CPP refutes BBM’s claim of zero NPA units left
The Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) dismissed as “utterly farcical” President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s claim that there are no more guerilla groups in the country, saying the New People’s Army NPA are persevering in their armed resistance.
In a quick reaction to Marcos’ fourth State of the Nation Address on Monday, the revolutionary party said it refutes the president’s claim, adding the NPA still enjoy “deep and wide support of the people in the countryside.”
Marcos’ claims are directly contradicted by his own actions, CPP chief information officer Marco Valbuena said, adding: “Despite repeated announcements that the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) will now focus on ‘external defense,’ majority of its combat battalions remain deployed against the guerrilla fronts of the NPA across the country,”
“He is fooling only himself with these farcical claims,” Valbuena added.
Marcos announced in his address that no active guerrilla group remains in the country.
“At last, there are no remaining guerilla groups in the country. The government will ensure that they won’t be able to recover,” he said.
He also directing concerned government agencies to sustain counter-insurgency efforts, focused on preventing the emergence of new rebel groups.
The CPP however Marcos’ “grand declaration” of having crushed revolutionary guerilla forces will explode in face.
“Like all previous regimes who declared they will crush the NPA, Marcos and his armed forces are bound to fail. History will prove Marcos utterly wrong,” Valbuena said.
New generation of fighters
After abandoning peace negotiations with the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) in 2017, the Manila government has since launched brutal military campaigns against the NPA nationwide.
Manila had been utilizing modern armaments against the NPA such as newly-acquired jet fighters, 500-pound bombs, drones, attack helicopters, howitzers, artillery, modern rifles and combat gear in suspected revolutionary strongholds.
This resulted in repeated claims by both Malacanang and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) that the NPA shall have been a spent force at every year’s end since 2022.
Deadlines for the NPA’s annihilation has since been adjusted every year until Marcos Jr.’s claim yesterday of zero guerilla unit left.
But the CPP said NPA units have in fact reorganized and redeployed since 2017 to deepen and widen its roots among the people.
“A new generation of young Red fighters continues to slowly rise among workers, peasants and petty-bourgeois intellectuals,” who will bring their armed revolution forward, Valbuena said.
“They are imbued with an indefatigable spirit to fight and defeat the enemy, however monstrous and oppressive,” he added.
The CPP spokesperson also added that Marcos’ claim is a virtual declaration ending prospects of peace negotiation with the NDFP.
‘Impoverishment breeds revolution’
The NDFP also dismissed Marcos’ latest claim against Philippine revolutionary groups, saying an impoverished nation breeds revolutionaries.
NDFP secretary general Elias Dipasupil said that halfway through its term, the Marcos has nothing to show but grinding poverty, starvation wages, endless oil price hikes, landlessness, continued destruction of the environment and unaddressed services for victims of calamities.
“Its pompous statements of economic development are ‘full of sound and fury signifying nothing’ but unmitigated corruption and plunder,” the Front said in its own reaction to Marcos’ fourth SONA.
The NDFP said Marcos is putting to shame stellar claims by his predecessors by claiming he ended the revolutionary movement that started during his father’s regime in the 1960s.
“It is the Philippine crises — the state of the nation — that breeds revolutionaries. No amount of wars of repression can stifle a revolution. The people will always get back on their feet,” the NDFP said. # (Raymund B. Villanueva)
