News From The Philippine Revolution

[The Vegan Marxist]

I'm going to let the "Philippine Maoists Arrest Warlord" thread die out & just start this thread, in which I'll try & keep updated as much as I can on the armed struggle taking place in the Philippines by the NPA. All the articles in the last thread will be re-published here.

NPA arrests Arroyo warlord in Surigao, 4 AFP/PNP armed escorts; Confiscates Nine M-16 rifles, pistols
May 5, 2010

Arroyo warlord and Lingig, Surigao del Sur town mayor Roberto "Jimmy" Luna Jr. and his AFP/PNP bodyguards were arrested earlier today, May 5, at 6:15 AM at a mobile checkpoint mounted by Red fighters along the Davao-Agusan National Highway in Pasian, Monkayo, Compostela Valley Province. Red fighters under the Conrado Heredia Command-Front 20 Operations Command of the New People's Army also confiscated their firearms consisting of five M-16 armalite rifles, two .45 cal. pistols, one 9 mm pistol and one .380 cal. pistol.

Luna, a last term mayor under Gloria Arroyo's Lakas-Kampi Party, is being held for investigations for numerous criminal, land grabbing and graft cases lodged before the local People's Court. Luna is being investigated for the 2007 murders of Suazo siblings who are Barangay Union residents in Lingig town; and Luna's involvement in the cold-blooded murder of Mayor Amerosin V. Onsing in 2001. Luna has also been accused of land grabbing 30-hectare peasant lands in Barangay Pagbacatan, and in Dahican Island.

Luna who is now seeking the Lingig town vice mayoralty post has been facing graft charges for the 26-million peso Land Bank loan for water ways in 2009. He has pending cases in reactionary courts for illegal logging, falsification of official documents, grave misconduct, and graft and corruption.

Luna and his AFP/PNP armed escorts -- 58th IB-AFP PFC John Rey Abao (SN 831893), PFC Arnel Dizon (SN 859544), PNP Lingig PO2 Boy de Castro and PO3 Alan Dapitanon -- are now under NPA custody while investigations are ongoing.

The NPA shall issue further statements and notices related to this latest incident.

http://www.philippinerevolution.net/cgi-bin/statements/stmts.pl?author=smpd;date=100505;lang=eng

[The Vegan Marxist]

Here is also a document on the various corrupted doings taking place & the oppositional voices against such corruption: http://www.philippinerevolution.net/pub/archives/lib/0805-08.pdf

[The Vegan Marxist]

NPA rebels attack troops guarding poll machines in South
Friday, May 07, 2010

DAVAO CITY, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / May 7, 2010) – Communist insurgents on Friday opened fire on government troops guarding polling machines in the southern Philippines, wounding two infantrymen, officials said.

Officials said New People’s Army insurgents attacked the soldiers in the village of Taguibo in Davao Oriental’s Mati town where security forces were guarding the precinct count optical scan machines which will be used in the country’s first automated elections on Monday.

“The two wounded soldiers were rushed to hospital,” said Captain Emmanuel Garcia, a spokesman for the Army’s 10th Infantry Division.

Garcia said troops were pursuing the attackers. “This is another terror act of the Communist Party of the Philippines, the New People’s Army and the National Democratic Front. They are sowing terror to prevent people from freely exercising their right to vote. This is hooliganism at its worst.
While soldiers are sacrificing to safeguard the election process, these terrorists breed anarchy to the detriment of the Filipino people,” he said.

On Thursday, insurgents also bombed a truck of troops escorting a convoy delivering precinct count optical scanner machines in Palanas town in Masbate province in the Bicol region, although no was injured or killed in the roadside attack.

The NPA is the military wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines while the National Democratic Front is the organization’s political arm. The Communist Party of the Philippines is fighting for decades for the establishment of a Maoist state in the country. (Mindanao Examiner)

http://www.mindanaoexaminer.com/news.php?news_id=20100507011255

[The Vegan Marxist]

The facts against psywar intrigues

Prof. Jose Ma. Sison
National Democratic Front of the Philippines
Chief Political Consultant
May 7, 2010

As chief political consultant of the Negotiating Panel of the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP), I am well informed about the revolutionary position of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP), the New People's Army and the NDFP as well as the position of other major political forces in relation to the 2010 elections of the reactionary government.

It is the consistent revolutionary position of the CPP, NPA and NDFP, as well expressed in the recent CPP and NPA anniversary statements, that the 2010 elections are on the whole and in essence a rotten process of a rotten ruling system dominated by the political agents of US imperialism and the local exploiting classes.

The NDFP Negotiating Panel has recently received word from the revolutionary forces of the CPP, NPA and NDFP that they are exceedingly happy that the necessity and objective conditions for waging revolution are further enhanced by the fact that the 2010 elections are manifesting the worst characteristics of the semicolonial and semifeudal system and are generating further political disorder and social turmoil.

They are amused that the poll surveys and the media reports have made an unstable, slothful and massacre-prone underachiever like Noynoy Aquino and a convicted plunderer and ruffian-type like Erap Estrada as the front runners in the presidential derby and that the Arroyo regime is still desperately maneuvering either to stay in power through failure of elections or choose the next president through manipulation of the vote count.

By manipulating the vote count through automation and/or manual count, the Arroyo regime can install as the next president either its own bet Gibo Teodoro or Noynoy Aquino who is the favorite choice of the the US country team (including the US ambassador, political officer and the mission chiefs of the AID, CIA , DIA and JUSMAG) and the Makati Business Club. One more bad president will further damn the ruling system and further incite the people to wage armed revolution.

Regarding such patriotic and progressive forces as Makabayan and some party list groups, everyone knows that the CPP, NPA and NDFP regard them as independent legal forces striving heroically to carry forward the national and democratic rights and interests of the Filipino people through the electoral form of struggle. The revolutionary forces and the broad masses of the people appreciate them as exceptional and different from the traditional politicians of the ruling system.

As a matter of public knowledge, I am aware that the bilateral alliance between Makabayan and the Nacionalista Party continues on the basis of the platform of land reform and rural development, industrial development and job generation, respect for human rights, indemnification of victims of human rights violations under the Marcos regime, protection of the environment, negotiations for a just peace, review of the Visiting Forces Agreement and other unequal agreements and independent foreign policy.

Brigadier General Francisco Cruz, chief of the AFP civil relations service, and retired police general Rodolfo Boogie Mendoza are spreading psywar intrigues and telling lies whenever they and their political masters invent stories to put the revolutionary forces at odds with the legal progressive forces and to counterpoise the central leadership of the revolutionary forces against a mere political refugee and long-disemployed teacher like me. In the days to come, the counterrevolutionary propagandists are expected to spew out more intrigues and lies calculated to favor certain parties and candidates and attack others.

I assure the two psywar intriguers and their political masters that I have the highest respect for the central leadership of the CPP, the national command of the NPA and the national council of the NDFP, which are all based in the Philippines. It is known to the public that I enjoy the trust and confidence of the revolutionary forces. They continue to let me serve the Filipino people as the chief political consultant of the NDFP in peace negotiations with the reactionary Manila government.

The broad masses of the Filipino people condemn the attempts of the most reactionary politicians and their military minions to discredit the Makabayan and progressive party list groups by Red-baiting them and witch hunting them as communists and self-contradictorily maligning them as being unprincipled for engaging in alliance tactics. These united front tactics allow them to retain their integrity, independence and initiative as patriotic and progressive forces and to facilitate and amplify their access to the people in their millions.

The anti-communist propaganda is calculated to pave the way for cheating the progressive forces and their allies and cutting down their votes. The impending electoral fraud at their expense will only further discredit the ruling system and will further justify the people's determination to intensify the revolutionary armed struggle. Definitely, the 2010 elections cannot be a way for any significant beneficial change. They are a device of the ruling system for deceiving the people and suppressing their will and voice.

The CPP, NPA and NDFP have always openly expressed their contempt for the entire ruling system of big compradors and landlords and their resolve to carry forward the people's war for national liberation and democracy. They are confident that the ever worsening crisis will continue to afflict the ruling system. The crisis will put the next president in serious trouble and compel him either to negotiate peace with the revolutionary forces or escalate the armed counterrevolution in a monstrous and self-defeating way.

http://www.philippinerevolution.net/cgi-bin/statements/stmts.pl?author=jms;date=100507;lang=eng

[The Vegan Marxist]

People Demand the Dismantling of Lingig Mayor's Private Army

Simon Santiago
Regional Political Department
Merardo Arce Command
NPA-Southern Mindanao
May 8, 2010
Arrested warlord Roberto 'Jimmy' Luna Jr (Lakas-Kampi) has strengthened his private army, and armed them with large caches of firearms issued by the Department of National Defense of the US-Arroyo Regime. Within nine years as mayor of Lingig, Surigao del Sur, Luna, a Gloria Arroyo ally, has maintained at least a platoon of private army which he used mainly to hit civilians and political opponents for his ambitious interests.

Ongoing investigations on the arrested Mayor has further affirmed the numerous complaints against him ranging from murder, land grabbing, graft cases to illegal logging and his involvement in the drug trade. Luna was arrested May 5 in the Davao-Agusan National Highway in Pasian, Monkayo, Compostela Valley Province during a mobile check point mounted by the Conrado Heredia Command-Front 20 Operations Command-NPA to arrest Luna.

Luna has used his armed goons to implement the murder of Suazo siblings in Barangay Union, Lingig in 2007, kill his political opponent Mayor Amerosin V. Onsing in 2001; and go after the Red fighters in an armed incident in 2001. Upon his orders, his private army also sowed terror among civilians in Barangay Pagbacatan and in Dahican Island where Luna's interests in agri-business and tourism lie. Luna has land grabbed at least 30 hectares of peasant lands in Barangay Pagbacatan.

In February 2006, following numerous complaints docketed with the Hukumang Bayan (People's Court) of the People's Democratic Government, the NPA made attempts to dismantle Mayor Luna's private army by raiding his house and disarming his Philippine National Police headquarters which garnered at least 22 firearms. But the Mayor has remained deaf to the people's clamor and continued to sow terror among the populace.

Warlord Luna has found a gracious ally in Gloria Arroyo who protected and coddled warlordism in the country and the proliferation of private armies via Arroyo's Executive Order 546 strengthening the regime's local officials to become warlords. The same Arroyo order that bred cold-blooded murderers like the Ampatuan clan in Maguindanao that use its private armies and DND-issued firearms to kill and maim civilians, build their vast empire, stifle the people's discontent and get away with anything -- even the most heinous crimes.

The regime merely pay lip service to dismantle private armies following the widely condemned November 23 Ampatuan Massacre. Warlords and private armies have actually continue to proliferate and enjoy the protection of the Arroyo regime.

The New People's Army for its part has remained firm in its commitment to disband private armies and all forms of warlordism inimical to the people's interests. The arrest and investigation of Mayor Luna is part of this commitment to hold accountable all those found guilty and face the legal and judicial processes as stipulated in the People's Court.

Meanwhile, Mayor Luna has remained safe and sound in the custody of the New People's Army and is being accorded humane treatment as has been the practice of the NPA towards all its captives.

http://www.philippinerevolution.net/cgi-bin/statements/stmts.pl?author=smpd;date=100508;lang=eng

[The Vegan Marxist]

NPA to 10th ID-AFP's Capt. Garcia: What PCOS machines are you talking about?

Simon Santiago
Regional Political Department
Merardo Arce Command
NPA-Southern Mindanao
May 9, 2010

The May 7 military action of the NPA's Wilfredo Zapanta Command-Front 18 Operations Command (Wizac-NPA) is a punishment against the abusive 28th IB-AFP troops and a response to the complaints of the masses. The 28th IB-AFP casualties were not delivering Comelec PCOS machines as 10th ID-AFP spokesman Capt. Emmanuel Garcia claims. The NPA, as a matter of policy and as track record shows, fully respects the people's will in the guerilla base areas especially during this most chaotic election period.

At around 8 am that day, a team of Red fighters under the Wizac-NPA hit a unit of the 28th IB-AFP RSOT (Reengineered Special Operations Team) in Brgy. Taguibo, Mati, Davao Oriental. The ambushed enemy section was on reconnaissance patrol. They were the security elements of the 28th IB RSOT who have been conducting a month-long psychological warfare operations in Brgy. Taguibo and were not delivering Comelec PCOS machines. Private John Glenn J. Aniasco was killed while Privates First Class Abdulgani Paguildan and Julieto Domingo were wounded in the May 7 NPA ambush.

Capt. Garcia is a pathetic liar, more so, when it comes to making excuses for the 10th ID-AFP's battlefield losses. He now pegs his lies on the GRP election chaos to sell. Capt. Garcia's own yarn is a poor copy of the lies also peddled by AFP spokespersons in reaction to NPA tactical offensives in other regions. It only succeeded in unmasking him as someone who underestimates the people's sense to discern the truth from falsehood.

Capt. Garcia is covering up the gross violations of the 28th IB-AFP RSOT of the war protocols. For already a month, the Alpha Coy of the 28th IB RSOT have established an encampment within the populated civilian community in Taguibo. The fascists made the civilian population of Brgy. Taguibo virtually their shields against perceived NPA attacks. They have turned the barangay public school building into a military barracks -- and into brothels. The NPA has received reports of incidents of sexual harassment and molestation against women residents done by the soldiers of the 28th IB-AFP. Some of these cases were docketed before the local People's Court, and is presently undergoing investigations. These are some incidents that Capt. Garcia wants to keep under wraps from the public.

As a 10th ID spokesperson is paid to do the spin job, it is not surprising for Capt. Garcia to quickly conjure the lie that the NPA sought to thwart the delivery of the PCOS machines. He has to get creative and make a perfect excuse for the dismal failure of the 28th IB-AFP's RSOT operations in Taguibo, and their entire operations in Davao Oriental. Onto the homestretch of the doomed counter-revolutionary Oplan Bantay Laya, all they gained was widespread demoralization among their ranks, further alienation from the masses and the failure of the US-Arroyo regime in stemming the tide of the armed revolutionary movement.

A word of unsolicited advise to Capt. Garcia: be more original with your lies or you may lose your pathetic job.

http://www.philippinerevolution.net/cgi-bin/statements/stmts.pl?author=smpd;date=100509;lang=eng

[The Vegan Marxist]

05/09/2010 | 11:20 AM
Army readies armed option vs Luna’s NPA captors

Soldiers of the Philippine Army’s 401st Infantry Brigade and the 10th Infantry Battalion from Compostela Valley are forming a circle against the NPA rebels and their captives somewhere between Compostela Valley and Surigao del Sur.

Should the negotiations for the release of Luna and his four security men fail, the military will act once it receives the order, Col. Augusto Tolentino, commanding officer of 401st IB, said in an interview.

“But of course, we will give time to the negotiating team for the safe release of Mayor Luna and his four security escorts before implementing military options", Tolentino said.

The military now knows where the NPA is hiding the kidnapped mayor and the security men, he said.

The NPA rebels holding Luna and his men have also raised the ransom money or "lodging fee" to P10 million from P2 million, according to Tolentino.

The rebels have sent feelers asking Tolentino to cease military operations in the area for the negotiations to proceed smoothly.

But Tolentino said he told the NPA to first release the kidnap victims before military troops will be pulled out of the area.

Luna and his men were on their way to Davao City near the boundary of Barangay Langkilaan, Trento, Agusan del Sur when they were captured by NPA rebels at about 6 a.m. on May 5. (See: NPA kidnaps Surigao mayor, 4 escorts—police)

A crisis committee, headed by Surigao del Sur Gov. Vicente Pimentel Jr., on Thursday tapped Agusan del Sur provincial social welfare officer Josefina Bajade as head negotiator in the talks with NPA rebels. (See: NPA holds Surigao gov’s convoy, seizes 7 firearms)

Bajade and the Agusan del Sur provincial government were responsible for the release of 75 hostages, including 17 schoolchildren, in Sitio Maitum, Barangay San Martin, Prosperidad, Agusan del Sur on Dec. 9, 2010.

National Democratic Front-Northeastern Regional Command (NDF-NMRC) spokesperson Jorge Madlos, a.k.a. Ka Oris, said in a statement the NPA considers the four government security escorts as prisoners of war.

They are Private 1st Class John Rey Abao and PFC1 Arnel Dizon of the 58th IB, and Police Officer 2nd Class Jose de Castro and PO3 Allan Dapitanon of the Philippine National Police in Lingig.

Lt. Col. Gilbert Saret, the Army battalion now pursuing Luna's captors said that Pimentel and his team are now negotiating for the release of Luna his men.

Compostela Valley provincial police chief Sr. Supt. Aaron Aquino said the rebels and their captives already crossed the thickly forested mountain range separating Compostela Valley and Surigao del Sur, and that a possible release might happen on the Surigao side.

This was the second time NPA rebels abducted Luna. In 2007, NPA gunmen posing as government soldiers raided the Lingig police station, using Luna as a human shield while ransacking the station's weapons cache. He was released 12 hours later.

http://www.gmanews.tv/story/190456/army-readies-armed-option-vs-lunas-npa-captors

[The Vegan Marxist]

05/09/2010 | 12:43 AM
NPA holds Surigao gov’s convoy, seizes 7 firearms

BUTUAN CITY — Some 80 heavily-armed NPA rebels blocked and disarmed the three-vehicle convoy of Surigao del Sur Gov. Vicente Pimentel Jr. while on their way to Tandag City at past 11:30 a.m. on Saturday, a flash report from the Philippine Information Agency special election coverage office said.

Gov. Pimentel and his security escorts were on board a convoy of three vehicles—a Toyota Land Cruiser, a Nissan Patrol and a Toyota Hi-Lux—at the Hinatuan-Bislig City boundary road when the camouflage-uniformed suspects flagged them down at Sitio Tandawan, Barangay Loyola, the PIA report said.

Pimentel’s younger brother Johnny, confirmed the incident in a text message.

Pimentel’s vehicle was reportedly able to speed away, but the two other vehicles remained stuck at the NPA checkpoint, forcing the governor’s vehicle to turn back and rejoin the convoy.

The NPA rebels then disarmed Pimentel’s security personnel after a heated altercation that nearly led to a shootout.

Pimentel’s convoy was later allowed to proceed unharmed, minus their firearms. The NPA rebels reportedly seized four M16 rifles, an MP5 rifle, two .45-caliber pistols, and ammunition.

The governor’s party came from Lingig, Surigao del Sur, where Lingig Mayor Roberto Luna Jr. and his four security escorts were being held captive by the NPA in nearby Compostela Valley province.

The governor is head of the crisis committee on the Mayor Luna kidnapping, and was reportedly trying to hold talks with NPA unit holding Luna and his four escorts near the boundary of Surigao del Sur and Compostela Valley before the incident happened.

Pimentel is the regional chairman of the Caraga Region Peace and Order Committee and also an official of the Caraga Regional Development Council.

He is now on his third term as Surigao del Sur governor, and has been campaigning as Lakas-Kampi’s mayoral bet in Carrascal town.

Pimentel’s younger brother, Johnny, is Surigao del Sur provincial administrator, former vice governor, and now Lakas gubernatorial bet. Another Pimentel brother is reelectionist Tandag City Mayor Alexander Pimentel.

The Pimentel family reportedly owns one of the biggest mining companies and timber concession in Surigao del Sur.

http://www.gmanews.tv/story/190446/npa-holds-surigao-govs-convoy-seizes-7-firearms

[The Vegan Marxist]

MILF, NPA blamed for election violence
05/11/2010

COTABATO CITY, Philippines—The military in Maguindanao on Tuesday linked the Moro Islamic Liberation Front to at least one incident of mortar shelling there while balloting was being conducted on Monday.

In Compostela Valley, New People's Army rebels were also being accused of staging an ambush that killed five people—two soldiers, two policemen and a poll watcher—on Tuesday.

Colonel Herbert Yambing, chief of the Joint Security Coordinating Council in Maguindanao, said MILF rebels fired the three mortar shells that landed near a voting center in Pagatin Elementary School in Salibo town at about noon on Monday.

No one was hurt in the incident but Yambing said the explosions sent voters and poll officials into panic.

