Despite checkpoints by the Philippine Army and threats by a paramilitary group that it will kill attendees, thousands of members, supporters and invited guests attended the grand Communist Party of the Philippines 47th founding anniversary celebrations in Northeastern Mindanao last December 26.
Here is a video of the singing of the communist hymn “Ang Internasyunal” led by a company of New People’s Army fighters.
National Democratic Front of the Philippines-Mindanao spokesperson Jorge “Ka Oris” Madlos delivers their statement on the 47th founding anniversary of the Communist Party of the Philippines.
Madlos says the New People’s Army in Mindanao has doubled its tactical offensives against the Armed Forces of the Philippines from 250 in 2010 to more than 500 in 2015 as the Benigno Aquino administration is about to end. He also announced that the NPA has increased its guerrilla fronts from 40 in 2010 to 46 in 2015. Furthermore, NPA operations has increased from 1,850 barrios in 2010 to 2,500 barrios in 2015.
Madlos did not attend the anniversary celebrations held in Kitcharao, Agusan del Norte because of the heavy military presence in the adjacent Zapanta Valley. Philippine Army checkpoints did not deter the thousands of guests from attending the celebrations, however.
The Internationale. Part of a company of NPA guerrillas presenting arms as they sing the communist hymn “Ang Internasyunal” at the start of the CPP’s 47th founding anniversary.
Kitcharao, AGUSAN DEL NORTE—The Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) further gained strength despite more than five years of brutal counter-insurgency operations by the Benigno Aquino government, a top rebel leader said during their 47th founding anniversary celebrations in this town last December 26.
National Democratic Front of the Philippines-Mindanao spokesperson Jorge ‘Ka Oris’ Madlos said that the New People’s Army (NPA) now has six more guerilla fronts from 40 at the start of the Aquino administration in five regions of Mindanao.
Madlos added that the NPA’s operations in Mindanao now cover 2,500 barrios from 1,850 five years ago.
“These ever expanding and deepening bases render great advantage to the NPA’s maneuver, the launching of tactical offensives (TO), the recruitment of Red fighters, the implementations of widespread agrarian revolution and the launching of mass struggles,” Madlos in a video message said.
A company of uniformed guerillas presented arms while the communist hymn “Ang Internasyunal” was sung to start a three-hour program marked with speeches, songs and skits that delighted the thousands of supporters, well-wishers and guests who attended the event.
The fact that a single NPA Front can organize and successfully hold a big public event despite threats and harassments by the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Magahat paramilitary group is proof that Oplan (Operation Plan) Bayanihan 1 and 2 have failed, Guerilla Front 16 spokesperson Ka Utok said.
Uniformed and fully armed. A platoon of red fighters in their uniform and high-powered arms such as AK-47s and M-16s with grenade launchers. They say most of their guns were won through victorious battles with Philippine government forces.
Threats and harassments
Government troops set up checkpoints on roads leading to the venue of the celebrations but were ignored by convoys of vehicles carrying visitors to the guerrillas’ celebrations.
More than a dozen journalists also covered the event despite threats by the Magahat paramilitary group that they would kill those who will cover the anniversary celebrations.
In a press conference after the main program, Utok and Front 16 political officer Ka Edroy condemned threats made by Magahat leader Loloy Tejero as part of a single act by the paramilitary group, the Philippine Information Agency and the Aquino government.
“It was the PIA who disseminated Tejero’s threat to kill journalists who will cover our celebrations and it is proof they are colluding in this criminal act,” Ka Edroy said.
Philippine Army public information officer Col. Benjamin Hao however belied the NPA’s accusation as well as claims of increased strength and influence.
Loved and welcomed. A cultural presentation showing how the NPA guerillas are welcomed and loved by the masses.
No SOMO violations by Philippine Army
“The threat of the Magahats, if it is true, is of their own doing. We do not have anything to do about it,” Hao said.
“If journalists have problems on that, we will provide necessary assistance if they request from us, the PNP (Philippine National Police) or they can file an appropriate case,” Hao added.
