COCOPEA exits NTF-ELCAC

COCOPEA's inclusion in NTF-ELCAC was first announced on 8 November 2024 by Undersecretary Ernesto Torres Jr.,  the task force's executive director. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. then approved the appointment, making the association one of its two private representatives and an official member.

Through the membership, NTF-ELCAC sought to “broaden the information awareness campaign” against “terror grooming” of organizations like the Communist Party of the Philippines New People's Army – National Democratic Front (CPP–NPA–NDF). COCOPEA represents over 1,500 private schools in the Philippines, composed of five national education associations: Association of Christian Schools, Colleges, and Universities (ACSCU); Catholic Educational Association of the Philippines (CEAP); Philippine Association of Colleges and Universities (PACU); Philippine Association of Private Schools, Colleges, and Universities (PAPSCU); and, Unified TVET of the Philippines (UniTVET). 

The membership created an uproar among progressive youth organizations, including Kabataan Partylist and several student councils, student publications, and student organizations affiliated with private educational institutions. These organizations questioned the gravity of COCOPEA’s mission statement and goals as an organization supposedly serving as the “unifying voice of private education.”

“We can’t empower children, youth, and students, as long as their schools are endangered from forces that seek to clip the wings of themselves, instead of guiding them how [sic] to fly and soar high,” said Rep. Raoul Manuel of Kabataan Partylist in his privilege speech on the inclusion of the association to the task force.

Urging the COCOPEA to withdraw its membership from the NTF-ELCAC, these organizations created a manifesto condemning its decision to join the national task force notorious for endangering several student activists and student leaders through red-tagging and disinformation. 

On Sunday, 2 February 2025, COCOPEA released an official statement announcing its membership withdrawal from the NTF-ELCAC after further consultation among its member associations.

In their statement, their withdrawal from the task force was necessary to preserve academic freedom and fulfill its role as a private education sector that seeks to promote, advance, and safeguard quality education in the country. 

Despite its withdrawal, COCOPEA remains one with NTF-ELCAC’s mission outside of a formal membership on matters that align with its goals and objectives. 

Several progressive youth organizations welcome the withdrawal of COCOPEA from the NTF-ELCAC but still push the council to sever ties completely.

“We urge COCOPEA to take this a step further by severing all ties with the NTF-ELCAC. Magmumukhang half-hearted ang pag-uphold natin ng academic freedom kung makikipagtulungan pa rin tayo sa pangunahing banta rito.” Manuel concluded in a separate statement.