"We know the MILF did it," Yambing said.

He said the incident was a violation of an agreement the MILF signed with the government in which the rebels agreed to help in maintaining a peaceful and orderly election in Maguindanao and other areas.

Ghadzali Jaafar, MILF vice chair for political affairs, branded Yambing's accusation as "hastily issued."

Jaafar said the incident should be investigated first.

He said that instead of directly accusing the MILF, Yambing could have waited for the results of an investigation which a neutral body like the International Monitoring Team could conduct.

"We are committed to help the government ensure the holding of peaceful and orderly elections in accordance with the commitment of understanding that we agreed upon," said Jaafar said.

He said that after the signing of the agreement, the MILF moved out its forces from areas near polling places so that misencounters would be avoided.

Brigadier General Ariel Bernardo, deputy commander of the Army's 6th Infantry Division and chair of Task Force HOPE (Honest, Orderly and Peaceful Elections), said Yambing's statement was already being looked into.

Meanwhile, Yambing said three more explosions rocked Maguindanao on Monday evening while votes were being counted.

But he said that this time, followers of losing candidates were behind the three rifle grenade explosions in three barangays in the municipality of S.K. Pendatun.

Another grenade, he said, was lobbed by unidentified men into a polling precinct in Datu Paglat town but it did not explode.

Voters and poll clerks inside the polling precinct at the time were thrown into panic, Yambing said.

He said followers of losing candidates could also be behind Monday's 7:30 p.m. ambush of poll officials and Army personnel from SK Pendatun town, who were transporting precinct count optical scanner (PCOS) machines to Shariff Aguak.

No one was reported injured in the ambush, Yambing said.

In Maragusan, Compostela Valley, Colonel Romeo Calizo, commander of the Army's 1001st Infantry Brigade, said a convoy of vehicles bearing government forces and election watchers were heading for the town's center to deliver election results when fired at by rebels in sitio Mangga in Barangay Mahayahay around 9:30 a.m.

Calizo said 9 soldiers and three other civilians were wounded in the attack.

"Pursuit operation is ongoing," he said.

http://politics.inquirer.net/politics/view/20100511-269424/MILF-NPA-blamed-for-election--violence

[The Vegan Marxist]

Keep in mind that every site that I'm getting information from, except the NPA's main site, is very anti-NPA & will lead to whatever propaganda against them as they can.

Communist rebels kill six in Compostela Valley ambush
12 May 2010

DAVAO: Communist rebels in the southern Philippines killed six people and wounded 12 others on Tuesday when they ambushed an election convoy, the military said.

Two soldiers, two government militiamen, an election official and the poll watcher of a local candidate were killed in the attack in the restive Mindanao region, said local military commander Col. Romeo Calizo.

Guerrillas of the New People’s Army (NPA) ambushed the group as they were delivering the results of Monday’s national elections to the town of Maaragusan, said Calizo.

Nine soldiers and three civilian poll watchers were also wounded in the ambush, the colonel said. He said the incident was probably an attack on government forces and not an attempt by the rebels to influence the polls.

“We condemn this attack on innocent people,” said Army Captain Emmanuel Garcia, a spokesman for the 10th Infantry Division, as he called on the Commission of Human Rights and other human rights organizations to investigate the attack which occurred at about 8.30 a.m. on a village near Maragusan town.

Garcia said rebels also attacked Friday and wounded two government troops guarding polling machines in the village of Taguibo in Davao Oriental’s Mati town. Security forces were guarding the machines when rebels opened fire at them.

http://www.manilatimes.net/index.php/news/regions/17171-communist-rebels-kill-six-in-compostela-valley-ambush

[The Vegan Marxist]

NDF wants new admin to remove terror tag on NPA
05/12/2010 | 11:35 AM

Even before the incoming administration could formally be sworn in, communist rebels on Wednesday disclosed their first condition for the resumption of peace talks with the Philippine government.

In a radio interview, a National Democratic Front (NDF) spokesman said that while the mainstream communist group is open to talks with Sen. Benigno Simeon “Noynoy" Aquino III, it wants his administration to remove the terrorist tag on its armed wing first.

Aquino appears headed to winning the May 10 presidential polls as shown by his very string showing based on the partial and unofficial tally as of Tuesday.

"The NDF and Communist Party of the Philippines have always been open to peace talks. But we wish it would be on the level. The government claims it does not deal with terrorists. Yet it deems the CPP and New People’s Army terrorist groups. So it should work to remove the terrorist tag from these groups," NDF Mindanao spokesman Jorge “Ka Oris" Madlos said in Filipino over dzXL radio.

Madlos was referring to the Arroyo government’s representations in the early 2000s to have the United States and European Union tag the NPA as a terrorist group.

The terrorist tag on the NPA had been one of the key reasons behind the stalling of peace talks between the Arroyo government and the communist rebels in August 2004.

"Marami pang parameter ng peace talks na dapat ayusin. Ang NDF interesado ma-resolve ang root ng crisis ang social problem sa Pilipinas (There are many other parameters to the peace talks that must be addressed. The NDF wants to resolve the root of the crisis and the country’s social problems)," Madlos said.

On the other hand, Madlos warned the NPA is ready to "fight" against the new government if it refuses to address the social problems hounding the country.

"Handa rin kami lumaban kung sakaling walang kasiguruhan makamit ng mamamayan ang tunay na para sa kanila (We are ready to fight if we see no certainty that the people will get what they deserve)," he said.

http://www.gmanews.tv/story/190762/ndf-wants-new-admin-to-remove-terror-tag-on-npa

[The Vegan Marxist]

This just shows the lack of agreement taking place in the Filipino gov. & military, & apparently have contradicted their selves as they keep trying to pin blame the NPA with the destruction of PCOS machines & claiming they're trying to disrupt the election campaign taking place over there. This is nothing more than a propaganda campaign against the NPA.

05/11/2010 | 10:02 PM
Army unit now doubts ‘NPA role’ in Iloilo PCOS burning

The military tentatively "cleared" the communist-led New People's Army (NPA) of involvement in the burning of precinct count optical scan (PCOS) machines in Iloilo province the weekend before the May 10 elections.

A local Army unit who interviewed residents of the village contradicted the claims of two policemen on what caused the fire, Iloilo-based The News Today reported Tuesday.

Five PCOS machines were razed in the Home Economics building of Caduldulan Elementary School in Miag-ao, Iloilo last Saturday.

The 82nd Infantry Battalion, in its report to the military's Task Force HOPE, said residents saw no armed group in the area or heard any explosion when the incident happened.

It contrasted with the allegation of the Miag-ao Police Station, which claimed 15 armed rebels led by Armando "Allan/Kamlon" Sabares were behind the incident.

PO2 Placido Nacis and PO1 Cenon Elicanal, the police officers detailed at the JSCC-Security Assistance Desk, claimed they were fetching water at a nearby well when they saw smoke coming from the HE building.

They added they saw armed men firing their guns, and withdrew and reported the incident to the Miag-ao Police Station.

But village captain Romeo Forclarans said he and other residents saw the two policemen eating some 200 meters from the HE building.

After seeing the smoke, residents rushed to the area to put out the fire, but the building was locked, preventing them from retrieving the PCOS machines.

Investigation also showed residents in the area suspected the fire stemmed from an electrical short circuit in the kitchen.

The burned PCOS machines were to be used for Cabalaunan, Caduldulan, Matalngon, Onop and To-ong villages.

Provincial Election Supervisor Atty. Elizabeth Doronila immediately sent PCOS machines to replace the burnt ones.

Meanwhile, PNP Regional Director Chief Supt. Isagani Cuevas had announced on May 9 that they will create a special investigation task group to look into the incident.

The group will have Chief Insp. Fernando Salvatierra, provincial officer of the Iloilo Criminal Investigation and Detection Team; Supt. Edgardo Lenizo; Lt. Col. Jorge Joel Lalaquil of the Army’s 82nd IB; and Insp. Ferdinand Limbungan of the Miag-ao Police Station, as members.

“Pending the result of the investigation, we maintained that the incident was perpetrated by armed rebels," Cuevas added.

Nacis and Elicanal were also placed on probe.

http://www.gmanews.tv/story/190730/army-unit-now-doubts-npa-role-in-iloilo-pcos-burning

[The Vegan Marxist]

NPA rebs abduct 4 soldiers in ComVal
By Frinston Lim
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 07:23:00 05/13/2010

Filed Under: Guerrilla activities, Abduction
TAGUM CITY--Communist New People’s Army rebels struck anew in Compostela Valley province, abducting on Wednesday four government troops at a birthday party.

Capt. Emmanuel Garcia, 10th Infantry Division public affairs officer, said the kidnapping happened in Sawangan village in Mawab town.

He identified the seized troopers as Corporals Marcial Bagawan, Ariel Asumo, Eduardo Alcala and militiaman Victor Pitogo.

The government troops were at Bagawan’s house for his three-year old son’s birthday when gunmen believed to be members of the NPA’s Front 27 swooped down and held them at gunpoint.

“According to witnesses, the rebels forcibly herded the victims to a black van before speeding off toward the direction of Sangab village, also in Compostela Valley,” Garcia said, adding that Bagawan’s wife, Jenny, tearfully pleaded to the rebels not to take her husband away but to no avail.

The military suspects Bagawan’s abductors are the same group of rebels, which on Tuesday ambushed troops escorting election officials in the transport of election paraphernalia in nearby Maragusan town, which resulted in the death of five persons and the wounding of 12 others.

http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/regions/view/20100513-269693/NPA-rebs-abduct-4-soldiers-in-ComVal

[Saorsa]

Good idea TVM. Keep them coming :-)

[The Vegan Marxist]

I ended up finding this on the NPA's official website & thought people would like to hear it. It's the Filipino version of the Internationale by the NPA:

http://www.philippinerevolution.net/kul/awit_mp3/pag_internationale.mp3

[scarletghoul]

Cool thread, was thinking of starting one similar.. Is it for the Fillipino situation in general, or just the military actions of NPA? Would it be good to post things from CPP, NDFP and other revolutionary forces?

[mosfeld]

You should name the thread "News from the Philippine revolution" or something, since, as scarletghoul said, there are other revolutionary and progressive national liberation forces operation in the Philippines united with the NPA, such as the MILF (ha-ha, it's Moro Islamic Liberation Front actually).

[The Vegan Marxist]

Alright, thanks for the tips, Comrades. Can any moderator change the name of this thread to "News from the Philippine Revolution"?

[Yazman]

Alright, thanks for the tips, Comrades. Can any moderator change the name of this thread to "News from the Philippine Revolution"?

Done.

[The Vegan Marxist]

People will confront incoming Aquino regime with pressing demands

Communist Party of the Philippines
May 13, 2010

With the reactionary elections coming to a close, it now appears that the Philippine neocolonial state will be headed next by Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III.

Once Aquino assumes power on June 30, the Filipino people are intent on immediately confronting his presidency with the most pressing issues arising from the basic political and socio-economic problems they have been suffering under the prevailing rotten semi-colonial and semifeudal system.

The Number One immediate demand of the Filipino people is the prosecution and punishment of Gloria Arroyo and her ilk for all the crimes they have committed while in power.

They demand justice for numerous crimes of plunder including the ZTE national broadband network deal, the IMPSA deal, the Diosdado Macapagal Boulevard scam, the Fertilizer Fund scam, the Swine Fund scam, and several other cases of gross plunder.

They demand redress of grievances and remuneration for the numerous crimes against humanity and violations of human rights in the conduct of the US-Arroyo regime's Oplan Bantay Laya 1 and 2. Justice is demanded by human rights advocates and the families, friends and supporters of more than a thousand victims of extrajudicial killings, thousands more illegally arrested, tortured and detained, abducted and involuntarily disappeared, and millions of victims of forced evacuation, looting and razing of their homes and farms by the fascist troops under her command.

Any vacillation on Aquino's part to pursue, prosecute, arrest and punish Arroyo and her ilk will be roundly rejected by the people.

There remains the threat of Arroyo's power perpetuation schemes through the backdoor of Congress by seizing the Speakership, weakening the executive branch, pursuing charter change and eventually repositioning herself as Prime Minister. Arroyo will be bankrolling efforts to seize the Speakership with billions of pesos accumulated through plunder. She will rely on the loyalty of key officials in the military, especially of newly appointed Chief of Staff Gen. Delfin Bangit and her other loyal generals at the top of the AFP, as well as her majority of loyalists in the Supreme Court, including the incoming Chief Justice Renato Corona, whom she has just appointed.

Aquino's impending assumption of the presidency significantly facilitates the return to power of the Aquino-Cojuangco haciendero clan. His presidency will be highlighted by the demand of the restive peasantry for genuine land reform, including the scrapping of the fake stock distribution option, the immediate distribution to the tillers of their family's vast landholdings, and the dispensation of justice to the victims of the Hacienda Luisita Massacre.

Given the Aquino-Cojuangco clan's insistence on holding on to Hacienda Luisita and Aquino's own evasiveness regarding the issue of genuine land reform, his presidency will be marked by a nationwide upsurge of the revolutionary struggle for genuine land reform and the emancipation of the peasantry from feudal bondage.

Aquino and the clique of US-led foreign chambers of commerce, big landlords, big compradors, the Aquino-Cojuangco clan and pseudo-reformists behind him are bearers of neocolonial, feudal and elitist policies.

In the face of all this, the Filipino people are determined to confront the new presidency with pressing demands for more significant socio-economic reforms. They demand an end to, and the reversal of, the IMF-dictated neoliberal policies obsequiously implemented by the US-Arroyo regime and other regimes before it. They demand a stop to opening up vast tracts of the nation's agricultural land and natural resources to the gross plunder and wanton destruction of imperialist, big comprador and big bureaucrat capitalist corporations.

They demand the establishment of real national industries instead of export processing zones, sweat shops and outsourcing centers. They demand an end to the labor-export policy, the creation of solid instead of casual and contractual domestic jobs, and the guarantee of just and sufficient wage increases to meet the highly increased costs of living. The continuing and worsening international and domestic crises are pushing the Filipino toiling masses and impoverished people to tread the path of militant struggle.

Aquino will be confronted as well with the people's patriotic demand to put an end to the permanent presence of US military troops in the Philippines and an end to the unequal military treaties with the US superpower. Patriotic forces and the people demand an end to the intervention of US troops and advisers in the country's internal military affairs, including the US military's role in designing and planning the AFP's campaigns of suppression against the anti-imperialist, progressive and democratic forces.

US imperialism maintains its interest in keeping the ruling political system and neocolonial state stabilized and, thus, securing the long-term economic, political and military interests of the US in the Philippines. US imperialism thus pushed hard on Arroyo and rivals among the ruling classes to make the just concluded reactionary elections appear more orderly and conclusive than previous ones in the hope of mitigating the contradictions among the rival factions of the reactionary ruling classes.

The deepening economic crisis, the diminishing state resources for sharing the spoils of power and the continuing tightness of their power struggles, however, continue to further intensify the contradictions and violence among the rival reactionary factions. The crisis of the ruling political system will further deepen and escalate as Aquino tries to assume power while Arroyo continues to scheme her way to perpetuate herself in power and evade prosecution and punishment.

The puppet reactionary state will continue to be rocked by contradictions among the ruling classes and and by the intensification of the people's struggles.

The revolutionary forces are facing an excellent opportunity to step up the revolutionary struggle. They are determined to pursue the path of people's war to advance the national and democratic aspirations of the Filipino people.

http://www.philippinerevolution.net/cgi-bin/statements/stmts.pl?author=cpp;date=100513;lang=eng

[scarletghoul]

This is hardly revolutionary news however its very important and interesting when looking at the Filipino situation. The family of former fascist/puppet dictator Marcos have done pretty well in these elections-
3 family wins signal Marcos revival in Philippines

By TERESA CEROJANO (AP) – 1 day ago

MANILA, Philippines — Nearly a quarter-century after Imelda Marcos and her dictator husband fled the Philippines in disgrace — leaving a debt-ridden country but a lavish collection of shoes — the 80-year-old former first lady and two of their children are poised to revive the family's political fortunes.

At first sight, the outcome is surprising in an election that also looks set to award the son of the Marcoses' nemesis, "people power" President Corazon Aquino, the country's top office. Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III campaigned heavily against corruption — endemic in the Philippines and allegedly practiced by the Marcos dictatorship on a massive scale.

But their family name still holds clout.

Imelda Marcos won a seat in the House of Representatives, where she also was elected in 1995, and her eldest daughter, Imee, also a former member of Congress, was elected governor in the family's northern bailiwick, Ilocos Norte province. Her son, former governor and current Congress member Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr., likely won his Senate race, according to almost-complete results of Monday's vote.

With Marcos Jr.'s rise to the Senate, the Marcoses would claim their highest nationally elected post since their patriarch was ousted in a 1986 "people power" revolt.

"I thank the Lord, the Ilocanos, the Filipino people for the overwhelming mandate for the Marcoses in spite of all the odds," Imelda Marcos told The Associated Press in a telephone interview Wednesday. "The Filipino people can be assured of our selfless and endless service and love to all."etc
Full story here http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5j4TInz5gopFM7mCRyoskUArxTUOwD9FLDNH00

Politics in the Phillipines is thoroughly rotten, corrupt and dominated by rich families of capitalists, US puppets, and feudal landlords and clans, all with their own private armies. Its no wonder the people are turning to the red alternative

[The Vegan Marxist]

NPA sends voice tape of kidnapped mayor

By Germelina Lacorte
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 17:36:00 05/14/2010

Filed Under: Kidnapping, insurgency, Police
DAVAO CITY, Philippines—The New People's Army in Southern Mindanao released on Friday voice clips of kidnapped Mayor Roberto Luna of Lingig, Surigao del Sur, and four of his security escorts.

Luna and his escorts—Privates First Class Johnrey Abao and Arnel Dizon, PO2 Boy de Castro and PO3 Alan Dapitanon—were seized from a roadblock the rebels set up in Barangay Pasian in Monkayo, Compostela Valley, on May 5. Two other Luna aides were released the same day.

Luna was then on his way to this city to visit a sick child when abducted.

In an apparently distressed voice, a man who claimed he was Luna, announced that he and his security escorts were being taken good care of.

He said the rebels were also providing him his medicines. It was not clear what illness Luna was suffering from.

http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/regions/view/20100514-269962/NPA-sends-voice-tape-of-kidnapped-mayor

[The Vegan Marxist]

NPA releases voice clips of detained Lingig Mayor Luna, bodyguards assuring their families that they are safe and well

Roel Agustin II
Conrado Heredia Command
Spokesman
Front 20 Operations Command
New People's Army-Southern Mindanao
May 13, 2010
Bisaya

The Conrado Heredia Command-Front 20 Operations Command-New People's Army releases these voice clips of detained Lingig, Surigao del Sur Mayor Roberto 'Jimmy' Luna Jr including his four AFP/PNP escorts -- 58th IB-PFC Johnrey Abao, PFC Arnel Dizon, PO2 Boy de Castro and PO3 Alan Dapitanon.

In these voice clips, Mayor Luna along with the other detainees assured their families not to worry for they are in good health, and being treated well under the custody of the New People's Army.

Mayor Luna along with his AFP/PNP bodyguards were arrested May 5 at the Davao-Agusan national highway in Barangay Pasian, Monkayo, Compostela Valley Province. They are presently under the care of the New People's Army while Mayor Luna is facing charges and the people's clamor to dismantle his private army which he built since 2001.

The NPA hopes that these clips will reach their families and relatives and give assurance that the detainees are safe and in good health.

[Voice clips:]


Mayor Roberto 'Jimmy' Luna Jr. (http://www.philippinerevolution.net/pib/archives/2010/100513_chc_Mayor%20Luna.mp3)
PFC Johnrey Abao (http://www.philippinerevolution.net/pib/archives/2010/100513_chc_PFC%20Johnrey%20Abao.mp3)
PFC Arnel Dizon (http://www.philippinerevolution.net/pib/archives/2010/100513_chc_PFC%20Arnel%20Dizon.mp3)
P02 Boy de Castro (http://www.philippinerevolution.net/pib/archives/2010/100513_chc_PO2%20Boy%20de%20Castro.mp3)
PO3 Alan Dapitanon (http://www.philippinerevolution.net/pib/archives/2010/100513_chc_PO3%20Alan%20Dapitanon.mp3)


http://www.philippinerevolution.net/cgi-bin/statements/stmts.pl?author=chc;date=100513;lang=eng

[The Vegan Marxist]

One Soldier Killed and One AFP Junior Officer Wounded in NPA-Rizal Latest Tactical Offensive Against Government Troops!