The government army spokesperson belied their checkpoints were directed against the NPA and their supporters. He said no operation is conducted to violate the suspension of military operations (SOMO) with the NPA. The checkpoints, Hao claimed, were for the tower posts of the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP).
There were no reports of NGCP towers under threat of attack in Kitcharao town where the NPA held their celebrations, however.
A big celebration. A huge crowd of supporters, well-wishers and guests attended the anniversary celebrations despite being organized and hosted by a single NPA front, the Guerilla Front 16 in Agusan del Norte and Surigao del Norte. Insiders say GF 16 now has at least five full-sized companies.
AFP records
Hao also dismissed Madlos’s statements as “highly exaggerated”.
He said that based on AFP records, the NPA strength of 2,035 has gone down to 1,691 followers this year. He added that the NPA’s most significant decline is in the number of their guerilla fronts, which used to be 29 but is now down to 24.
Hao said further that out of the 547 NPA-influenced barangays, it is now down to 413. On firearms count, he said the NPA lost 101 firearms this year. “They also lost a lot of leaders, especially Commander Parago,” Hao added.
“These are contrary to what are being claimed by the NPA spokesman of Mindanao (Madlos)…So wherever he got his number, he is now accountable to his boss in The Netherlands,” Hao said, referring to CPP founder Jose Maria Sison.
Huge crowd. Part of the crowd who braved the difficult trek up and down the mountainous village, Philippine Army checkpoints and the Magahat threat of murder against attendees.
Festive mood
Despite threats by the Magahat and the presence of checkpoints on roads leading to the venue, the celebrations started on time this year.
To the delight of the crowd, the performers did not mind rolling on the ground rendered muddy by the intermittent rains.
Unlike last year, tents were put up to protect the crowd from the sun and the rain.
Before lunch time, dozens of lechon (whole roast pig) arrived strapped on “skylab” motorcycles that were served with fried chicken and rice.
Youthful NPA fighters took over the stage and sang as their guests started trekking back down to the main roads at around two in the afternoon.
On spots along the mountain roads, skylabs laden with big canisters were parked and ice cream was offered for free to the visitors.
The Philippine Army checkpoint at the corner of the provincial road and the national highway was gone by the time the main body of the attendees made their way back home. # (News and photos by Raymund B. Villanueva)
Ready to fight. While saying the Magahat group is not present in their area, Guerilla Front 16 said they are willing to face the paramilitary and the Philippine Army if they dared to disrupt their celebrations.
Ka Edroy, political officer of the New People’s Army’s Guerrilla Front 16 in Agusan del Norte, was among the leaders of today’s public celebration of the Communist Party of the Philippines’ 47th anniversary.
About three thousand supporters and invitees braved the difficult terrain, intermittent rains and Philippine Army checkpoints to attend one of the rebels’ year’s biggest events.
The CPP and the NPA condemned threats made by the paramilitary group Magahat through one of its leaders Loloy Tejero earlier they will kill journalists who will cover the event.
“The fact that it was the Philippine Information Agency which spread the criminal threat against journalists by the bandit group Magahat shows that they are working together on this,” the guerrilla said.
He also condemned the AFP for putting up checkpoints on roads leading to the celebration site.
“They violate their own ceasefire declarations, because they should stay inside their camps and let the people attend our celebrations,” Edroy said.
The event ended at two o’clock with much singing led by the guerrillas themselves.
Agusan Del Norte
December 26, 2015
REVOLUTIONARY ORGANIZATIONS under the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) staged a “lightning rally” as world leaders are due to arrive in the country for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit starting Monday.
Hundreds of revolutionaries marched on Manila’s crowded downtown area to condemn APEC as an imposition on poor countries like the Philippines.
“(We) vigorously condemn the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) as an imperialist instrument of plunder and greed,” the NDFP National Council said in a statement.
“The Filipino people have long suffered under the economic policies and multilateral agreements aggressively pushed by the APEC which have only ensured the interests of the advanced capitalist economies, especially that of the United States,” the underground alliance said.
