universities, Unified TVET of the Philippines, and the Catholic Educational Association of the Philippines.
NTF-Elcac was established in 2018 under the Duterte administration to implement a “whole-of-nation approach” to achieving inclusive and sustainable peace.