Macario "Ka Karyo" Liwanag
Spokesperson
Narciso Antazo Aramil Command
NPA-Rizal
May 13, 2010

The New People's Army unit operating in Rizal Province under Narciso Antazo Aramil Command (NAAC-NPA-Rizal) launched a successful sniping/harrasment operations against a joint platoon of government troops under 22nd Reconnaissance Company, 2nd ID-PA and "butcher" 16th IB-PA, in Sitio Kinabuan, Sta. Ines, Tanay, Rizal at around 8:45 yesterday morning, May 12, 2010.

After 5 minutes exchange of fire, a government soldier named Private First Class Roel Saclote was killed instantly by NPA sniper and one unnamed junior officer with a rank od 2nd Lieutenat was seriously wounded. The team of NPA fighters who conducted this tactical offensive suffered no casualty and safely returned in their camp inside the Sierra Madre mountain.

This tactical offensive is the continuous response of the NPA-Rizal to the demands of the people of Rizal Province to punish members of 22nd Reconnaissance Coy and the "Butcher" 16th IB-PA AFP troops who are notorious violators of human rights.

This tactical offensive is also our "pasalubong" to the newly elected government officials who will form a new regime to replace the corrupt Macapagal-Arroyo Regime. The new regime, most probably an Aquino regime, will have to decide which path to pursue in dealing with the ongoing civil war in our country, whether a genuine peace based on justice or to continue the internal security operations plan that his predecessors vigorously implemented but miserably failed. Whichever path the new government takes, the New People's Army and the whole revolutionary movement in Rizal province is ready and will vigorously pursue the people's war.

We also express our thanks to the people of Rizal Province including those concerned members of PNP, CAFGU-AFP and government officials who extends their help to us. Their timely information regarding the movements and activities of the AFP troops who wantonly wreak havoc to the lives and properties of the people was crucial for us to be able to launch this successful tactical offensive.

Long Live the New People's Army

Long Live the Communist Party of the Philippines

Long Live the National Democratic Front of the Philippines

Long Live the Filipino People!

http://www.philippinerevolution.net/cgi-bin/statements/stmts.pl?author=naac2;date=100513;lang=eng

[The Vegan Marxist]

Understand this is coming from anti-rebel news sites, so don't take everything said as truth. Let's see how things go from here.

‘NPA insurgents’ kill cop, civilian in Negros Oriental
05/15/2010

Five suspected New People’s Army (NPA) rebels shot dead a policeman and a civilian companion in Negros Oriental province late Friday.

A report on Visayan Daily Star Saturday said the incident occurred at Carmenville Subdivision in Guihulngan City at 5 p.m. Friday.

The report cited military and police sources identifying the fatalities as SPO1 Ronnie Marinog of the Guihulngan City police station, and civilian Budoy de la Peña.

Guihulngan police chief Senior Inspector Carlos Lacuesta said the two died on the spot.

It was not immediately clear if the policeman was armed when they were shot.

Lt. Col. Ramil Bitong, 11th Infantry Battalion commander, said pursuit operations were still ongoing against the fleeing suspected rebel assassins Friday night.

Police checkpoints were also established in strategic areas of Guihulngan, he said.

http://www.gmanews.tv/story/191038/npa-insurgents-kill-cop-civilian-in-negros-oriental

[The Vegan Marxist]

I find this to be important because it shows the responsibility behind the NPA & how they try to stay on the initial agenda of People's War, rather than mere guerrilla warfare on any target. Is it true? I don't know. We'll see soon.

Reds apologize for deadly Compostela ambush
05/12/2010

Communist rebels based in Mindanao apologized profusely to the Department of Education and the Commission on Elections Wednesday for the killing of an election official and at least five others in an ambush in Compostela Valley province Tuesday.

National Democratic Front Mindanao spokesman Jorge "Ka Oris" Madlos said an investigation is now underway on the New People’s Army unit that conducted the deadly ambush.

"We are not justifying this. Nais namin ipaalam sa lahat ng biktima lalo sa civilian di intended yan para ambush-in ang mga personnel na nagma-man ng precinct (We are not justifying this. We want the victims to know we did not intend to ambush the civilians, especially the election officials)," Madlos said in an interview on dzXL radio.

"Humihingi kami ng paumanhin sa Department of Education [at sa] Comelec. Hindi namin ginusto ang nangyari. Inaako namin ang responsibility at gagawin namin ang dapat gawin lalo sa pag-imbestiga sa pangyayari (We ask the forgiveness of the Department of Education and the Commission on Elections. We did not wish this to happen. We accept full responsibility and will do everything starting with an investigation)," he added.

Killed in the ambush were four government soldiers, a board of election inspector, and a poll watcher, according to the Armed Forces’ Task Force Honest, Orderly and Peaceful Elections. [See: 6 dead, 12 hurt in attack on election convoy in ComVal (http://www.gmanews.tv/story/190740/6-dead-12-hurt-in-attack-on-election-convoy-in-comval)]

Wounded in the attack near Sitio Manga in Mahayhay village in Maragusan town were at least nine soldiers and three poll watchers.

Reds accept condemnation

The military said the victims were on their way to bring back election paraphernalia to Poblacion Maragusan for canvassing.

Madlos said that while the NPA did not know the military unit they attacked was engaged in an election-related activity, it accepts full responsibility.

He said the NPA had mistaken the military escorts for a military unit involved in an alleged human rights violation.

"Nais namin aminin at lahat na condemnation ay tinatanggap namin. Anyway ang unang hakbang namin kaagad pinaimbestiga ang sirkumstansya. Pina-contact namin ang pamilya ng civilians na biktima, mukhang magkaroon ng kaunting tulong sa pamilya. Ang tulong di makabawi ng namatay," Madlos said.

(We accept full responsibility and condemnation for what happened. We have started an investigation and contacted the families of the victims to offer some assistance, although we know it will not bring their loved ones back.)

Lack of intelligence?

Madlos said the ambush stemmed from a lack of intelligence gathering.

He insisted the NPA had no intention of disrupting the elections, saying the NDF had instructed all NPAs not to take any action that will do so.

"Kulang ng intelligence-gathering. Wala kaming intention guluhin ang election (There was a lack of intelligence-gathering. We never intended to disrupt the elections)," he said.

http://www.gmanews.tv/story/190754/reds-apologize-for-deadly-compostela-ambush

[The Vegan Marxist]

NPA rebels still hold mayor, 4 bodyguards
By Franklin A. Caliguid, Germelina Lacorte
Inquirer Mindanao
05/15/2010

Filed Under: Armed conflict, insurgency, Local authorities, Kidnapping, Crime
BUTUAN CITY, Philippines – The good news is that Mayor Roberto Luna of Lingig, Surigao del Sur, and his four escorts are still alive. The bad news is that the New People’s Army is still holding them hostage.

Luna and several of his men were seized at a roadblock the rebels set up on a highway in Monkayo, Compostela Valley, on May 5. Luna was on his way to Davao City to visit one of his children, who was in a hospital, when the rebels stopped his convoy.

Two of Luna’s men – his aide and driver – were set free shortly after the incident but the rebels decided to take him and his four security escorts, Privates First Class Johnrey Abao and Arnel Dizon of the Army’s 58th Infantry Battalion, and policemen Police Officer 2 Boy de Castro and PO3 Alan Dapitanon into custody.

On Friday, the NPA’s Conrado Heredia Command operating in Southern Mindanao released voice clips of Luna and his security escorts.

This was the first proof that the mayor and his escorts were alive, officials said.

The voice clips were made on May 12, according to Roel Agustin II, the rebel group’s spokesman.

The NPA, Agustin said, was hopeful that the voice clips would reach the families of the captives and reassure them that their loved ones were in good health.

In the clips, Luna said he and the other captives were in “good hands” and that the rebels had taken good care of them.

Speaking in Visayan, Luna said the rebels even provided him medicines but it was not clear what for.

“Dili mi patay, buhi mi [We’re not dead, we’re alive],” another voice, identified as that of De Castro, said.

"They’re kind and they’re taking good care of us,” he added.

Agustin said the NPA was not releasing the mayor yet as he faced charges “for possible people’s crime.”

He also said they captured Luna because of the “people's clamor” to dismantle the private army that Luna had built since 2001.

Jorge Madlos, spokesman of the National Democratic Front in Mindanao, said talks between the NDF and government negotiators concerning Luna’s possible release have been stalled by the elections.

“No development yet on the negotiations for his release and his trial because of the elections. Luna and his four security escorts are in good condition and there’s no cause for their families to worry,” Madlos said.

Madlos said Luna’s freedom depended on the outcome of the investigation and his trial for murder, land grabbing, graft, illegal logging and involvement in the illegal drugs trade.

“If it’s proven during trial that Luna is guilty of the charges, then he will be meted the death penalty and if not, he would be freed,” he said.

But Madlos hinted that a “political intervention and settlement" could prompt the NPA to free Luna and waive the trial.

“But if there is political intervention and settlement between the government and NDF, then the trial and subsequent judgment could still be changed,” he said, without saying what the intervention and settlement were.

Madlos warned that any attempt to rescue Luna and his aides could lead to disaster.

Senior Superintendent Nestor Fajurra, spokesman of the police in the Caraga region, said they were relieved by the news that Luna, who was elected vice mayor of his town in last Monday’s balloting, was alive and was being treated well.

“It’s good to know that he is still alive since rumors have been circulating around that he had already been executed by the rebels,” Fajurra said.

Fajurra said the police were also hoping that the NPA would reconsider Luna’s case because he won the elections, which meant that “the people have forgiven him if he had sinned and the charges were baseless.”

http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/regions/view/20100515-270123/NPA-rebels-still-hold-mayor-4-bodyguards

[The Vegan Marxist]

Alright, apparently, there are conflicting reports going on about the attack on Compostela, & the NPA, themselves, are stating that the reports on them killing military officials carrying PCOS machines is an outright lie. I'm not sure if the report made on the 12th where it showed the NPA apologizing for attacking PCOS carrying military officials was a lie or a fabrication, but this report was made 2 days before the NPA have come out & said this is a lie. I'll keep trying to update this as much as possible.

NPA-Rizal Denies Targeting Election Personnel and PCOS Machine, Accuses 2nd ID-PA-AFP of Lying to Cover-up their Defeats in the hands of the NPA!

Macario "Ka Karyo" Liwanag
Spokesperson
Narciso Antazo Aramil Command
NPA-Rizal
May 14, 2010

The NPA-Rizal vehemently denies targeting election personnel and PCOS machine in their tactical offensive last May 12. The statement made by 2nd ID-PA spokesperson 2nd Lieutenant Frank Celeste Sayson as reported by the Philippine Daily Inquirer, The Daily Tribune and other news agencies is a clear lie. If the said news agencies bothered to check the veracity of the incident, they could have asked the people living in the area where the NPA tactical offensive happened. If they did their homework to present the truth, they will easily know that the joint platoon of government troops under 22nd Reconnaissance Company, 2nd ID-PA and "Butcher" 16th IB-PA were not escorting PCOS Machine carried by members of the BEIs and Smartmatic personnel when they were attacked by NPA Snipers.

The said government troops were in the area since July last year. They are part of the Re-engineered Special Operation Teams (RSOT) of the 2nd ID-PA who are harassing, intimidating and accusing the farmers, settlers and Dumagat tribesmen as NPA members and NPA-coddlers. They brought so much hardship to the mountain people, the very reason why they were targeted by NPA tactical offensive. They were not escorting PCOS Machine and election personnel because the area where the NPA offensive happened is not a voting area and no election personnel nor PCOS machine is brought to the area. The nearest voting precint where the people voted last May 10 is located in the barangay proper of Sta. Ines, Tanay, Rizal, 5 kilometers away from the place where the NPA forces sniped the government troops. Even at the voting place, there were no PCOS machine and election personnel because the election personnel with the PCOS machine already left the polling place early morning of May 11, 2010. The BEI and the Smartmatic personnel were already resting in their homes when the tactical offensive happened. They had a good laugh when informed that AFP is telling the press people that they were being escorted by AFP when the government troops came under attacked by NPA red fighters.

The statement by the 2nd ID-PA spokesperson is therefore a clear lie. To cover-up for their successive defeats in the hands of NPA-Rizal, the 2nd ID-PA-AFP led by Maj. Gen. Segovia is continuously lying to the public and to the media people. They always tried to hide the number of AFP casualties in their battles against NPA forces while being boastful when they arrests civilians like the Morong 43 health workers whom they presented as NPA bomb makers. They want to recover their battlefield losses thru black propaganda and distortion of facts. But again, only the senior AFP officers believed their tales because the ordinary soldiers and junior AFP officers in the field knows exactly the real picture of the government campaign to destroy the NPA, where failures and setbacks dominates. Besides, the people know the truth and could not be deceived by mere poisoned press releases by the AFP propagandist.

To the media people, we call on you to always verify the veracity of statements being given to you by 2nd ID-PA officers lest you'll be used as instrument to propagate lies instead of truth. Exert effort to seek truth from the people where the incident happens.

http://www.philippinerevolution.net/cgi-bin/statements/stmts.pl?author=naac2;date=100514;lang=eng

[The Vegan Marxist]

Arrested AFP soldiers, paramilitary undergoing investigations; treated well under NPA custody

Simon Santiago
Regional Political Department
Merardo Arce Command
NPA-Southern Mindanao
May 14, 2010

The Crucifino Uballas Command-Front 2 Operations Command of the New People's Army in Southern Mindanao implemented Wednesday, May 12, the arrest order handed down by the local revolutionary People's Court against three AFP soldiers and a paramilitary Cafgu under the 72nd Infantry Battalion of the 10th Infantry Division-Eastern Mindanao Command-AFP. The arrested AFP/Paramilitary men were Barangay Limbo, Maco detachment commander Cpl. Marcial B. Bawagan (SN # 794130) and his assistant detachment commander Cpl. Ariel P. Asumo (SN 803445); Barangay Anitapan, Mabini detachment commander Cpl. Eduardo Alcala (SN # 806489) and paramilitary Victor Pitogo (SN # 006279). They were arrested at around 10:30 AM in Barangay Conception, Mawab, Compostela Valley Province.

The arrest order was handed down by the local revolutionary People's Court against the AFP/Paramilitary men for the following complaints:


Active counter-revolutionary activities;

A number of human rights violations perpetrated against the masses in their areas of responsibility. In fact, their victims have already filed complaints against Cpls. Bawagan and Asumo in the GRP's Commission on Human Rights (CHR) but the case suffered inaction;

Violation of the People's Democratic Government regulations especially within the guerilla bases. Barangay Conception where Cpl. Bawagan lives is located in a guerilla base.


The four AFP/paramilitary men are undergoing investigations. The NPA-Southern Mindanao assures their families that they are being treated well under the revolutionary movement's strict adherence to the international humanitarian law and war protocols.

http://www.philippinerevolution.net/cgi-bin/statements/stmts.pl?author=smpd;date=100514;lang=eng

[robbo203]

I do wish the term "revolution" was not used so indisciriminately and was confined to the noition of a fundamental change in the basis of society. Violent uprisings are not in themselves revolutuionary and can quite easily denote just the attempt to swap one set of rulers with another withing the same basic social framework of capitalism

[NaxalbariZindabad]

robbo203, I don't think there's any reason to say the revolutionary movement in the Philippines is not revolutionary.
You're thinking the CPP doesn't want fundamental change in the basis of society, but do you really know about its program?
I suggest looking at this CPP document: Program for a People's Democratic Revolution (http://www.philippinerevolution.net/cgi-bin/cpp/pdocs.pl?id=pdr_e;page=01)

[pranabjyoti]

I do wish the term "revolution" was not used so indisciriminately and was confined to the noition of a fundamental change in the basis of society. Violent uprisings are not in themselves revolutuionary and can quite easily denote just the attempt to swap one set of rulers with another withing the same basic social framework of capitalism
I suggest you better search for "revolutionaries" among aliens.

[The Vegan Marxist]

Revolutionary Political Authority Asserted and Upheld in Guerilla Territories in NPA Release of Lingig Mayor Luna, 4 POWs

Roel Agustin II
Conrado Heredia Command
Spokesman
Front 20 Operations Command
New People's Army-Southern Mindanao
May 17, 2010

Bisaya
The People's Democratic Government in Guerilla Front 20 has ordered the release of detainee current Lingig mayor Roberto "Jimmy" Luna Jr. on account of his voluntary admission of culpability and issuance of a public apology in relation to the various crimes for which he stands accused of in the revolutionary People's Court.

The Merardo Arce Command-New People's Army has likewise directed the Camp for the Administration of Detainees of the Conrado Heredia Command-NPA to release the four Prisoners of War (POW) who are AFP/PNP elements. The release of Luna and the 4 POWs is also being undertaken as a humanitarian consideration to the appeals made by their respective families and friends and various individuals and groups who made representations on their behalf.

Luna has admitted his culpability in maintaining a large private armed group consisting of AFP and PNP elements and hired goons. He employed this private armed group in furtherance of his political and economic interests and in the process violated the human rights of the masses. The People's Court shall further investigate Luna's involvement in the following cases:

1. The Murders of former Lingig Mayor Amerosin V. Onsing in 2001, and the Suazo brothers in Barangay Union last 2007;

2. Land-grabbing of 30-hectare peasant lands in Barangay Pagbacatan and in Dahican Island;

3. Engaging in environmentally destructive logging;

4. Human rights violations;

5. Embezzlement of the people's money

Despite Luna's release from detention, the legal and judicial procedures in connection with these cases will continue; only his custodial detention is terminated. As for the four POWs, the investigation shall be suspended.

The NPA and the revolutionary masses enjoin Luna to desist from doing acts inimical to the interest of the people, particularly peasants and lumads, respect their political, economic, social and other human rights and make amends to those whom he had done injustice to.

The release from custody of Luna and the four POWs shall in no way mean that the People's Democratic Government, its People's Court as well as the NPA will not undertake justifiable course of action in the event that Luna and Pfc John Rey Abao, Pfc Arnel Dizon, P02 Boy de Castro, P03 Alan Dapitanon commit fascist acts and crimes against the people, the revolutionary movement and the environment.

During their detention, the NPA custodial unit strictly adhered to the international humanitarian law, the GRP-NDFP Comprehensive Agreement on the Respect for Human Rights and Humanitarian Law (CAR-HR-IHL); and the NPA's Three Basic Rules of Discipline and Eight Points of Attention towards the four POWs and the rules of the People's Democratic Government governing the arrest and detention of civilians facing criminal cases before the People's Court. The detainees were provided with utmost medical care, security, food and other basic necessities under guerilla conditions inside the territory of the People's Democratic Government.

The safe and orderly release of Mayor Luna, and the four POWs once more humiliates the 10th Infantry Division-Eastern Mindanao Command-AFP and exposes their long talk about so-called rescue operations as mere empty boasts ending in utter failure in the same way that its Oplan Bantay Laya was frustrated and defeated by the revolutionary resistance of the people and their revolutionary army.

http://www.philippinerevolution.net/cgi-bin/statements/stmts.pl?author=chc;date=100517;lang=eng

[The Vegan Marxist]

It's amazing how much a guilty conscience keeps talking.

Bangit admits military can’t crush NPA by June
By Jocelyn R. Uy
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 21:52:00 05/17/2010

Filed Under: Armed conflict, insurgency, Government, Military
MANILA, Philippines – Armed Forces Chief Delfin Bangit declared Monday that the military won't meet the June 2010 deadline President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo set four years ago to crush insurgency in the country.