Police officers in the area were caught flat-footed by the swift mobilization, which proceeded to march from the Carriedo area and dispersed at the corner of Recto Avenue and Quezon Boulevard.
The Benigno Aquino government has been implementing street-clearing operations and raising security alerts as it welcomes heads of states from dozens of countries, including United States president Barack Obama.
The revolutionaries distributed leaflets and painted slogans on walls as many of bystanders—mostly ambulant vendors—cheered from the sidelines.
The NDFP and its allied organizations are waging a “national democratic revolution” for nearly five decades, said to be the longest running revolution in Asia. #
Press Statement
7 September 2015
9:15 pm
After 18 months in jail, Andrea Rosal, worthy daughter of a worthy father, is finally and rightfully free again.
Her freedom is due to the resolute legal battle and campaign, no thanks to this government which inhumanly refuses or ignores pleas for compassion and humanitarian cries.
She has proven that all charges against her were false, pernicious. This malicious persecution has lost her precious time, cost her a child, and brought deep anguish to her family.
Would she have been subject to all this had she been moneyed and influential? Would she have been arrested had she been someone else’s daughter? It is indeed cruel injustice to incarcerate her on mere filial affiliation.
This is proof still how slow and frustrating – like traffic in EDSA – the justice system can be.
Impunity for rights violations persists because patent trumped up charges ripen into court cases that takes eons to resolve and demands tedious, cumbersome legal disentanglement.
All those responsible for her misery must be made to account and restitute the irreparable damage to her and her dead baby daughter. Else, justice will come at the right time.
Reference:
Atty. Maria Kristina Conti
NUPL Asst. SecGen for Campaigns
09175393139
Atty. Edre U. Olalia
NUPL National Secretary General
09175113373
PART I
TUNGKOL SA ELEKSYONG PRESIDENSYAL SA 2016
Panayam kay Prof. Jose Maria Sison
ni Prof. Sarah Raymundo ng CONTEND-UP
September 4, 2015
1. Sa pangkalahatan, ano po ang palagay ninyo sa mga eleksyong itinatanghal ng kasalukuyang naghaharing sistema? Tinutulutan ba nito ang pagpapahayag ng kapasiyahang pampulitika ng mga mamamayan at nagbubunga ba ito ng paghalal ng mga opisyal na lulutas sa mga suliranin ng mga mamamayan? Maiiba ba ang 2016 na eleksyong presidensyal sa mga nakaraang halalan?
JMS: Ang mga eleksyong itinatanghal ng kasalukuyang naghaharing sistema ng malalaking komprador at panginoong maylupa na masunurin sa imperyalismong US ay hindi lubusang nagpapahayag ng kapasiyahan ng mga mamamayan at hindi rin nakakapaghalal ng mga opisyal na makakapaglutas sa mga saligang suliraning kaugnay ng paghaharing dayuhan, lokal na pyudalismo at burukrata kapitalismo
Dominado ang mga eleksyon ng mga pampulitikang personalidad at partido na kinatawan ng malalaking komprador at panginoong maylupa, at sa totoo nagpupwera sa mga makabayan at progresibong kinatawan ng mga manggagawa at magsasaka. Kabilang sa mga paraang pampwera ang pagmamatyag at iba pang pananakot ng pulis at militar; mga kampanya ng paninira sa mga pahayagan, iskwelahan at simbahan; kakulangan sa perang pangkampanya; at pagmanipula sa sistema sa pagboboto sa halalan, elektroniko man ito o hindi.
Tiyak na hindi maiiba ang darating na eleksyong presidensyal sa mga nakaraang halalan at maiiiba lamang ito sa ilang aspeto, gaya ng wala pang katulad sa laki ng pondong publiko sa pangangampanya at panunuhol sa mga lokal na opisyal; at antemanong pagprograma ng resulta ng eletronikong sistema para sa eleksyon. Kung gayon, maraming kinakabahan na si Mar Roxas ang mananalo bilang presidente sa pamamagitan ng pandaraya. Tanyag ang mapang-uyam na pagyayabang ni Aquino na ang tanging kailangan ay likhain ang ilusyon na umarangkada siya pataas sa poll survey at bahala na ang mga mekanismo sa pandaraya sa eleksyon.