Although government troops have made substantial gains in curbing the growth of the New People's Army, the armed-wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines, insurgency could only be crushed if its root causes were addressed, Bangit said.

"I don't think our soldiers can address poverty, poor literacy and health services," he said in an interview with reporters at Camp Aguinaldo before he took off for Masbate Monday.

A look at the military's "scoreboard" slashing the NPA strength from its peak of 25,200 in 1987 to over 4,800 this year showed that the AFP has "best achieved its mission," Bangit said.

Records showed that from the 5,021 NPA fighters recorded during the first semester last year, the figure fell to 4,895 early this year.

In June 2006, Ms Arroyo instructed the military to finish the communist insurgency in the country, now on its 41st year, before she stepped down from Malacañang.

But Bangit admitted it could not be done by the military alone.

"We should be able to address the large portion of the problem, which are the root causes of insurgency ... we have to go back to poverty, the administration of health, literacy," said Bangit.

"If we list the causes of insurgency, you will see that many do not call for a military solution," he added.

But the military would continue to speed up its tempo against insurgency, said AFP spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Arnulfo Burgos Jr. in a separate interview Monday.

In a consultation meeting with battalion commanders in Masbate, Bangit announced that the joint security control centers the military and the police set up for the 2010 automated elections shall continue functioning across the country to undertake counter-insurgency operations, Burgos relayed to reporters.

"Our coordination with the police was very good in this kind of setup so the AFP has decided to continue with it, this time for internal security operations," said Burgos.

http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/nation/view/20100517-270573/Bangit-admits-military-cant-crush-NPA-by-June

[robbo203]

robbo203, I don't think there's any reason to say the revolutionary movement in the Philippines is not revolutionary.
You're thinking the CPP doesn't want fundamental change in the basis of society, but do you really know about its program?
I suggest looking at this CPP document: Program for a People's Democratic Revolution (http://www.philippinerevolution.net/cgi-bin/cpp/pdocs.pl?id=pdr_e;page=01)


Well its pretty clear that the CPP does not envisage a fundamental change in the basis of society. What it wants is a modified or reformed system of capitalism as even a cursory glance at the programme reveals. For example in the section on the economy, clause 8 states


Protect and encourage Filipino-owned commerce and industry by providing market guarantees, protection, credit and tax relief;

There are several other indicators of the bourgeois and state capitalist outlook of the CCP

You might argue that this is a progressive form of capitalism, preferable to the existing form of capitalism but by no stretch of the imagination can you claim that the CPP programme entails a "fundamental change in the basis of society"

[The Vegan Marxist]

As you can see here, media are apparently mixing "innocent people" with police personnel as well in the Philippines. I wonder how many times they used this tactic in order to make the NPA look as if they're merely killing "innocent lives" rather than waging a revolution?

Soldiers engage NPA in gunbattle

BY GILBERT BAYORAN
Tuesday, May 18, 2010

A 20-minute gunbattle erupted yesterday in Toboso, Negros Occidental, between soldiers of the 62nd Infantry Battalion and the New People’s Army that the military said had foiled rebel attempts to launch terroristic activities in northern Negros.

Lt. Col. Alberto Desoyo, 62nd Infantry Battalion commander, said the running gunbattle took place between his soldiers and about 30 armed rebels in Sitio Bugho, Brgy. General Luna in Toboso.

Desoyo said the rebels probably had plans to hit military or police detachments, as they were monitored to have regrouped in the place, before the encounter took place.

Pursuit operations against the fleeing rebels are still ongoing, and, as of last night, soldiers were still scouring the encounter site.

No casualty was reported on the government side, Desoyo said.

Inspector Mateo Maguate,Toboso police chief, yesterday said eight families fled from their homes, for fear of being caught in the crossfire. He, however, said they returned to their homes after the gunbattle.

The Toboso encounter took place three days after suspected rebel hit men assassinated a policeman and a civilian in Guihulnmgan, Negros Oriental.

The Army’s 11th Infantry Battalion has condemned what it called another “terroristic act” of rebels.

1Lt. Joseph Buencamino, 11th IB Civil Military Operations chief, also challenged the rights group, Karapatan, and its allied organizations, known critics of alleged military abuses, to also condemn the NPA for the summary execution of PO3 Ronnie Villegas Marinog, a member of the Guihulngan City Police Station, and his civilian companion, Reynaldo de la Pena, alias Budoy.

Buencamino said the alleged rebel hitmen also took the 9mm pistol of Marinog, before they withdrew.

Once again the CPP-NPA has proven to the public how inhuman they are, killing innocent people and unwary government personnel, he added.

http://www.visayandailystar.com/2010/May/18/topstory8.htm

[The Vegan Marxist]

4 suspected NPA assassins arrested by Army

By Carla Gomez
Inquirer Visayas
First Posted 20:34:00 05/18/2010

BACOLOD CITY, Negros Occidental Philippines -- Government troops captured four suspected New People's Army (NPA) assassins on Tuesday in Barangay (village) Tabugon, Kabankalan City, Negros Occidental.

Lt. Col. Ricardo Bayhon, 61st Infantry Battalion commander, identified the four alleged rebel hit men as Roderick Silaga, 23; his brother, Ricardo, 21; Allan Mahusay, 21; and Ruel Morales, 24.

The soldiers also confiscated a .357 Magnum revolver with six pieces of ammunition, a .38 caliber revolver with nine bullets, a homemade 12-gauge shotgun with eight bullets, a fragmentation grenade, tear gas and two bladed weapons from the four alleged rebels.

Bayhon said the arrest of the four at about 8:50 a.m. Tuesday came after the 61st IB Charlie Company soldiers led by ILt. Roberto Graciano learned about the presence of the armed men at a variety store, about 25 meters away from the Dacongcogon Sugar Central in Barangay (Village) Tabugon, Kabankalan City.

Bayhon said the four suspects who tried to flee, however, were cornered by soldiers.

Initial military investigation showed that the alleged NPA hit men might have been among those tasked to liquidate five military and police personnel, whose identities have been withheld, in the urban areas of Kabankalan and its neighboring places.

The 61st IB recently uncovered a rebel drive to intensify their operations in the so-called white areas or lowlands.

The capture of four rebel assassins believed to be members of the Special Armed Partisan Unit of the Kilusang Larangan-South West (South West Field Movement) came four days after five suspected rebel hit men gunned down a policeman and a civilian in Guihulngan, Negros Oriental, according to the military.

Killed were PO3 Ronnie Villegas Marinog, a member of the Guihulngan City Police Station, and his civilian companion, Reynaldo de la Pena, alias Budoy.

http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/regions/view/20100518-270760/4-suspected-NPA-assassins-arrested-by-Army

[The Vegan Marxist]

Soldiers recover bombs after clash with NPA

By Frinston Lim
Inquirer Mindanao
05/19/2010

TAGUM CITY, Davao del Norte, Philippines -- The military on Wednesday said it has recovered several improvised bombs following a clash with New People’s Army rebels in Maco town, Compostela Valley.

Soldiers from the army’s Scout Rangers Battalion stumbled upon seven improvised explosive devices (IEDs) after troops overran a suspected rebel encampment in Panangan village at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, Capt. Emmanuel Garcia, 10th Infantry Division public affairs chief, said.

Garcia said troops were conducting an operation to locate and rescue four government troops the NPA had abducted in nearby Mawab town over a week ago when they ran into some 40 communist insurgents, resulting in a firefight.

“No one from our troops was hurt but we suspected the enemy suffered heavy casualties whom they dragged along as they withdrew,” Garcia said.

Garcia said government troops recovered a total of eight improvised mines across Davao region that day, with the other one being discovered by soldiers patrolling a hinterland village in Davao City.

Three assault rifles and other war materials were also captured from the rebels in Maco, Garcia said.

“Our soldiers’ efforts of safeguarding our people against this kind of terrorism are already gaining ground and getting good results,” said Maj. General Carlos Holganza, the army’s 10th ID commander.

The military has accused the NPA of using IEDs banned by international war protocols due to the harm these explosives pose even to non-combatants.

In 2009, the NPA carried out 11 attacks using IEDs in Davao region, killing almost a dozen soldiers and civilians and wounding at least 30 others, Garcia said.

http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/regions/view/20100519-271010/Soldiers-recover-bombs-after-clash-with-NPA

[The Vegan Marxist]

Suspected NPA rebs seize 2 govt militiamen in CamSur
05/20/2010

Suspected communist rebels on Thursday abducted two government militiamen after torching two heavy equipment owned by a private firm in Camarines Sur province, a military official said.

Major Harold Cabunoc, spokesman of the Philippine Army's 9th Infantry Division, said the two militiamen were seized shortly after armed men believed to be members of the New People’s Army (NPA) burned down two motor graders owned by Sunwest Corporation at about 10:40 a.m. in Sto. Niño village in Bula town.

The two abducted members of the Citizen Armed Force Geographical Unit (CAFGU) were identified as Edwin Bilando and Stanley Furtugues. Both were unarmed when seized, Cabunoc said.

Cabunoc said the attack was connected to the NPA’s extortion activities in the province.

"Pinapatuloy nila yung kanilang extortion scheme dito sa Kabikulan at kung hindi magbigay itong construction company na nag-iimplement ng development projects ng pamahalaan ay kanilang sinusunog at inaatake," Cabunoc said.

(This is part of the rebels’ extortion racket here in the Bicol region. They usually attack construction companies that do not give in to their extortion demands.)

He noted that the torched heavy equipment were being used in the Panoypoyan-Minalabac road project.

Major General Ruperto Pabustan, commander of the 9th ID, appealed to the abductors to respect the human rights of the two captured CAFGU members.

"Respect [their] human rights and dapat na hindi papatayin itong in-abduct ng [NPA] kasi sa hanay naman ng Philippine Army, ang lahat ng nahuli namin ay binuhay naman," Pabustan said.

(We are asking the abductors to respect the human rights of their captives because we are doing that on rebels we have captured.)

He cited as an example Reynante Mortel, a 40-year-old rebel commander captured during an encounter with government troops on the day of the recently-concluded elections.

"Wala naman kaming pinatay sa mga captured namin. (Si Mortel ay) hindi ito binaril, kahit nahuli ito sa isang encounter (We have never killed any rebel captured in battle)," he said.

Pabustan has personally visited the site to assess the situation and has already directed the Army's 902nd Brigade to conduct pursuit operations against the rebels.

http://www.gmanews.tv/story/191413/suspected-npa-rebs-seize-2-govt-militiamen-in-camsur

[The Vegan Marxist]

4 arrested AFP men safe and well; AFP offensive operations would only prolong custodial detention, investigation

Anvil Guinto
Spokesperson
Crucifino Uballas Command
Front 2 Operations Command
NPA-Southern Mindanao
May 20, 2010

The Crucifino Uballas Command-Front 2 Operations Command of the New People's Army in Southern Mindanao assures the families and relatives of arrested AFP Corporals Marcial B. Bawagan, Ariel P. Asumo and Eduardo Alcala, and CAA Victor Pitogo that they are safe and well. Their rights are respected under the protocols of war and international humanitarian laws, and the inherent rules of discipline strictly adhered to by the NPA.

The detainees -- Cpls. Bawagan (SN # 794130), Asumo (SN # 803445) and Alcala (SN # 806489), and CAA Pitogo (SN # 006279) -- are under investigation for charges ranging from active counter-revolutionary acts to violations of human rights, and of the regulations of the People's Democratic Government in the base areas. Their May 12 arrest was implemented following the order of the local revolutionary People's Court.

The rescue operations-cum-offensive military operations of the 10th Infantry Division-Eastern Mindanao Command-AFP to retrieve the detained AFP and paramilitary personnel will only achieve two things:

First, it will only prolong the on-going investigation and custodial detention of Cpls. Bawagan, Asumo and Alcala and CAA Pitogo. And second, more and more civilians will only become victims of human rights violations in villages subjected to offensive combat operations of the desperate 10th ID-EastMinCom-AFP reeling from defeats due to the active resistance of the people and the revolutionary movement.

http://www.philippinerevolution.net/cgi-bin/statements/stmts.pl?author=cuc;date=100520;lang=eng

[The Vegan Marxist]

3 soldiers killed in NPA ambush in Davao City
05/22/2010

Three government soldiers were killed while another one was injured in an ambush staged by communist rebels in Davao City on Saturday, a military spokesman said.

Capt. Emmanuel Garcia, spokesman of the Army’s 10th Infantry Division, said the troops from the Army's 69th Infantry Battalion were attacked by New People's Army (NPA) rebels near a civilian community at the village of Baracatan in Toril district around 12 noon.

“The ambush shows the treachery and utter disregard of the NPA to human lives particularly to civilians who might have been hit by bullets coming from them as there were houses a few hundred meters away," he said.

Garcia withheld the identities of the slain troops pending the notification of their families.

The official said the attack was as “reckless and treacherous" as the May 12 ambush of government troops who were escorting election officers and poll watchers in Maragusan town in Compostela Valley. Four soldiers, an election officer and a poll watcher died in that attack.

The death of the civilian victim promoted communist leaders to seek a public apology, which the military dismissed.

“Fortunately for our people, no civilian was injured in today’s attack but it claimed the lives of three government troops and wounded another one 3 govt troops and wounded another one belonging to 69th IB who have been securing our people in Baracatan," Garcia said.

http://www.gmanews.tv/story/191615/3-soldiers-killed-in-npa-ambush-in-davao-city

[The Vegan Marxist]

A reprise of the recently concluded reactionary elections

Communist Party of the Philippines
May 22, 2010

The recently concluded reactionary elections, seemingly "modernized" with automation, was as rotten to the core as ever. The return to power of the Aquino-Cojuangco clan and its Kamag-anak Inc., through apparent president-elect Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III; the repositioning of the Marcoses--Imelda, Ferdinand Jr. and Imee; the continuing domination of Congress by the Arroyos, now with Gloria Arroyo herself elected congressman; and many more of the like all point to the indictment of the recent reactionary elections as nothing but a big sham foisted by the reactionary ruling classes upon the masses.

Such rottenness reeks down the line with the perpetuation or return to power of big warlord-political dynasties such as the Dys of Isabela, the Singsons of Ilocos Sur, the Ortegas of La Union, the Pinedas of Pampanga, the Jalosjoses of Zamboanga, the Garcias of Cebu, the Dimaporos of Lanao and so on with the usual "guns, goons and gold," and now electronic cheating.

Despite allout efforts to keep them from winning, a few progressives are expected to gain seats in Congress as representatives of grassroots party-list organizations. Within parliament, they can espouse the patriotic, democratic and other basic interests of the people and help advance the struggles of the people in coordination with the democratic mass movement. They will, however, always be outvoted by the overwhelming majority composed of representatives of imperialist, comprador and feudal interests, especially when it comes to fundamental issues concerning national sovereignty, land reform, national industrialization and the welfare of the toiling masses,

The recent election has resulted only in the perpetuation of the same old, rotten semicolonial and semifeudal system. However deep and intense the contradictions are among the rival political factions of the reactionary ruling classes, they remain one against the Filipino people, especially the toiling masses. They are all puppets of US imperialism and share the same class interests. They deceive the people with lies and empty promises, and apply the coercive apparatus of the reactionary state to suppress those who oppose and fight.

They dominate the elections and make a mockery of democracy and the people's right to suffrage. Reactionary elections in the Philippines do not actually provide the people with much of a choice, except that between evil and the apparent lesser evil. Most of the time, the apparent lesser evil that gets installed into power soon becomes the primary evil and carries out policies even much worse than before.

The imperialists are abundant with praise for the seeming success of the recent elections. Among the first to congratulate the apparent winner, Aquino, even before his being officially proclaimed, was the newly appointed chief imperialist representative US Ambassador Harry Thomas Jr.

US imperialism has long been interested in seeing the apparent success of the reactionary elections with the hope of pacifying the people and achieving temporary compromise among the rival factions of the local ruling classes. It has thus been pushing for the automation of the elections with the hope that its swiftness, apparent efficiency and difficulty in proving fraud would at least make for some credibility. The ultimate objective of the US in this is the stability and preservation of the puppet ruling system for its own interest.

Many were initially awed by the rapid counting of votes and return of results through the newly implemented automated elections. They have long been tired of the tedious, long-drawn and highly contentious manual counting and canvassing of votes with weeks of waiting for the final results. Even critics of the automated elections who foretold of wholesale failures were almost ready to concede as election results rapidly streamed from the COMELEC computers to the media with initially apparent speed and efficiency.

However, information concerning electoral fraud began spilling out soon after, dampening many people's initial enthusiasm about the automated elections and casting aspersion on its credibility. Claims are now coming out regarding widespread rigging of votes through old and new ways, including the use of tainted flash cards, the pre-shading and switching of ballots, the failure of many PCOS machines and "refeeding" of ballots or resort to manual counting, the jamming of transmissions and many others. There are widespread suspicions of fraud over the flash cards that were hurriedly replaced just a few days before the elections. These have been further stoked by the COMELEC which has ordered the destruction of those flash cards.

The source code of the software used to run the machines has never been made available to the public despite repeated requests for independent public review. Several key security safeguards in the system, such as the ballot verification system, were not applied or were even suspiciously disabled. Transmission dates and time stamps were suspiciously way off the actual election period. Meanwhile, scores of PCOS machines were discovered in a private residence in Antipolo and believed to have illegally transmitted results. Sacks of flash cards, ballots and other election paraphernalia were discovered suspiciously dumped in a garbage site in Cagayan de Oro.

Hearings are now being conducted to look into numerous claims of fraud. It would now appear that all the major parties that contested the recent elections--including Arroyo's ruling party that is driven by its own sinister agenda of putting the entire process in doubt--are accusing the other parties and even the COMELEC of rigging the elections. These may indeed still snowball and trigger widespread doubt about the credibility of the results, including Aquino's victory. In the face of evidence of massive fraud and demands to investigate the matter, there are now threats of delay in the Congress' canvassing of votes and proclamation of winners in the presidential and vice-presidential contests.

Even as it denies dipping its hand in the imbroglio, the Arroyo ruling clique is taking advantage of such developments as part of its tactics. On the one hand, it is a way to put Aquino's claim to the presidency in question right at the outset and further weaken it all throughout. On the other hand, it is part of its own power perpetuation scheme. With the operators of US imperialism continuing to intercede among the rival reactionary factions and come out with some compromise, the Arroyo camp is now resorting to the sliest of tactics so as not to radically upset the ruling puppet reactionary system with outrightly illegal maneuvers and avoid openly clashing with the wishes and interest of their imperialist master.

As the different rival factions of the reactionary ruling classes continue to jostle against one another, the Filipino people are again being provided a valuable lesson revealing the reactionary class nature and rottenness of Philippine politics. More and more, it becomes clear to the people that they do not enjoy real democracy under the ruling political system, and that the reactionary elections are only there to make them believe that democracy exists. The democracy that the ruling system provides is one that is enjoyed only by the ruling classes of imperialist agents, big landlords, big bourgeois compradors and big bureacrat capitalists who lord it over the downtrodden workers, peasants and other oppressed classes and sectors.

For the people to enjoy real democracy, they must make revolution to overthrow the oppressive puppet state of the reactionary ruling classes. They must replace it with one that is built directly from their strength, especially from the mass of the workers and peasants, on the basis of their national and democratic aspirations. Only under a people's democratic government can national sovereignty be thoroughly upheld, genuine agrarian reform achieved, national industries built and the other basic interests of the people given guarantee and priority.

As the reactionary elections once again reveal the hopeless rottenness of the entire ruling system, more and more are turning to the revolutionary path with the aspiration of building a liberated, democratic, bright and prosperous future for the country and its people.

http://www.philippinerevolution.net/cgi-bin/statements/stmts.pl?author=cpp;date=100522;lang=eng

[MaoTseHelen]

Officials said New People’s Army insurgents attacked the soldiers in the village of Taguibo in Davao Oriental’s Mati town where security forces were guarding the precinct count optical scan machines which will be used in the country’s first automated elections on Monday.

The same ones that can be preprogrammed to disregard votes except for a pre-set candidate? Wow, sure does sound like a good idea.