2. Itinataguyod pa ba ng Partido Komunista ng Pilipinas (PKP) ang patakarang ituring ang eleksyon bilang komedyang di-makatotohanan at hindi nag-eendorso ng alinman sa mga partido at kandidato? Gayunman, bakit nais ng ilangmga partido at kandidato na makuha ang pahiwatig o hayag na endorso ng PKP at ninyo bilang pangulong tagapagtatag ng PKP?
JMS: Ipinapakita ng lahat ng mga pahayag at publikasyon ng Partido Komunista ng Pilipinas tungkol sa mga eleksyon na itinuturing ng rebolusyonaryong partidong ito ng uring manggagawa na komedyang di makatotohanan ang eleksyong itinatanghal ng mga reaksyonaryong uri para likhain ang ilusyon ng demokrasya at linlangin ang mamamayan.
Hindi lumalahok ang partido sa mga ganitong eleksyon at hindi rin nag-eendorso sa mga reaksyonaryong partido at kandidato at kahit na sa makabayan at progresibong maliliit na partido na puedeng tatakang komunista ng kanilang mga kalaban.
Ilang partido at kandidato ang aktibong nagnanais ng lantad o lihim na endorso ng PKP dahil sa malaking rebolusyonaryong baseng masa nito. Itinuturing nilang higit na malaki pa ang baseng ito kaysa mga botanteng kasapian ng Iglesia ni Kristo. Sa totoo, ang baseng masa ng PKP kung mahihikayat sa batayang nagkakaisang hanay, ay maaring maging mas malaki pang swing vote na pabor o kontra sa alinmang partido o kandidato.
Kung minsan, may mga partido at kandidato na nagnanais na kunin ang aking endorso o pagsuporta dahil sa aking makasaysayang panunungkulan bilang pangulong tagapagtatag ng PKP. Subalit ang PKP at mga namumunong organo nito ang siyang nagpapasiya tungkol sa mga eleksyon at sa paglalapat ng patakarang nagkakaisang hanay. Laging maingat at maayos kong sinasabi na hindi ako bilang indibidwal kundi ang PKP ang siyang nagpapasiya . Gayunman, bilang indibidwal, malaya akong nagpapahayag tungkol sa eleksyon nang hindi nagsasalita para sa PKP o alinmang ibang organisasyon.
The National Democratic Front of the Philippines celebrated its 42nd Anniversary with a grand celebration at the University of the Philippines in Quezon City today.
It was attended by NDFP Negotiating Panel Chairperson Luis Jalandoni, Panel Member Connie Ledesma, several consultants and hundreds of members, allies and friends.
The NDFP highlighted the growth of its membership to 18 allied organizations in speeches by Prof. Jose Maria Sison, NDFP Mindanao Spokesperson Jorge ‘Ka Oris’ Madlos, Benito Tiamzon, Wilma Austria and its detained consultants.
Cultural presentations further enlivened the program with songs and dances.
The NDFP is the umbrella organization of underground and revolutionary organizations waging a national democratic revolution in the Philippines in the last 46 years.
Bahay ng Alumni, University of the Philippines
Quezon City, Philippines
April 25, 2015
Revolutionary organizations call for Aquino’s ouster and intensification of people’s war
Led by the Communist Party of the Philippines, NDFP’s allied organizations are the New People’s Army, Revolutionary Council of the Trade Unions, Pambansang Katipunan ng mga Magbubukid, Katipunan ng mga Samahang Manggagawa, Kabataang Makabayan, Makabayang Kilusan ng Bagong Kababaihan, Makabayang Kawaning Pilipino, Christians for National Liberation, Katipunan ng mga Gurong Makabayan, Artista at Manunulat para sa Sambayanan, Makabayang Samahang Pangkalusugan, Liga ng Agham para sa Bayan, COMPATRIOTS, Lupon ng Manananggol para sa Bayan, Moro Resistance and Liberation Organization and the Cordillera People’s Democratic Front.