[The Vegan Marxist]

The same ones that can be preprogrammed to disregard votes except for a pre-set candidate? Wow, sure does sound like a good idea.

I would take the stories coming in that are claiming the NPA are trying to disrupt the elections by attacking those who are carrying or protecting PCOS machines. They tried making one incident to look like the NPA had killed a bunch of police personnel that were carrying PCOS machines, & then even claimed the NPA are apologizing for it. Yet, we then get confirmation that the NPA said nothing of the sort, & that those that were killed weren't even carrying PCOS machines, due to how there wasn't an electoral station for many miles within the area.

[The Vegan Marxist]

In the 2010 automated elections, the Filipino people were the ultimate losers!

Jorge "Ka Oris" Madlos
Spokesperson
National Democratic Front of the Philippines-Mindanao
May 20, 2010

The National Democratic Front in Mindanao (NDF-Mindanao) believes that the Filipino people were the ultimate losers in this year's national elections, which yielded dubious results that strengthen and expand the power of big landlords, old rich families, big bureaucrats, warlords, and worse, druglords.

Sen. Noynoy Aquino will assume the presidency come June 30. He hails from the big landlord Cojuangco-Aquino family, and whose mother, Corazon Cojuangco Aquino, was the President responsible for the massacre of 13 peasants at Mendiola in 1987. Sixteen years after the Mendiola carnage, the murder of protesting peasants at Hacienda Luisita happened. Noynoy Aquino, then congressman of Tarlac, blamed the peasant and farm-worker demonstrators for the death of 8 of their comrades massacred by the military and police summoned by the Hacienda Luisita management. In the next six years, we saw no justice for the victims of these two horrific massacres, as well to the millions of landless peasants in the country who cannot hope for genuine agrarian reform to materialize under a US-backed Aquino government.

The Marcoses have also benefitted from the automated elections. Imelda Marcos and Imee Marcos have been elected as congressman and governor of Ilocos respectively, while Bongbong Marcos, as senator. The result of the first automated elections virtually erased the history of plunder and fascist rule under the Marcos years. Alongside the Marcoses, other traditional politicians, like Enrile, Estrada, Revilla, Lapid, Piñeda of Pampanga, and Dy of Isabela, have been reinstalled.

The Ampatuan warlord clan continue to hold power in Maguindanao by winning most of the seats in the province. Known druglords in Mindanao are also back in power: Jalosjos in Zamboanga del Norte, the Parojinogs in Ozamis, Misamis Occidental, and the Romarates in Surigao del Norte.

As the automated election entrenched the most reactionary of the ruling class, it made sure the legal left and progressive groups were relegated to the back seat, including consequently politicians who have alliances with them.

The automation hype could not conceal the old forms of cheating, which by no small measure has plagued the 2010 elections. Still rampant were vote buying, disenfranchisement, direct intimidation, coercion and many other forms. The automation by way of the Precinct Count Optical Scan (PCOS) machines may have introduced a faster way of conducting the elections, but it also ushered in a more sophisticated and discreet manner of cheating.

Of late, the post-election euphoria that swept the country on account of the "success" of the much- vaunted first-ever automated elections in the Philippines is rapidly dissolving into pockets of post-election protests that may explode into a nationwide indignation.

The possibility for the PCOS machines to have been pre-configured to favor select candidates for a price, has cast serious doubts on the veracity of the electronically-processed results of the May 10 elections. With this, Sen. Noynoy Aquino, the president-elect thanks to the national media hype, including the cover story in TIME magazine, and the automation, it appears, has the mandate, not of the people, but of a pre-programmed machine.

Kudos to the Comelec, who, despite fears of a possible massive mechanical breakdown that could cause failure of elections, vindicated themselves by almost seamlessly handling the electoral process. Before May 10, we were of the impression that the so-called automated election was designed to fail, given these factors: 1) machines were of dubious quality, 2) teachers and technicians handling the electoral proceedings were generally poorly trained and shabbily paid, and 3) the Filipino electorate was unprepared. Overarching these was of course the intent of the US-Arroyo regime to maintain, in desperation, its hold on power.

However, given how the power-play stands now, the automated mode of elections was meant in the first place to succeed because not only results came out faster, cheating and fraud, now on an electronic level, came more discreet, sophisticated, and virtually invisible to public scrutiny. The machines could not guarantee that the recently concluded elections were completely divorced from fraud. There was 'electronic hocus-PCOS': the machine indicated that your vote has been registered, but it did not exactly reveal to which candidate it actually went.

As the cheating unfolds, apologists are also busy in plugging the leak and, in this sense, there is urgency for a people's movement to investigate further and deeper into this highly sophisticated form of cheating, and eventually demand for justice.

The NDF Mindanao reiterates its position that bourgeois and reactionary elections do not and will not guarantee the nation fundamental emancipation from the semi-feudal, semi-colonial character of Philippine society. With results that handed victory to some of the most vicious families from the ruling class, the Filipino people have once again lost. Let not the election euphoria blind us; let us unite and truly work for the people's victory!

http://www.philippinerevolution.net/cgi-bin/statements/stmts.pl?date=100520;author=ndfm;lang=eng

[The Vegan Marxist]

Suspected NPA men raid sugar plantation, seize guns

By Carla Gomez
Inquirer Visayas
First Posted 23:07:00 05/23/2010

Filed Under: Armed conflict, Crime, Military
BACOLOD CITY, Negros Occidental, Philippines--Suspected New People’s Army rebels raided another sugar plantation in Negros Occidental on Saturday and disarmed private security guards of three firearms.

One of the suspected rebels involved in the attack was later killed in a fire fight with pursuing soldiers belonging to the 11th Infantry Battalion.

Colonel Maximo Caro, 303rd Infantry Brigade commander, said on Sunday that 15 armed rebels swooped down on Hacienda Estrella in Barangay Bi-ao, Binalbagan, at around 5 a.m. Saturday and took a .45 caliber Thompson sub-machine gun and two 12-gauge shotguns from the plantation’s security guards.

Pursuing soldiers of the 11th IB later figured in three armed skirmishes with the fleeing suspected rebels in Barangay Bi-ao, Binalbagan town that led to the death of a still unidentified insurgent.

The fleeing rebels left behind the body of their slain companion. A .38-caliber revolver, a backpack containing personal belongings and food were recovered from his possession, Caro said.

In previous weeks, suspected rebels managed to collect 23 high-powered firearms as a result of their raids of what the military called “soft targets” in Calatrava and the cities of Himamaylan and Sipalay, all in Negros Occidental.

Military records showed that suspected rebels also ransacked the Maricalum Mining Company compound and took with them P2 million worth of copper in Sipalay City. The rebels were also blamed for last month’s attack on a fighting cock farm in Himamaylan City with the culprits fleeing with 19 gamefowls.

Caro said private corporations, government entities and owner of haciendas have been targeted by the NPA for their “agaw armas (firearm snatching) operations” and because they refused to pay revolutionary taxes.

He added the rebels were monitored to have been wearing military uniforms and posing as government soldiers in the conduct of raids in Negros Occidental.

Caro advised all landowners to be wary of the modus operandi of rebels. He said Army units passing through a certain property normally informed landowners in advance before their arrival in the area.

http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/regions/view/20100523-271706/Suspected-NPA-men-raid-sugar-plantation-seize-guns

[The Vegan Marxist]

I've decided to release images from the NPA which shows drills, women who's joined, & their duties while the camp site:

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash1/hs427.ash1/23653_108029069224523_100000522907388_149048_79188 54_n.jpg

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs367.snc3/23653_108029072557856_100000522907388_149049_27416 90_n.jpg

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash1/hs427.ash1/23653_108029075891189_100000522907388_149050_30063 57_n.jpg

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs367.snc3/23653_108029079224522_100000522907388_149051_31243 38_n.jpg

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash1/hs427.ash1/23653_108029082557855_100000522907388_149052_49577 43_n.jpg

http://hphotos-snc3.fbcdn.net/hs367.snc3/23653_108029395891157_100000522907388_149057_59234 _n.jpg

http://hphotos-snc3.fbcdn.net/hs367.snc3/23653_108029399224490_100000522907388_149058_69483 56_n.jpg

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash1/hs427.ash1/23653_108029402557823_100000522907388_149059_42514 70_n.jpg

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash1/hs427.ash1/23653_108029405891156_100000522907388_149060_52261 25_n.jpg

http://hphotos-snc3.fbcdn.net/hs433.snc3/24923_105637702796993_100000522907388_141391_19878 39_n.jpg

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs513.snc3/26955_105105876183509_100000522907388_131819_56866 99_n.jpg

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs493.snc3/26955_105105886183508_100000522907388_131822_89933 _n.jpg

http://hphotos-snc3.fbcdn.net/hs493.snc3/26955_105105892850174_100000522907388_131824_65595 15_n.jpg

http://hphotos-snc3.fbcdn.net/hs513.snc3/26955_105105899516840_100000522907388_131826_22067 31_n.jpg

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs513.snc3/26955_105105902850173_100000522907388_131827_59476 89_n.jpg

http://hphotos-snc3.fbcdn.net/hs486.snc3/26580_104849489542481_100000522907388_126343_84463 2_n.jpg

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash1/hs298.ash1/22549_104501906243906_100000522907388_118352_55225 30_n.jpg

http://hphotos-snc3.fbcdn.net/hs238.snc3/22569_102731453087618_100000522907388_76870_617445 5_n.jpg

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash1/hs298.ash1/22569_102731459754284_100000522907388_76872_506755 4_n.jpg

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs238.snc3/22569_102730069754423_100000522907388_76833_509663 7_n.jpg

[The Vegan Marxist]

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash1/hs298.ash1/22569_102730076421089_100000522907388_76835_220479 2_n.jpg

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs218.snc3/22569_102730079754422_100000522907388_76836_343055 0_n.jpg

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs218.snc3/22569_102599056434191_100000522907388_72771_325918 2_n.jpg

[The Vegan Marxist]

5 dead, 8 hurt in NPA, Army clash in Davao
05/25/2010

MANILA, Philippines - Five people died and 8 others were hurt in a clash between suspected New People's Army (NPA) rebels and Army troops securing a road project in Banaybanay town, Davao Oriental province on Monday.

Captain Emmanuel Garcia, spokesman of the Philippine Army's 10th Infantry Division, said the rebels on board 2 trucks attacked the soldiers securing the Mati-Tagum highway construction in Barangay Maputi around noon.

Garcia said 3 Army soldiers and 4 others were killed during the clash.

He said that rebels commandeered the 2 trucks before carrying out the attack.

Garcia said Army soldiers were able to rescue a driver of one of the trucks. He said the driver told them that he saw 2 dead rebels and 4 others wounded on the truck.

Joint Army and police teams have launched pursuit operations against the rebels.

http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/nation/regions/05/25/10/5-dead-8-hurt-npa-army-clash-davao

[The Vegan Marxist]

NPA raids 28th IB-patrol base, confiscates 11 high-powered rifles

Simon Santiago
Regional Political Department
Merardo Arce Command
NPA-Southern Mindanao
May 25, 2010

A composite team of the New People's Army's 3rd Pulang Bagani Company and Front 18 Operations Command in Southern Mindanao raided the 28th Infantry Battalion-AFP patrol base Monday, May 24 at 12 noon in Sitio Chapter, Brgy. Maputi in Banaybanay, Davao Oriental. Three were instantly killed and four were wounded on the enemy side, while two surrendered and were freed by the Red fighters.

The NPA seized 11 high-powered rifles: two minimi sub-machine gun, two M203 grenade launcher, three M14 rifles, three Garand rifles and one M16 rifle. One comrade was martyred in this operation.

http://www.philippinerevolution.net/cgi-bin/statements/stmts.pl?author=smpd;date=100525;lang=eng

[The Vegan Marxist]

NDFP calls on incoming administration to hold Mrs. Arroyo accountable for human rights violations and plunder

Luis G. Jalandoni
Chairperson
Negotiating Panel
National Democratic Front of the Philippines
May 26, 2010

The National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) Negotiating Panel calls on the incoming administration of apparent President Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III to hold Ms. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and the military and civilian officials of her regime accountable for numerous gross human rights violations and blatant cases of massive corruption and plunder.

The broad masses of the people expect Aquino to fulfill his promise to carry out the investigation and prosecution of the Arroyo regime within the legal and political framework of the Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP). The failure of Aquino to fulfill his promise within the first 100 days of his rule will outrage the people and will once more expose the rottenness not only of the new administration but also the entire ruling system.

Aquino vigorously sought votes by pledging to investigate and prosecute Arroyo and her cohorts for the crimes that they have committed for so long. The people therefore expect Aquino to go beyond mere rhetoric in the electoral campaign and to go after Mrs. Arroyo and her cohorts. The people are determined to obtain justice and will condemn and take action against the obnoxious practice of the oligarchs of condoning each other's crimes at the expense of the people.

Holding Mrs. Arroyo accountable in response to the demands of Filipino people and the victims and their families will significantly help to improve the atmosphere for the resumption of formal peace talks between the Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP) and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP).

We issue this call in line with our firm commitment to uphold, defend and advance the fundamental interests of the Filipino people and in response to their deep aspirations for social justice, democracy and a just and lasting peace.

The NDFP stands ready to resume formal peace talks with the incoming administration on the basis of The Hague Joint Declaration of 1992, the Joint Agreement on Safety and Immunity Guarantees (JASIG) of 1995 and the Comprehensive Agreement on Respect for Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law (CARHRIHL), among others. We are committed to address the roots of the armed conflict through fundamental economic, social and political reforms.

The Arroyo regime must be held responsible for more than a thousand extrajudicial killings, more than 200 enforced disappearances, hundreds more of frustrated killings, thousands of cases of torture, the displacement of millions of civilians in the rural and urban areas. This will be an important signal of the new administration's commitment to implement the CARHRIHL.

Firmly taking up the crimes of plunder and corruption of Mrs. Arroyo and her cohorts will entail the exposure of the basic causes of social injustice and maldevelopment, and will thus be of great benefit to the negotiations on social and economic reforms, which is the second substantive topic in the GRP-NDFP peace negotiations as defined by The Hague Joint Declaration.

To recognize and honor the victims' and their families' unceasing efforts to obtain justice, and to respond effectively to the people's aspiration for a just and lasting peace, the NDFP demands that Ms. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo be held accountable for gross violations of the human rights of the Filipino people and for massive plunder and corruption.

http://www.philippinerevolution.net/cgi-bin/statements/stmts.pl?date=100526;author=lj;lang=eng

[The Vegan Marxist]

NPA scoffs at Gen. Holganza's claims; hails successful Davao Oriental raid

Simon Santiago
Regional Political Department
Merardo Arce Command
NPA-Southern Mindanao
May 27, 2010

The Regional Political Department-New People's Army in Southern Mindanao congratulates the brave Red commanders and fighters from the composite striking force of the 3rd Pulang Bagani Company and the Wilfredo Zapanta Command-Front 18 Operations Command of the NPA for the successful raid on the patrol base of the 28th Infantry Battalion-10th Infantry Division Monday, May 24 along the Davao-Mati national highway in Sitio Chapter, Barangay Maputi, Banaybanay, Davao Oriental.

The daring NPA noontime raid netted 11 high-powered firearms comprising of two FN Minimi Light Machine Guns, two M203 grenade launcher rifles, three Garand rifles, three M14 rifles and an M16 Armalite rifle. Three fascist troops were slain and four were wounded. Two enemy combatants surrendered uninjured during the fierce gunbattle and were freed shortly while four scampered away leaving behind their firearms and their dead. One Red fighter, Ka Tonyo, was martyred in this operation.

To deflect attention from its mounting battlefield losses, no less than the Division commander Gen. Carlos Holganza, overriding the officially-designated 10th ID-AFP spokesperson, has taken it as his added professional responsibility to announce the supposed deterioration of the NPA, the disintegration and dwindling of the ranks of the people's army by correlating a far-fetched link between the parliamentary setbacks of progressive groups in the last GRP elections as proof of the NPA's defeat.

Gen. Holganza's spurious military logic of likening the increasing regularity of victorious military actions by the people's army as mere temper tantrums of an "inconsequential" armed group wanting to get noticed is ridiculous. The AFP spin doctors attack blindly and hurl all derogatory remarks at the NPA yet the truth shows through all the lies.

The 28th IB-AFP patrol base in Sitio Chapter has clearly shown that the AFP's so-called "pro-people progress and development" are but ploys to conceal its motivation. The 28th IB-10th ID-AFP is serving as the Private Security Armed Group protecting the corporate interests of large-scale capitalists and businesses such as the Maverick construction company which secured the graft-ridden multi-billion road project contract from the reactionary GRP. The security detail provided by the AFP to big business are all at the expense of the Filipino people. Genuine people's welfare and development by means of thoroughgoing land reform and nationalist industrialization are farthest from the mandate of the reactionary AFP.

The victorious NPA military action once again demonstrates the combat capability of the people's army which relies on precise combat intelligence and deep and extensive network from the mass base. Success of the people's army in the military field is an outcome of the victories of the entire revolutionary movement in the political and ideological arena. Military matters are subordinate and complementary to the over-all political objective of abolishing the rotten social system and establishing genuine organs of political power of the people in the countryside until it is possible to seize political power nationwide.

The downtrodden masses rejoice every time the fascist AFP gets punished by their revolutionary army. Tactical offensives help build up the NPA ideologically, politically, organizationally and militarily. They provide the material basis for building the people's political organs that truly empowers the people.

The recent NPA tactical offensive once again punctuates the utter failure of the vicious counter-revolutionary Oplan Bantay Laya and the epic defeat of the 10th ID-AFP which implements its fascist mandate of suppressing popular resistance to the hated regime and containing the revolutionary forces.

The undeniable fact that the fascists are embattled and need all the resources they can muster to give a semblance of breaking even in their counter-revolutionary war is revealed in the latest one full battalion reinforcement from the 7th to the 10th ID-AFP. The redeployment of the 71st Infantry Battalion -- which is another Palparan Battalion from the 7th Infantry Division in Central Luzon -- to Compostela Valley Province reveals the truth about how desperate and miserable the 10th ID-AFP is faring in their doomed mission in Southern Mindanao. The additional battalion is another proof of their failure.

The NPA raid in Banaybanay is a fitting welcome to the newly-installed battalion more notorious for its atrocious human rights record than any other accomplishments. The NPA action should give this Palparan battalion a preview of what they should expect to face here in Southern Mindanao from the revolutionary movement as they try to duplicate the terrorism they are so experts of in Central Luzon under Palparan's command.

On the other hand, the NPA also takes issue with Capt. Emmanuel Garcia's incompetence, the 10th ID-AFP public affairs officer responsible for blurting out moronic statements to the media. He is getting paid for bungling and not getting the job done. This predicament of the fascist enemy works well for the revolutionary forces. It affords comic relief to the Red fighters and allows us the pleasure of seeing the enemy camp further expose their mercenary character. This should be fine by us, however, out of concern for a well-intentioned but misguided fine young officer such as Capt. Garcia who lets himself appear like a fool each time he makes pathetic excuses for his favorite unit. We encourage Capt. Garcia to study and search further and if he has a measure of personal integrity left in his moral fiber maybe he'll be enlightened in the process. Defending the hated fascist military establishment and the rotten system is indeed a losing proposition and is never a stepping stone for a successful military career.

http://www.philippinerevolution.net/cgi-bin/statements/stmts.pl?author=smpd;date=100527;lang=eng

[The Vegan Marxist]

NDFP HRC chairman says spin on UN report on children in armed conflict is 'false, biased and unfair'

Fidel V. Agcaoili
Chairperson
NDFP Human Rights Committee
May 30, 2010

The National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) Human Rights Committee (HRC) chairman, Fidel V. Agcaoili, lambasted today as false the news story that appeared on a national broadsheet alleging the New People's Army (NPA) to be among the "top abusers of children in war".

"Taking bits and pieces from a UN press release dated 21 May 2010 issued in connection with the annual report to the Security Council by the Secretary General, the reporter slants his story to make the false allegation that the NPA is among the "armed groups that subjected minors to the most brutal violence, such as killings, maimings, rapes and other sexual assaults", Agcaoili stated.

"The UN press release as well as the UN report itself is very clear on which armed groups allegedly committed the killings, maimings, rapes and sexual assaults of children. The list does not include the NPA. Such style of news reporting grossly violates the basic tenet of truth in journalism and is only intended to slander the NPA. It also reveals the personal bias and malice of the reporter", Agcaoili observed.

"Moreover, the UN press release itself admits that the accusations against the NPA on the alleged use of child soldiers 'could not be verified' in view of the refusal of the Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP) to allow the UN investigating team access to several areas or to engage with the NPA or the NDFP", Agcaoili noted.

"In fact, reading through the UN report, it would be more accurate to say that the GRP through its fascist thugs in the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) is the biggest violator of children's rights in the situation of armed conflict in the Philippines. The actual cases of violence against children cited in the UN report pointed to the AFP as the culprits. In the section on recommendations, the UN secretary general even expresses concern on the use of children for military intelligence and the interrogation of children by the AFP in its military operations", Agcaoili added.

"Yet the reporter conveniently disregarded and downplayed these facts and proceeded instead to spin a tall and malicious tale against the NPA", Agcaoili said.

Agcaoili reiterated that the NPA strictly abides by the policy of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) against the recruitment as combatants of children below 18 years of age. It also subscribes to the Comprehensive Agreement on Respect for Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law (CARHRIHL) on the protection of children from physical and mental abuse.

http://www.philippinerevolution.net/cgi-bin/statements/stmts.pl?date=100530;author=fva2;lang=eng

[Yazman]

Thanks again for posting this, being out of the region lately its hard to keep up on news and developments there. This is some great stuff you're posting :thumbup1:

[The Vegan Marxist]

As much as the Filipino armed forces like to claim they're in control, fact of the matter is that they're not. These attacks by the NPA is just another step towards the liberation of the Filipino people.

6 soldiers killed in Camarines Sur NPA attack
By Alexis Romero (The Philippine Star)
June 01, 2010

MANILA, Philippines - The Armed Forces of the Philippines has deployed around 300 soldiers to run after the communist rebels who staged an ambush on Sunday in Camarines Sur, which resulted to the death of six soldiers.

The Army’s 9th Infantry Division (ID) Maj. Harold Cabunoc said the troops will come from the Third Scout Rangers Battalion and the 42nd Infantry Battalion. He said the pursuit operations will be concentrated in the areas of Presentacion, Garchitorena, Goa and Ginapa.

“The civilians are giving us information so anytime we can catch the perpetrators of the ambush,” Cabunoc said adding that they are pursuing around 30 to 40 insurgents.

He said two helicopters from the Tactical Operations Group-5 are also on standby in case the troops would need them on their operations.

Killed during the ambush in Presentacion, Camarines Sur were 1Lt. Miguel Logronio Jr., Cpl. Arturo Hernandez, Pfc. Albert Jamera, Pfc. Edwin Britannico and two others who were not named. They, along with eight other companions, were running after insurgents who attacked soldiers securing an infrastructure project in the province on Saturday.

Soldiers who were part of the ambushed squad claimed that the New People’s Army also suffered casualties but did not cite speci-fic figures.

NPA a spent force

Cabunoc said they are not treating the incident as a huge setback and even praised the soldiers who fought the attacking rebels.

“They scored against the 9th ID but it was not a big loss. It highlighted the bravery of our soldiers. They fought and they did not surrender even if they were outnumbered, even if the enemies used huge explosives,” Cabunoc said.

“They (soldiers) fought even if they were wounded, they fought until they lost ammunitions,” he added.

Despite the setback, the AFP maintained that the NPA is already a “spent force.”

“The atrocities of the NPA had been confined to few areas. That will be subject of focus in our next campaign. Their actions are confined to Samar, Bicol, Compostela Valley, Davao and Negros. That will be the focus of our next campaign,” AFP spokesman Lt. Col. Arnulfo Burgos Jr. said.

“The NPA wants to project a semblance of strength,” he added.

Cabunoc said they will continue to convince the NPA rebels to surrender and to return to the fold of law.

“Firefights and killings are not the solutions to the problem. The government is showing the people that it is serious in addressing social problems,” he said.

The AFP had previously admitted that it cannot meet the June 30 deadline of wiping out insurgency in the country. Military data showed that the communist movement has around 4,700 followers nationwide.

http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=580179&publicationSubCategoryId=67

[The Vegan Marxist]

Whether this is true or not, it's unclear. I'm sure the NPA will release a confirmation on the occurrence. So when they do, I'll release it.

2 NPA rebels killed in clash with troops in Davao City
By Dennis Jay Santos
Inquirer Mindanao
06/02/2010

DAVAO CITY -- Two New People’s Army rebels were killed during a six-hour clash with government troops in a remote village of Tugbok district here on Tuesday afternoon, the military said Wednesday.

Captain Emmanuel Garcia, spokesman of the 10th Infantry Division, said the clash happened at Manuel Guinga village around 1:00 p.m.

Garcia said troopers belonging to the Army’s 69th Infantry Battalion were on a combat operation following reports of heavy presence of the rebels in the area.

The resulting gun battle lasted for six hours, Garcia said.

He said soldiers recovered from the clash site an Improvised Explosive Device (IED), an M16 rifle, night vision goggles and a binocular.

There was no report of injuries on the side of the military while the identities of the two slain rebels remained unknown.

Major General Carlos Holganza, chief of the 10th ID, said they were waiting for relatives of the slain rebels to claim the bodies.

The Guinga clash was the second incident involving the NPA in the city’s outskirts in just a span of two weeks.

On May 22, NPA rebels also killed three soldiers during an ambush near a residential area in Barangay Barakatan in Toril district.

The military said the rebels’ increased activity in the city indicated that the communist organization wanted its presence felt here again.

In the 1980s, the city was among the hotbeds of the communist insurgency in the country.

Later, communist supporters rose against the NPA – which saw the establishment of the Alsa Masa.

The revolt led to the killing of hundreds of people in what appeared to be retaliatory attacks.

The bloodbath caused Agdao district to be referred to as Nicaragdao.

The situation then was likened to that of Nicaragua, which was then beset by communist insurgency.

The Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP), through its armed wing the NPA, has been waging a protracted war against the government to install a Maoist-type regime.

Peace talks between the rebels and government bogged down several times in the past due to serious disagreements and protests over violation of ceasefire agreements.

http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/regions/view/20100602-273427/2-NPA-rebels-killed-in-clash-with-troops-in-Davao-City

[The Vegan Marxist]

Also, if anybody is wondering about who's the "Alsa Masa" as the article above called "communists" at one time, here's an old article that shows where the Alsa Masa really stood: http://davaotoday.com/2010/02/27/army-organizes-alsa-masa-in-zambo-towns/

[The Vegan Marxist]

3 NPA rebels killed, cop hurt in Zambales clash
By Abigail Kwok
INQUIRER.net
06/02/2010

MANILA, Philippines—(UPDATE) Three suspected New People’s Army rebels were killed while a police officer was hurt in a clash in Zambales province early Wednesday morning, police said.

Philippine National Police spokesman Chief Superintendent Leonardo Espina, citing reports from Central Luzon police, said a police unit clashed with an estimated 30 members of the communist rebels in the village of Malabon in Candelaria town at around 7 a.m.

Espina said reinforcing teams arrived and engaged with the suspects, leaving three still unidentified suspects dead.

The police unit’s team leader, identified only as a certain Inspector Dellezo, was wounded in the encounter and brought to the Candelaria District Hospital for treatment.

Recovered from the crime scene were various high-powered firearms and ammunition.

http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/regions/view/20100602-273441/3-NPA-rebels-killed-cop-hurt-in-Zambales-clash

[The Vegan Marxist]

NDF-EV slams AFP's violations of children's rights

Fr. Santiago "Sanny" Salas
Spokesperson
NDF-Eastern Visayas
June 2, 2010

The National Democratic Front-Eastern Visayas said today that it is the Armed Forces of the Philippines that has concrete cases of abusing children in situations of armed conflict in the Philippines. "We support the clarification by Fidel Agcaoili, chairman of the National Democratic Front of the Philippines Human Rights Committee, about the NDFP's protection of children," said Fr. Santiago salas, NDF-EV spokesperson. "He was correcting the malicious news in a national daily misstating the facts of a United Nations report, making it appear the NDFP uses child combatants, though it was never said so. In the said UN report, it is in fact the AFP that is cited for documented cases of abusing children in situations of armed conflict. The NDF-EV can further shed light on the matter because the 8th Infantry Division has well-publicized cases on the matter in Eastern Visayas."

Fr. Salas said that the Government of the Republic of the Philippines continues to keep 17-year-old Michelle Adelantar in custody through the Department of Social Welfare and Development after her illegal arrest and detention by the 8th ID. "Michelle was abducted and detained last Feb. 3 in San Jose de Buan, Western Samar by the 34th Infantry Battalion merely because she was the child of CPP-NPA members. She still remains in DSWD custody with the complicity of the 8th ID even though she has civilian relatives who are ready and willing to take her in and have in fact long demanded her release. Col. Armand Rico, 8th ID spokesperson, recently stated over the 8th ID radio program he handles the reason why the military wants Michelle detained: "Her parents are NPA members, her siblings are NPA members." This is unjust, illegitimate, arrogant and mean. This as well as other statements by Col. Rico serve as evidence of the AFP's violations of the rights of children in the armed conflict with the NDFP."

The NDF-EV spokesperson added that another damning case of the AFP's child abuse is that of Joel "Dayucdoc" Silvestre, a mentally-handicapped 13-year-old from Brgy. Montalban, Matuguinao, Western Samar who was claimed by the 8th ID to be an NPA child combatant in June 2009. "The GRP blatantly violated Joel's rights: soldiers took advantage of his mental handicap and tricked him so he could be taken into custody. The military then used Joel as a guide in their military operations; he was given a firearm and made to identify alleged NPA supporters in his community who were then interrogated and tortured. Furthermore, the 8th ID and DSWD also presented Joel to the media, divulging his real name and allowing photos and videos of him to be taken. Thus, aside from the ordeal they imposed on Joel, other innocent people also suffered and the public victimized with deception because of the military's stupid and vicious machinations."

Fr. Salas also called for justice for Michelle, Joel and other victims of human rights violations under the military's Oplan Bantay Laya. "The NDF-EV reminds the GRP that it will definitely be brought to account for violating the rights of Michelle Adelantar and Joel "Dayucdoc" Silvestre, which are well-documented and with many witnesses to attest the truth. We demand the immediate release of Michelle Adelantar. We demand justice for the victims of Oplan Bantay Laya. We demand the arrest, trial and punishment of the outgoing president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo for widespread and gross human rights violations under Oplan Bantay Laya and other crimes against the people."

http://www.philippinerevolution.net/cgi-bin/statements/stmts.pl?date=100602;author=ndfev;lang=eng

[The Vegan Marxist]

NDFP condemns Israel’s attack on aid ships for Gaza as crime against humanity

National Executive Committee
National Democratic Front of the Philippines
June 2, 2010

The National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) condemns in the strongest terms Israel’s criminal attack against the people bringing humanitarian aid in solidarity with the people in Gaza.

This attack sanctioned by the Israeli government leadership carried out by fully armed commandos in international waters in the dead of the night has resulted in the death of at least ten persons, the wounding of scores of others, the beating and maltreatment of many more, and the illegal detention of some 700 people from many varied nationalities.

Israel Premier Netanyahu’s claim that the attack was in self-defense is ridiculous and totally unacceptable.

This outrageous attack is a blatant violation of international law and Israel must be condemned for committing a crime against humanity. This latest condemnable act by the Israeli state reminds the people of the world of its other hideous crimes against humanity committed against the Palestinian people, such as the Sabra and Shatila massacre of 1982, the Deir Yassin massacre of 1948, the invasion and massacre in Gaza in December 2008 and January 2009, and the blockade and siege of Gaza since 2007, among many others.

The NDFP joins the worldwide protest and condemnation of Israel for this latest crime against humanity committed against people bringing humanitarian aid in solidarity with the Palestinian people in Gaza.

The NDFP firmly supports the struggle of the Palestinian people for their inalienable right to national self-determination, the right of the uprooted and displaced Palestinians to return to their homeland, and their other fundamental human and democratic rights.

The NDFP likewise condemns the US government for giving billions of dollars yearly in military aid to Israel, blocking numerous UN Security Council resolutions condemning Israel’s gross violations of international law and the human rights of the Palestinian and other Arab peoples. US imperialism colludes with the Israel government in committing crimes against humanity and providing the Israel state with political and diplomatic protection.

The continuing struggle of the Palestinian people and the resistance of the people of the world against Israeli and US imperialist aggression, fueled by the people’s wrath against the inhuman and criminal attack against the bearers of humanitarian aid, are bound to grow stronger in the coming years.

http://www.philippinerevolution.net/cgi-bin/statements/stmts.pl?date=100602;author=ec;lang=eng

[The Vegan Marxist]

NPA custodial unit releases video clips of arrested AFP personnel

Anvil Guinto
Spokesperson
Crucifino Uballas Command
Front 2 Operations Command
NPA-Southern Mindanao
May 31, 2010

The NPA custodial unit releases video clips of the three arrested cadremen of the two AFP detachments in Maco and Mabini, Compostela Valley Province along with their trusted militiaman. In the videos clips, the detained AFP soldiers assure their families not to worry, and that they are safe and being treated well by the NPA.

The Crucifino Uballas Command-Front 2 Operations Command-NPA arrested Barangay Limbo, Maco detachment commander Corporal Marcial B. Bawagan (SN#794130) and his assistant Corporal Ariel P. Asumo (SN#803445); Barangay Anitapan, Mabini detachment commander Corporal Eduardo Alcala (SN#806489) and Civilian Active Auxillary (CAA) Victor Pitogo (SN#006279) last May 12. The arrest was carried out following the arrest order issued by the revolutionary People's Court.

The four AFP men are undergoing investigations for the following complaints:

1. Counter-revolutionary acts, and violations on the policies and regulations of the People's Democratic Government;

2. Cpls. Bawagan and Asumo, cadremen of the Limbo, Maco detachment both lead and actively participate in combat operations. They are also involved in violating human rights, intimidations, theft of farm animals and manhandling. One of their victims was the Geronimo family whose son Roderick was mauled. The Geronimo family was forced to leave their farm in the area due to fear of further harm;

3. Corporal Alcala, cadreman of the Anitapan detachment in Mabini known as the alleged source of illegal drugs in the area. Alcala and his men allegedly ordered village youths to steal animals for their pulutan during drinking sprees. During operations, Alcala and his men mauled civilians, issued threats and fired their guns when drunk. Alcala's abusive underlings were named Cabanda, Baluka and Larry Sungay.

4. The detachments under these arrested personnel were among those AFP detachments widely engaged in extortion on ballmill plants, taking protection money from small businessmen, tunnel owners and small-time loggers in the area.

The NPA has earlier warned that the offensive military operations of the 10th ID-AFP to ostensibly rescue the four detainees will only prolong their custodial detention; it would also result to countless human rights violations in the areas subjected to these combat operations of the 10th ID-AFP.

http://www.philippinerevolution.net/cgi-bin/statements/stmts.pl?author=cuc;date=100531;lang=eng

[The Vegan Marxist]

Looks like the NPA are taking some blows by the Filipino police personnel this past week. Hopefully they'll be able to recover from such soon.

3 NPA rebels killed in predawn Batangas clash
06/03/2010

Three suspected communist New People's Army (NPA) insurgents were killed in a predawn encounter with government troops in Batangas province Thursday, a military spokesman said.

In a text message to media, Army spokesman Maj. Ronald Jess Alcudia cited a report from the Second Infantry Division (ID) saying that the clash occurred at Sitio Tagusan in Taysan town's Mabayabas village.

Alcudia said elements from the Philippine Air Force's 74Oth combat group under the Army's 202nd Brigade clashed with around 2O NPA rebels at 4:45 a.m., resulting in the death of three rebels and the wounding of one soldier and an insurgent.

Also, he said government forces captured three rebels and recovered five M16 rifles, one M203 Grenade Launcher, two rifle grenades, and one Motorola hand-held radio.

The wounded soldier (identified as Michael Lalog) and the rebel were brought to the Fernando Airbase Hospital.

In a radio report, Lt. Col. Noel Detoyato, spokesman for the Army's 2nd ID said NPA rebels seemed to be on their way to conduct extortion activity.

"Mukhang may gagawin silang extortion activity kaya sila nagsama-sama (The NPA rebels seemed on their way to conduct an extortion activity when our troops encountered them)," Detoyato said in an interview on dzRH radio.

A separate report on dzXL radio said the rebels were resting in a house in the area when the PAF unit chanced on them.

http://www.gmanews.tv/story/192514/3-npa-rebels-killed-in-predawn-batangas-clash

[The Vegan Marxist]

NPA rebels kill army militia in Southern Philippines
Thursday, June 03, 2010

DAVAO CITY, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / June 3, 2010) – Communist insurgents killed a government militiaman and wounded another in an attack Thursday in the southern Philippines, officials said.

Officials said the fighting occurred in the village of Salvacion in Compostela Valley’s Mawab town. The militiaman was killed in a bomb attack by the New People’s Army, which is fighting for decades for the establishment of a Maoist state in the country.

The second militia was wounded when he clashed with insurgents, said Army Captain Emmanuel Garcia, a spokesman for the 10th Infantry Division. “One government militia was killed in the terrorist attack,” he told the Mindanao Examiner.

On Wednesday, insurgents also wounded a government soldier in fighting in Maco town also in Compostela Valley province, a known stronghold of the New People’s Army.

The military launched fresh offensive this week in the restive region against the insurgents blamed for the spate of attacks that had killed and wounded dozens of soldiers and civilians.

The New People’s Army is the armed wing of the underground Communist Party of the Philippines.

http://www.mindanaoexaminer.com/news.php?news_id=20100603091944

[thomasludd]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but this thread appears to be CPP-NPA posts only. Does this mean that the "Philippine Revolution" is viewed as only the people's war waged by the CPP-NPA-NDF?

A tendency war is something i don't want to start, let it be clarified that though I identify myself as an anarchist, I'm non-sectarian and can work with pretty much all lefty groups. What I want to ask next is would this also be the right thread to post non-CPP news but related to the Philippines?

[The Vegan Marxist]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but this thread appears to be CPP-NPA posts only. Does this mean that the "Philippine Revolution" is viewed as only the people's war waged by the CPP-NPA-NDF?

A tendency war is something i don't want to start, let it be clarified that though I identify myself as an anarchist, I'm non-sectarian and can work with pretty much all lefty groups. What I want to ask next is would this also be the right thread to post non-CPP news but related to the Philippines?

If it relates to the revolution taking place in the Philippines, then yes you can. And right now, it's the NPA that's doing the most towards the revolution, while the CPP are doing side projects, such as trying to find peace deals between them & the Filipino government. But that's about it so far. So I'm doing most of my reporting through the NPA.

[The Vegan Marxist]

10th ID-AFP combat operations biggest stumbling block to the possible early release of 4 POWs in ComVal

Anvil Guinto
Spokesperson
Crucifino Uballas Command
Front 2 Operations Command
NPA-Southern Mindanao
June 3, 2010

The New People's Army and the revolutionary forces fully recognize the appeals made by the families and other well-meaning groups and individuals for the release of the four arrested AFP men on humanitarian grounds. The NPA, however, believes that the appeals are better addressed to the Command of the 10th Infantry Division-AFP which currently stands as the biggest stumbling block to any possibility of an early release because of its policy of all-out offensive military operations disguised as rescue operations.

The revolutionary authorities have taken the request for an early release into account as they look into the merits of their individual cases just as it had done in so many similar situations in the past. On account of the various complaints of human rights violations and other violations of international humanitarian laws against AFP Corporals Marcial Bawagan and Ariel Asumo, cadremen of the AFP detachment in Barangay Limbo, Maco, Comval; Corporal Eduardo Alcala, AFP detachment commander in Barangay Anitapan, Mabini, Comval and AFP militiaman CAA Victor Pitogo, the revolutionary legal and judicial processes pertinent to their cases are currently ongoing. The arrested AFP men are treated well and their rights fully respected under the protocols of war. They have slowly adopted to the guerilla conditions of their captivity.