Quezon City, Philippines
April 24, 2015
Open letter to nationalist, pro-people AFP and PNP troops
OPEN LETTER
By OMAR IBARRA
Spokesperson, NPA Western Agusan Norte-Agusan Sur Subregional Command
26 February 2015
Warm greetings!
The recent turn of events challenges you to make a stand.
The near-annihilation of the 84th SAF-PNP troops in Maguindanao shows the division and dissension of your ranks in the Armed Forces of the Philippines and and Philippine National Police. This is how it
happened: under US orders for the capture of an alleged terrorist
under the framework of its “war on terror”, your commander-in-chief, Benigno Aquino III, violated your chain of command and all due processes, through a faction of generals led by General Purisima.
Despite the ongoing ceasefire and peace negotiations between the
government of the Republic of the Philippines and the Moro Islamic
Liberation Front, Aquino ran over all agreements to implement the US
orders. Now, he and his officials exhaust all efforts to wash their
hands of culpability after wasting the lives of 44 SAF personnel.
This incident clearly indicates the ineptness of your commander-in-chief in mobilizing your forces. He only complies with the dictates of his imperialist master and his local instigators. Now it has resulted in endless bickering and finger-pointing among military and civilian officials, and has undermined the morale of the whole organization of AFP and PNP.
Even in areas of the New People’s Army, particularly here in Front
88, Aquino uses you under the design and in furtherance of the
interests of US imperialism and local ruling classes.
You are aware that the AFP and PNP brings, not genuine peace and
development, but terrorism to our area in order to pave the way for
the entry of the foreign company, Metro Luxury Mining.
Aside from combat operations, your psy-war and intelligence activities under COPD have intimidated the lumad and peasant masses here. They are further terrorized by the activities of your counterrevolutionary paramilitary groups such as Bagani Force in La Paz, Loreto and San Luis, and Wild Dogs or BULIF in Esperanza and Las Nieves. These have resulted in the forced evacuation of families in their hundreds in a score of communities in San Luis, for several weeks now. Can you then say that you are waging a war against terrorism when your government itself sows terror against the people in furtherance of foreign economic interests?
We are aware that most of you, like us, come from the poor classes,
and that you are only forced to become soldiers and policemen because of the lack of better employment opportunities so you can feed your families. It must be made clear, however, that your service only
benefits a few foreign and local exploiters, while you suppress the
just struggle of the poor.
While you are being used as pawns in this war, you are also used by
your senior officials in enriching themselves. Taking for instance the so-called modernization programs of AFP and PNP. Have you benefited from the billions of pesos of funds allocated for these? Are you aware of the modus operandi concerning the Balik-Baril program where higher military officials pocket most of the funds allocated for fake NPA surrenderees and recycled firearms?
Despite the massive defeat in Maguindanao, should you trust your lives to Aquino as commander-in-chief after he denied culpability in such failure and failed to express sympathy to the families and loved ones of those killed?
Aquino has a lot to answer for, not only to you soldiers and policemen but to the whole Filipino people who are victimized by US imperialism’s economic and political aggression. His puppetry to
foreign interests and dictates, as well as his state terrorism against his own people, gives a push to intensifying calls for his ouster from Malacañang.
While the movement for the ouster of Aquino rages, we appeal to your
nationalist and humanitarian stand. You have a significant role in the removal of an inept president from power as exemplified by your
withdrawal of support from Marcos and Estrada. Arroyo, on the other
hand, was almost ousted when soldiers and policemen mutinied against massive corruption, violence and fraudulence.
Thus we encourage you to take the side of the broad people, especially the poor, against the trampling of our integrity and dignity as Filipino people by US imperialism. While you are serving the reactionary government, we implore you to avoid abusing the human rights of the masses, respect the people’s call for the withdrawal of COPD troops and their struggle against CADC and big mining and other foreign corporations.
Most importantly, you should make a stand and make common cause with the people’s call for the ouster of your commander-in-chief, Benigno Aquino III.