As the designated custodial unit, the Crucifino Uballas Command-NPA is doing everything within its control to ensure the safety of the prisoners. But the whole security aspect of the situation can only be completely addressed by a cessation of the 10th ID-AFP's offensive military operations within the guerilla territories of the Crucifino Uballas Command.

The NPA reiterates that these offensive military operations will only prolong the custodial detention and derail the speedy resolution of the legal and judicial processes against the three arrested AFP cadremen and their trusted militiaman. The intensified combat operations of the 10th ID-AFP not only aggravates the situation of the four Prisoners of War but will also result to grave human rights abuses against civilians.

http://www.philippinerevolution.net/cgi-bin/statements/stmts.pl?author=cuc;date=100603;lang=eng

[The Vegan Marxist]

Air Force troops break up 20-man NPA group
SATURDAY, 05 JUNE 2010

AIR Force ground combat troops neutralized a consolidated 20-man New People’s Army (NPA) group in a fierce, predawn gun battle in sitio Tagusan, barangay Mabayabas in Taysan, Batangas, over the weekened.

Lt. Col. Miguel Ernesto Okol, Air Force spokesman, said the incident resulted in the death of three guerrillas and the wounding of a 20-year-old amazon who was captured along with two other rebels. Nine high-caliber firearms were recovered.

Lt. Col. Arnel Villareal, commander of the Air Force’s 740th Combat Group, revealed that his troops were earlier informed about the presence of rebels in the area by residents who are fed up with the rebel’s extortion activities.

Okol identified the fatalities as Danilo Dandan, squad leader of Apollo 12, Kilusang Larangan Gerilya Honda, Komite Probinsyal Batangas-Cavite; the team’s female medical officer, Charito Bautista, alias Ada, Jopen and Nicole and a certain Ka Randy.

Villareal said insurgents failed to evacuate a wounded female companion, identified only as Merly, alias Sandra, who was captured along with 19-year-olds Ronilo Baez, alias Ka Eugene, and Romy Cañete, alias Ka Romy.

Airman First Class Michael Lalug was wounded in the encounter.

Recovered from the rebels were four M-16 rifles, one M-203 grenade launcher, an M-16 rifle with bipod and sniper’s scope, five rifle grenades, ammunition of different calibers, two Motorola radio transceivers and documents.

The Paf 740th Combat Group has been trying to entice the residents of Taysan through an information drive to go against the NPA. As a result, the residents have been providing information to military authorities on the presence and movements of rebels in the area.

Owing to the lack of aircraft, several Air Force combat groups were organized to keep the command’s officers and men busy.

The Air Force combat group were tasked with securing communites in areas where there are Air Force facilities like Batangas and Pampanga, home of Basa Air Base as well as the Air Force City inside the Clark Free Port Zone. R. Mercene

http://businessmirror.com.ph/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=26088:air-force-troops-break-up-20-man-npa-group&catid=23:topnews&Itemid=58

[The Vegan Marxist]

NPA to military: Combat ops stalling release of 4 soldiers
06/07/2010

Communist rebels in Mindanao have warned the military over the weekend that continued combat operations may delay the release of four soldiers abducted in Compostela Valley last month.

Anvil Guinto, spokesman of the Crucifino Uballas command of the New People’s Army (NPA), said that while they recognize appeals for the soldiers' release, the Army's 10th Infantry Division is a major stumbling block.

"The arrested [soldiers] are treated well and their rights fully respected under the protocols of war. They have slowly adopted to the guerilla conditions of their captivity," he said in a statement (http://www.philippinerevolution.net/cgi-bin/statements/stmts.pl?author=cuc;date=100603;lang=eng) posted late Saturday on the Communist Party of the Philippines website.

Still in captivity are Corporals Marcial Bawagan and Ariel Asumo; Corporal Eduardo Alcala, AFP detachment commander in Barangay Anitapan, Mabini, Compostela Valley; and militiaman Victor Pitogo.

He said the four are being tried for "various complaints of human rights violations and other violations of international humanitarian laws."

Guinto said that while they try to ensure the safety of the prisoners, the security aspect can be completely addressed only if the 10th ID stops offensive military operations.

"The NPA reiterates that these offensive military operations will only prolong the custodial detention and derail the speedy resolution of the legal and judicial processes against the three arrested [soldiers] and their trusted militiaman. The intensified combat operations of the 10th ID-AFP not only aggravates the situation of the four Prisoners of War but will also result to grave human rights abuses against civilians," he said.

http://www.gmanews.tv/story/192808/npa-to-military-combat-ops-stalling-release-of-4-soldiers

[The Vegan Marxist]

When it comes to the claims of there being children put through warfare by the NPA on the bottom of this article, I would like to point out two different articles that points out how these claims are absolutely false: Here (http://redantliberationarmy.wordpress.com/2010/05/30/ndfp-hrc-chairman-says-spin-on-un-report-on-children-in-armed-conflict-is-false-biased-and-unfair/) & Here (http://redantliberationarmy.wordpress.com/2010/06/02/ndf-ev-slams-afps-violations-of-childrens-rights/)

NPA rebels attack palm-oil plantation, destroy equipment
Nation
Written by Rene Acosta / Reporter
SUNDAY, 06 JUNE 2010

NEW People’s Army (NPA) guerrillas raided a palm-oil plantation in Sultan Kudarat over the weekend and razed farm equipment, the military said.

The raid on the plantation in sitio Colon Barak, barangay Sucob, Columbio, happened at about 4 a.m. on Friday, said Capt. Emmanuel Garcia, spokesman for the Army’s 10th Infantry “Agila” Division.

The attack by 30 rebels, headed by Johnny Casamorin, alias Commander Lipid, was allegedly carried out because of the continued refusal of the plantation owner to pay revolutionary taxes.

More than a week ago, guerrillas also attacked a road project in Banay-banay, Davao Oriental, after its contractor reportedly refused to pay revolutionary taxes to the rebels.

Meanwhile, fresh troops arrived in the Davao region on Friday to help government forces there in ending the atrocities that were being committed by the NPA.

The Army’s 84th Infantry Battalion, led by Lt. Col. Kurt Decapia, arrived at Hijo Beach in Madaum, Tagum City, onboard a Navy vessel.

Local officials, led by Davao del Norte Vice Gov. Victorio Suaybaguio, welcomed the soldiers.

“We assure our people that the arrival of new troops will not mean war but enhanced security measures to protect them. We have to put these criminals behind bars. The troops will work extra hard to ensure that peace and development efforts will be protected and that the rights of the people will be respected at all times,” Maj. Gen. Carlos Holganza, 10th ID commander, said.

In Manila, the military said the rebels have recruited and employed a total of 340 minors, aged mostly from 15 to 18, as regular fighters from 1999 to 2010.

Of the number, 209 surrendered to government forces, 119 were captured and 12 were killed in encounters.

It said the data supported the recent report of UN Special Rapporteur for Children in Armed Conflict Radhika Coomaraswamy that the NPA recruited and used children in its campaign against the government.

“The effects of this practice by the Communist Party of the Philippines-NPA to the children are unthinkable. Some of the rescued children recounted how they were ordered to assassinate the entire family of a rebel returnee. These children were made to believe that violence is the only solution and the means of achieving one’s end,” said Brig. Gen. Francisco Cruz, commander of the Armed Forces Civil Relations Group.

http://businessmirror.com.ph/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=26131:npa-rebels-attack-palm-oil-plantation-destroy-equipment&catid=26:nation&Itemid=63

[The Vegan Marxist]

Statement on the June 4 Incident: No to Landgrabbers!

Dencio Madrigal
Commander
Valentin Palamine Command
Regional Operational Command
NPA-Far South Mindanao Region
June 7, 2010

In defense of the peasants who continue to be driven out of their lands due to the aggressive expansion of export crop plantations, the Valentin Palamine Regional Operations Command of the New People's Army claims responsibility for the punitive military action in Brgy. Sukob, Columbio, Sultan Kudarat on 4 June 2010 which razed to the ground the backhoe, multicab and other farm tools of the plantation owned by Mr Johnson Ng, a Chinese national which operates for the multinational oil palm company Kenram-Agumil. The NPA also expropriated 7 horses from the company. Not a single property was taken from the farmers

Since the inception of the oil palm plantation in Sultan Kudarat, close to a thousand hectares have been landgrabbed from the poor farmers living in the area. In Brgy Sukob, at least 150 families have been dispossessed of their lands and forced to find livelihood elsewhere. Landgrabbing has been facilitated by no less than the AFP in collusion with local chieftains like Brgy Chairman Badal Tamles of Sukob who has no conscience about giving up B'laan ancestral domain to big landlord compradors and foreign multinational entities.

While Capt. Emmanuel R. Garcia of the 10th ID defines the NPA action as "banditry" he is mum about the unbridled corruption in the regime, including the wholesale landgrabbing of peasant lands by his superiors in the AFP. For instance, he is silent about the 50 hectares each awarded to former commanding officer of the 6th ID General Agustin Demaala and currently a board member of South Cotabato and to Maj Gen Jerry Jalandoni, also of the 6th ID -- AFP for their role in the encroachment of Kenram-Agumil in Sultan Kudarat. Capt Garcia has no qualms about naming the NPA punitive action as "extortion activities" while the AFP is facilitating the entry of multinational companies in exchange for cash, lands and the power to lord it over south central Mindanao.

The AFP has sponsored the entry of Johnson Ng, a Chinese national living in Davao to control vast tracts of land in Columbio and a fleet of horses and work animals without a single regard for the farmers and lumads who have been tilling these areas for ages. Capt. Emmanuel Garcia and Col Joshua Santiago of the 27th IB are resolute to protect the company at all cost in exchange for cash and power. They are no better than the warlord Ampatuan, their mentor.

The oppression and misery of having been forcibly eased out of their lands is just too much for the farmers who cry out for justice. Thus, our action of June 4, 2010 is but a small reminder that the NPA, will always make its stand felt against landgrabbers, corrupt military officials, despotic landlords and other exploiters of the rural folk. And we shall not rest until justice is served.

http://www.philippinerevolution.net/cgi-bin/statements/stmts.pl?author=vpc;date=100607;lang=eng

[The Vegan Marxist]

PRESS RELEASE
Information Bureau
Communist Party of the Philippines

NDFP HRC chairman says allegations of splits are cover up for escalation of extra-judicial killings
June 7, 2010

For as long as the ruling system of big landlords and compradors is in place in the country, the revolutionary movement will continue to grow, and no amount of drumbeating by the regime's minions like Norberto Gonzales and Annabelle Abaya can bring about its weakening or defeat. These masters of rumor-mongering can live with their illusions even after stepping out of their offices on 30 June.

This was declared today by Fidel V. Agcaoili, chairman of the human rights committee of the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) on allegations of splits in the revolutionary movement as a result of the just-concluded reactionary elections.

"These charlatans keep on churning out the tired old line of divisions in the national democratic movement in order to cover up their own failures and corrupt practices, justify the continuing grave human rights violations and extra-judicial killings, and even provide a convenient excuse for the Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP) to withdraw from the peace negotiations with the NDFP," he remarked.

"The NDFP has already announced its readiness to resume the peace negotiations with the new GRP administration in accordance with signed agreements such as The Hague Joint Declaration, the Joint Agreement on Safety and Immunity Agreement (JASIG) and the Comprehensive Agreement on Respect for Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law (CARHRIHL). The Noynoy Aquino administration can follow or not the advice of the outgoing officials of the Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo regime. Whatever it does, the revolutionary movement is ready to respond appropriately," Agcaoili added.

"Gonzales and Abaya, as well as their trained Goebbels in the Civil Relations Service (CRS) of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Philippine Information Agency (PIA), have been repeatedly predicting the so-called demise of the revolutionary movement. But, after pouring billions of pesos for additional troops, equipments, the arming of paramilitary units, conducting prolonged military operations, building blockhouses, terrorizing entire communities, and fielding of death squads to target civilians, Gonzales has failed miserably in his set objective. As for Abaya, she has admitted to massive corruption in the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP) which exposes the true nature of its localized peace talks and Social Integration Program (SIP) as milking cows for the military," he stated.

"The recent extra-judicial killing of Edward Panganiban, a labor leader in Southern Tagalog, came just after the GRP announcement of an alleged split in the national democratic movement as a result of the reactionary elections. The masterminds behind these killings and grave human rights violations are bound to be exposed and the victims shall be given justice," Agcaoili concluded.

Reference:
Marissa P. Dumanjug-Palo
Head of Secretariat
NDFP-Nominated Section Joint Secretariat
Tel.: +632-7252072
Tel/Fax.: +632-7251457

http://www.philippinerevolution.net/cgi-bin/statements/releases.pl?date=100607;refer=fva;lang=eng

[The Vegan Marxist]

CPP: No child recruitment in NPA; AFP biggest violator of children's rights
June 7, 2010

The Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) today said claims of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) that the New People's Army (NPA) recruits children are "completely unfounded and are only desperate attempts to tarnish the image of the NPA before the public and the human rights community here and abroad."

"The CPP declares with full conviction that the NPA does not recruit children. The NPA upholds and defends the interests of children in line with the CPP's Program for a People's Democratic Revolution, the Basic Rules of the New People's Army, the Guide for Establishing the People's Democratic Government, the Geneva Conventions and Protocols on International Humanitarian Law and Rules on Warfare, the United Nations' Declaration of the Rights of the Child, and the Comprehensive Agreement for the Respect of Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law," the CPP reiterated in a statement today.

The statement of the CPP rebuts the claims made yesterday by AFP-Civil Relations Service that the NPA has recruited at least 340 children since 1999, including 209 who have "surrendered," 119 "captured" and 12 "killed in combat."

"Those figures are nothing but concoctions manufactured by the AFP's psywar mills. Most of the children cited in the AFP's reports as supposed "child combatants" were, in fact, victims of the AFP's abusive military operations that blatantly disregard the rights and welfare of civilians, including children, in rural communities suspected by the reactionary government of supporting the revolutionary movement," said the CPP.

The CPP cited the case of nine-year old Grecil Buya, a schoolgirl who was killed by soldiers of the 101st Bde while conducting a military operation in a rural barangay in New Bataan, Compostela Valley in March 31, 2007. In its reports, the AFP labeled Grecil as a "child combatant" of the NPA and even took photos of her dead body with an M-16 rifle placed beside her. Subsequent investigations by the Commission on Human Rights and other independent groups belied the AFP's reports.

The CPP also cited the case of 17-year old Michelle Adelantar whom the AFP took into custody last February 3 in San Jose de Buan, Western Samar on the accusation of her being an NPA combatant. "The military's accusation against Michelle was made on the utterly stupid logic that her parents and siblings are members of the CPP and NPA," the CPP stated. Michelle continues to be detained by the Department of Social Work and Development, despite demands of relatives to have Michelle released to their care.

In June 2009, the AFP has also accused Joel "Dayucdoc" Silvestre of being an NPA "child warrior." Joel is a mentally-handicapped 13-year old and resident of Barangay Montalban, Matuguinao in Western Samar. The CPP said that "The AFP committed a series of grave violations of the boy's rights. The personnel of the AFP's 8th ID took advantage of Joel's mental handicap by tricking him and taking him into custody. He was brought along the AFP's military operations, made to carry a gun and forced to identify alleged members of the NPA in their community. He was then exhibited to the media who were even encouraged to take photographs and videos of him."

The CPP reiterated that it maintains a policy prohibiting the recruitment of children below 18 years old as fighters of the NPA. "This policy prohibiting child combatants is being strictly observed by all units of the New People's Army."

"For several years now, we have invited representatives of the United Nations and other independent bodies to visit units of the NPA and areas of operations of these units to see for themselves how the revolutionary movement upholds its policy of prohibiting the recruitment of children, and furthermore, how the rights and welfare of children are respected and promoted in the revolutionary areas."

"The Philippine government and the AFP have, however, persistently prevented international observers from engaging with the revolutionary movement on the question of children's rights. It has churned out baseless figures accusing the NPA of violating childrens rights while preventing independent observers from verifying these claims."

"In truth, it is the AFP that is biggest violator of childrens rights in the Philippines. Hundred of thousands of children have been victimized by the AFP's military operations that have invariably targetted civilian communities in the fascist military's desperation to put an end to the people's revolutionary armed resistance," said the CPP.

The CPP cited the report made in 2007 by the United Nations Children's Fund (Unicef) where it revealed that 215,233 children were victimized in AFP operations including more than 215,060 victimized by forcible evaucations. At least 58 children were killed and another 58 survived attempts on their lives. It further revealed that ten children have disappeared, 40 maimed, 17 subjected to torture, 8 subjected to rape and sexual harassment, 51 victims of illegal search and seizure, 63 victims of coercion, 69 victims of illegal arrest and detention, 40 victims of physical assault and injury and 196 victims of threats and intimidation.

The Unicef report also cited that 106 children were orphaned and witnessed the government military's killing of their parents or other relatives.

In a recent report to the UN General Assembly, the UN Secretary General cited cases where the AFP has been making abusive use of children to carry supplies and serve intelligence purposes. Many of these cases were in Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) areas where children have been illegally detained by the AFP for alleged association with MILF forces. The report cited a case where three children were blindfolded and mistreated by elements of the Philippine Army's 7th and 40th IB in an attempt to force out of them confessions admitting to membership in the MILF.

http://www.philippinerevolution.net/cgi-bin/statements/releases.pl?date=100607;refer=cpp;lang=eng

[The Vegan Marxist]

Philippine Maoist rebels say ready to resume talks

June 7 (Reuters) - Maoist-led Philippine guerrillas are ready to resume peace negotiations with the new government of Benigno Aquino III, who is set to be proclaimed president this week, a member of the rebel negotiating team said on Monday.

The 4,000-member New People's Army (NPA), the military arm of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP), has been fighting a guerrilla war for more than 40 years. More than 40,000 people have been killed in the conflict, which has stunted growth and investment in resource-rich areas outside Manila.

The rebels' negotiating arm, the National Democratic Front (NDF), abandoned talks with the government of Gloria Macapagal Arroyo after Manila declined to free about a dozen rebel leaders who are to take part in peace talks hosted by Norway.

"The NDF has already announced its readiness to resume the peace negotiations with the new government," Fidel Agcaoilo, head of NDF's human rights committee and spokesman for the rebels' peace panel, said in a statement on Monday.

"The 'Noynoy' Aquino administration can follow or not the advice of the outgoing officials of the Arroyo regime. Whatever it does, the revolutionary movement is ready to respond appropriately," he said.

There was no immediate reaction from Aquino's camp. Aquino, whose win is due to be confirmed by Congress, will take office on June 30.

His peace adviser, Teresita Quintos-Deles, has said the new government has plans to reopen talks with communist rebels and honour past agreements on safety guarantees for negotiators and on human rights and international humanitarian law.

Aquino has also said he is ready to engage with Muslim separatists to try to resolve a decades-old conflict in the south of the country.

Since 1986, successive governments and the NDF have been in on-and-off talks to end one of the world's longest communist insurgencies. The talks broke down in February when troops arrested 43 health workers attending a seminar, accusing them of being members of an NPA medical unit.

http://uk.reuters.com/article/idUKSGE6560BS._CH_.2420

[scarletghoul]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but this thread appears to be CPP-NPA posts only. Does this mean that the "Philippine Revolution" is viewed as only the people's war waged by the CPP-NPA-NDF?

A tendency war is something i don't want to start, let it be clarified that though I identify myself as an anarchist, I'm non-sectarian and can work with pretty much all lefty groups. What I want to ask next is would this also be the right thread to post non-CPP news but related to the Philippines?
Yeah it would be great to get some news from other revolutinary organisations.

I also think the MILF, despite their hilarious name, can be considered revolutionary as the Moros are certainly an oppressed people. Would be good to get news from them too if anyone knows some good sources

[thomasludd]

Yeah it would be great to get some news from other revolutinary organisations.

I also think the MILF, despite their hilarious name, can be considered revolutionary as the Moros are certainly an oppressed people. Would be good to get news from them too if anyone knows some good sources


I get your point about the revolutionary nature of the MILF, though i'd keep my distance due to their Islamist and conservative ideology. They may be anti-imperialist, but they aren't leftists for me. Their hilarity isn't just due to the name. MNLF's more secular.

Anyway, i'm not the one to judge on the revolutionary-ness of groups. I believe that information on all struggles should be shared, regardless if i agree with the group or not.

[The Vegan Marxist]

If anyone can gather up information on revolutionary activity going on in the Philippines, then by all means do so. I'm taking a couple month break from all this in a couple days, so I hope there's those here who'll keep this thread going.

[The Vegan Marxist]

NPA strike in ComVal a baptism of fire on the newly-deployed Palparan Battalion; 10th ID-AFP bigger offensives vs. NPA to fail
Daniel Ibarra
Spokesperson
Front 27 Operations Command
NPA-Southern Mindanao
June 7, 2010

The New People's Army Rhyme Petalcorin-Front 27 Operations Command hit twice the operating units of the 10th ID-AFP with sniper fire. Two successive attritive operations by the NPA's Front 27 sniper teams hit the newly-deployed 71st Infantry Battalion-AFP and the 2nd Scout Rangers Battalion (SRB) in Brgy. Panoraon, Maco, Compostela Valley Province on June 3 and in Barangay New Leyte, Maco, Compostela Valley Province on June 6. The June 6 NPA punitive action against the abusive troops inflicted at least two AFP casualties. The AFP retaliated thru indiscriminate aerial bombardment using OV-10 Bronco planes which not only terrorized the civilian populace but also failed to hit its target.

The NPA Front 27's fiery welcome greeted the freshly-deployed Infantry Battalion which arrived May 24 from Central Luzon. The 71st IB-AFP and 2nd SRB troops were part of the massive AFP offensive operations pushed by Maj. Gen. Carlos Holganza and designed as a rescue operation to recover the four prisoners of war arrested by the NPA last month. Maj. General Holganza's ill-advised hardline position on an all-out offensive military operations policy is clearly a failure. The NPA is equally determined to foil this single-minded stupidity of the poor general and to deal him a humiliating blow before he gets relief through an AFP shake-up by the incoming regime.

http://www.philippinerevolution.net/cgi-bin/statements/stmts.pl?author=rpcsm;date=100607;lang=eng

[The Vegan Marxist]

2 killed in fresh NPA attacks in Mindanao
06/08/2010

ZAMBOANGA CITY – Two Philippine Army soldiers were killed in separate attacks by communist-led rebels in the southern Philippines, a spokesman for the New People’s Army said Tuesday.

Daniel Ibarra, of the NPA’s Front 27 Operations Command, said rebel forces mounted the offensives against troops of the 71st Infantry Battalion and 2nd Scout Ranger Battalion in Compostela Valley province, a known NPA stronghold.

The troops were part of a large security force sent to fight the rebels who are holding three soldiers and a militiaman in Mindanao. They arrived last month from Luzon to augment other Army battalions already deployed in Mindanao to defeat the communist insurgency.

The NPA spokesman said that its Rhyme Petalcorin-Front 27 Operations Command “hit twice the operating units of the 10th Infantry Division,” referring to the newly-deployed 71st IB and the 2nd SRB in Compostela Valley.

Ibarra said the NPA “punitive action… inflicted at least two casualties,” adding that government forces “retaliated thru indiscriminate aerial bombardment using OV-10 Bronco planes which not only terrorized the civilian populace but also failed to hit its target.”

Capt. Emmanuel Garcia, a spokesman for the 10th Infantry Division, denied the rebel reports, but mentioned a recent casualty in Compostela Valley.

“That’s not true; the reports of the terrorists are all lies. But there was one militia killed in the fighting with the NPA in Compostela Valley. The military operation against the dissident-terrorists is going on,” Garcia said.

The NPA is the military arm of the underground Communist Party of the Philippines which has been waging a “protracted people’s war” for more than 40 years now.

http://www.gmanews.tv/story/192980/2-killed-in-fresh-npa-attacks-in-mindanao

[The Vegan Marxist]

Suspected NPA rebels steal guns from Masbate village exec
06/09/2010

A group of suspected members of the New People’s Army (NPA) raided and took several firearms from the house of a barangay councilor in Masbate on Tuesday morning, a belated military report said Wednesday.

About 10 insurgents robbed the house of barangay councilor Rolly Gemina in San Pedro village in San Pascual town at 6 a.m. Tuesday, Lt. Col. Anthony Purugganan of the 9th Infantry Battalion reported Wednesday.

Gemina was held at gunpoint while the suspected rebels took away personal belongings from his house, Purugganan said.

The stolen firearms included two M-16 rifles, three pistols, and several rounds of ammunitions, he added.

As of posting time, the military was still confirming whether the stolen firearms were licensed to Gemina, Purugganan said.

In January, suspected NPA members also raided and carted away weapons from the house of another councilor, Monching Radan, in Claveria town in Masbate.

Both incidents occurred as the government undertakes implementation of a nationwide crackdown on private armies in the wake of the November 23 massacre of 57 people in Maguindanao. The carnage was blamed on the powerful Ampatuan clan.

http://www.gmanews.tv/story/193028/suspected-npa-rebels-steal-guns-from-masbate-village-exec

[The Vegan Marxist]

10th ID-AFP Derails POWs reunion with families amid MAC-NPA order to release POWs on humanitarian grounds

Rigoberto F. Sanchez (http://www.philippinerevolution.net/cgi-bin/statements/cgi-bin/statements/stmts.pl?author=mac)
Spokesperson
Merardo Arce Command
Southern Mindanao Regional Operational Command
New People's Army
June 10, 2010

The Merardo Arce Command-Southern Mindanao Regional Operations Command-New People's Army (MAC-NPA) has received the report submitted by the Crucifino Uballas Command-Front 2 Operations Command-NPA on its investigation of the cases against the four prisoners of war arrested May 12 in Compostela Valley Province. The organ of revolutionary political authority in the region likewise found probable cause for serious violations of human rights and international humanitarian law against the four accused military and paramilitary personnel of the Government of the Republic of the Philippines.

However, in consideration of the humanitarian appeals for their release, the MAC-NPA has ordered the NPA custodial unit to release Prisoners of War Cpl. Marcial B. Bawagan (SN#794130), Cpl. Ariel P. Asumo (SN#803445), Cpl. Eduardo Alcala (SN#806489) and CAA Victor Pitogo (SN#006279) subject to the actual military situation on the ground.

This utmost concern is currently being considered by the NPA so as to ensure the safe and orderly undertaking of the release. Maj. Gen. Carlos Holganza must come to his senses, and face the fact that 10th ID-AFP military operations have failed and order a Suspension of Military Operations (SOMO) in the areas of Pantukan, Mabini, Maco and Mawab.

Capt. Emmanuel Garcia's earlier pronouncement that the NPA should just "leave the (POWs) in the woods since they will surely know how to return back to camp" eloquently exposes Capt. Garcia's infantile mind, their monumental disregard for the safety of their own soldiers and the fascist AFP's ignorance of matters relating to International Humanitarian Law.

As it is now, only the 10th ID-AFP's continuing but failed military operation stands in the way of the fulfillment of the NPA's humanitarian act that will effect the return of the prisoners of war to their families

http://www.philippinerevolution.net/cgi-bin/statements/stmts.pl?date=100610;author=mac;lang=eng

[The Vegan Marxist]

Arroyo's 9-year Oplan Bantay Laya is a complete failure
June 11, 2010

"The Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) declares unequivocally that the revolutionary movement and its New People's Army (NPA) have not only successfully overcome the Arroyo regime's counterrevolutionary efforts, but have achieved great strides in advancing the people's war."

The CPP issued this statement in connection with the scheduled testimonial parade today to be carried out by the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) for its outgoing commander-in-chief President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, who it claims provided "a clear direction in the fight against communist insurgency" and "was able to set the trend against insurgency that can be sustained by the next administration." The AFP claims "more provinces have been declared as insurgency-free."

"The top officials of the AFP, including its commander-in-chief Arroyo have nothing to celebrate today. In the whole nine years of Arroyo's rule and the implementation of their ruthless Internal Security Operational Plan Bantay Laya, they have completely failed in their declared objective of reducing the revolutionary armed resistance to insignificance," declared the CPP.

"Through the past nine years, the revolutionary movement and its armed forces have grown in strength, seized thousands of firearms from the AFP to arm a steady stream of new recruits, expanded areas of operation, assiduously built the people's organized strength and advanced their struggles against feudal and semifeudal exploitation and fascist oppression in the rural areas. They have also remained strong and vibrant in urban poor and worker communities," the CPP added.

"These victories have been achieved by the people and their revolutionary forces despite the employment of brute fascist force by the puppet reactionary Arroyo regime," said the CPP. "The Arroyo regime has spent hundreds of billions of pesos in building up its war machinery to impose a reign of terror on broad swathes of the Philippine countryside where they suspect the people to be actively engaged in revolutionary struggle, and in the cities to stop the people from waging open mass struggles and launching demonstrations."

"By exhibiting utter impunity in its campaign to suppress the people's resistance, the Arroyo regime has gained nothing but the ire of the Filipino people and the international community. Arroyo's rule will forever be remembered by the most brutal acts: the Hacienda Luisita Massacre of 2004; the Palo, Leyte Massacre of 2005; the extrajudicial killings of thousands, including human rights worker Eden Marcellana, peasant leader Eddie Gumanoy, minority peoples' activist Dr. Alyce Claver, church worker Bishop Alberto Ramento, nine-year old schoolgirl Grecil Buya, teacher Rebelyn Pitao, student activist Farly Alcantara; the abduction and forced disappearance of several hundreds including National Democratic Front peace consultants Leo Velasco, Prudencio Calubid and Rogelio Calubad, activists Jonas Burgos, Luisa Posa, Nilo Arado and James Balao; the brutal torture of the Manalo brothers; the imposition of a "state of emergency" in 2006; the imposition of the "calibrated preemptive response" to suppress street demonstrations; the deployment of thousands of government soldiers in the National Capital Region and other major cities to restrict the movement of people; and many other cases of fascism and terrorism," the CPP said.

"She has heaped the highest praises on the notorious fascist butcher Gen. Jovito Palparan, pinned one medal after another on his chest, promoted him and fostered his tactics of out-and-out suppression and impunity as a model for the AFP in carrying out its war of terror on the people," said the CPP.

"The list of Arroyo's gross human rights violations and crimes against humanity goes on. Her hands drip with the blood of the Filipino people," added the CPP.

"By committing such grave violence against the people, the Arroyo regime and the AFP have only steeled the Filipino people's determination to carry forward their revolutionary armed struggle," added the CPP. "The revolutionary forces led by the CPP are now advancing their full-scale guerrilla warfare nationwide and striving to forge ahead the people's war from the current stage of strategic defensive to its next phase of strategic stalemate in the next five years."

"The intensified tactical offensives of the NPA since the start of the year show the determination and capability of the NPA to accelerate the armed struggle. The NPA will continue to launch bigger tactical offensives in the coming months and years in order to seize more firearms and strengthen the people's army," added the CPP.

"As defenders of a defunct and rotten ruling system, the AFP will continue to fail miserably in its avowed objective of putting an end to the people's revolutionary resistance."

http://www.philippinerevolution.net/cgi-bin/statements/releases.pl?date=100611;refer=cpp;lang=eng

[The Vegan Marxist]

On election by pre-programming and other matters related to Aquino

Prof. Jose Ma. Sison
National Democratic Front of the Philippines
Chief Political Consultant
June 12, 2010

I believe that the new reactionary regime headed by Noynoy Aquino is mendaciously and immorally founded on at least three things: first, false election through pre-programming by the foreign-controlled automated electoral system without the required safeguards; second, his false promise of eradicating corruption without doing away with the systemic collaboration of the foreign monopoly capitalists and the local big comprador-landlords like him; and third, his false promise to hold Gloria M. Arroyo accountable for crimes of corruption and human rights violations.

The automated electoral system was characterized by anomalies and fraud. These were enabled by the foreign control of Smartmatic that is offensive to any sense of national sovereignty, the discarding of the system's security safeguards and the super-quick secretive reconfiguration and replacement of 76,000 memory cards in a few days before the election, without any impartial entity observing.

My informant regarding the conversation between Gloria M. Arroyo and Pinky Aquino-Abellada to pave the way for the meeting of high representatives of the US Central Intelligence Agency, Aquino family and the Arroyo regime is willing to come out in the open and reveal the time and place of the Pinky-Gloria meeting in due time after making provisions for the safety of his family.

Consequent to the reaction of Pinky Aquino-Abellada, wife of Manolo Abellada the chief executive officer of the Philippine Multi-Media Systems, Inc., to my interview with Pinoy Weekly, I urged my informant to come out into the open immediately, despite his previous precondition on me that I should not reveal or indicate his identity.

The informant reminded me of the serious risks to him from the three powerful forces involved in the manipulation of the automated electoral system and he said, "I do not want myself and my family to suffer the same fate of Gregan Cardeño and Philippine Army Captain Javier Ignacio, who had gotten entangled in high security operations of the US government in the Philippines."

My informant has actually given me much more information than what I have said in my interview with Pinoy Weekly. But in the meantime, I am obliged to respect the wish of my informant to secure the safety of his family before coming out into the open.

I am told by some people that Noynoy Aquino is not interested in the resumption of peace negotiations between the Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP) and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) because he is under orders of the US to pursue its so-called counterinsurgency plan and because he has a vindictive character as shown in the Hacienda Luisita massacre and subsequent killings in Tarlac.

But there are certain probable reasons for Noynoy Aquino to be interested in peace negotiations. These are the ever worsening crisis of the domestic ruling system and the world capitalist system, the intensification of people's war and the rise of the mass movement. In this regard, the NDFP has announced its willingness to resume peace negotiations.

In such negotiations, the NDFP can regard Noynoy Aquino as the de facto president of the GRP even as his regime in particular is immorally founded on lies and like the previous Arroyo regime is hell-bent on using both military force and certain deceptive tactics in a futile attempt to destroy, coopt or render the revolutionary movement inconsequential. History teaches us that Mao Zedong could negotiate with Chiang Kai-shek and even agree with him on truce and alliance in the interest of the people.

http://www.philippinerevolution.net/cgi-bin/statements/stmts.pl?author=jms;date=100612;lang=eng

[The Vegan Marxist]

Gen. Tabaquero does not have enough battalions while the NPA has the people on its side
June 14, 2010

The National Democratic Front-Eastern Visayas today dismissed Gen. Arthur Tabaquero's vow to end the revolutionary movement by yearend as rubbish and an insult to the people because it confirms that the incoming Aquino administration is no different from the outgoing one. "Gen. Tabaquero slaps the people who have hoped for change through elections, which presumably led to the victory of president-elect Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino," said Fr. Santiago Salas, NDF-EV spokesperson. "The chief of the 8th Infantry Division is now not only saying that justice will not be served for the prevalent human rights violations under Arroyo's Oplan Bantay Laya 2, but these will be even furthered by the Aquino administration. While the NDFP is open to peace talks with the new administration, such an indication by Tabaquero only justifies the resolve of the revolutionary forces and people to decisively defeat Oplan Bantay Laya 2 and intensify and raise the level of the revolutionary armed struggle."

Fr. Salas also said that the New People's Army had already declared the failure of Oplan Bantay Laya 2, which was confirmed when the Armed Forces of the Philippines admitted that it cannot meet its June 2010 deadline of defeating the revolutionary movement. "Having failed, the AFP now looks even more desperate in still trying to pry victory from the jaws of defeat. This is wishful thinking. The NPA in Eastern Visayas has been consistently raising tactical offensives since 2007, continues to recruit hundreds of new Red fighters, and expanded and consolidated its areas of operation. Not a single guerrilla front was dismantled by the 8th ID, highlighted by the Mt. Amandewin Command's continuing tactical offensives though the military had declared the NPA was over in Leyte."

The NDF-EV spokesperson added that the 8th ID's push means more human rights violations as well as wastefulness in the midst of the people's suffering under the economic crisis. "The NPA was never defeated under Oplan Bantay Laya 2 because it uses the correct strategy and tactics. It was the people who really suffered most because of the military's human rights violations. The military has been roundly condemned here and abroad for the extrajudicial killings of social activists, enforced disappearances, torture, and attacks on civilian communities. The reactionary government is thus spending hundreds of billions on military operations to inflict more suffering on the people on top of their hunger, landlessness and unemployment. In addition, the military also carries out a massive psywar campaign to accuse the NPA of human rights violations such as recruiting minors and other atrocities, and to vilify progressive organizations to pave the way for extrajudicial killings of activists.

"Aside from wasteful military operations, the government also threw away money on a false and corrupt peace initiative. The presidential peace adviser, Annabelle Abaya, has in fact recently admitted that the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process had lost at least P190 million due to massive corruption. The OPAPP works together with the military and the local government units in the Social Integration Program and other so-called projects for peace and development, but high-ranking civilian and military officials were pocketing the money all along. The SIP is much-ballyhooed by the 8th Infantry Division. Thus, the NDF-EV challenges the mass media to investigate the details of this and other projects and what exactly is the role of the 8th ID and the local government units in the OPAPP corruption scandal."

Fr. Salas also called on the revolutionary forces and the people to intensify the armed struggle and the democratic mass struggles in the face of the military's saber-rattling. "Let us decisively defeat Oplan Bantay Laya 2 by studying the enemy's plans, learning from our experiences, and keeping the initiative by going on the offensive. Let us confront the incoming Aquino administration by demanding the punishment of the outgoing Arroyo for human rights violations, corruption, and other crimes against the people. Let us remind president-elect Aquino that he is setting out on a tenuous term because he still has to prove his merits despite his victory riding on the popularity of his deceased parents, allegations of fraud in his election remain unresolved, and also because he remains cold to the people's demands for genuine land reform, living wages, defense of national sovereignty and national patrimony, and other burning issues.

"Let us teach Gen. Tabaquero the lesson that he does not have enough battalions while the NPA has the people on its side. When millions of the people remain landless and unemployed, the revolutionary ferment will lead to a steady stream of recruits for the NPA as well as continuing popular support for the revolutionary struggle. If president-elect Aquino will absolve Arroyo and even pursue her course such as continuing Oplan Bantay Laya 2, the accumulated anger of the people will fall on his head and that of his generals like Tabaquero."

http://www.philippinerevolution.net/cgi-bin/statements/releases.pl?refer=sss;date=100614;lang=eng

[The Vegan Marxist]

NPA releases POWs despite Gen. Holganza's total disregard for his troops and face-saving but failed 10th ID-AFP 'rescue' operations

Anvil Guinto
Spokesperson
Crucifino Uballas Command
Front 2 Operations Command
NPA-Southern Mindanao
June 15, 2010

The Merardo Arce Command-Southern Mindanao Regional Operations Command-New People's Army (MAC-NPA) ordered the release of the Prisoners of War (POWs) based on humanitarian grounds despite the finding of probable cause by the region's revolutionary organ of political authority against the accused -- POWs Cpl. Marcial B. Bawagan (SN#794130), Cpl. Ariel P. Asumo (SN#803445), Cpl. Eduardo Alcala (SN#806489) and CAA Victor Pitogo (SN#006279) -- for various acts constituting serious violations of Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law.

The release is in recognition of the appeals made by the families, religious groups and personalities, well-meaning individuals and progressive groups on their behalf.

The NPA accords the released POWs the chance to conduct themselves in a manner respectful of the people's rights and the international laws of war. Their arrest and subsequent detention should also serve as a warning to officers and elements of the AFP, Philippine National Police and their intelligence and paramilitary units. The Crucifino Uballas Command-Front 2 Operations Command-NPA particularly warns the abusive elements of the 10th Infantry Division's detachments in Barangays Limbo, Concepcion, Tapan, Sawangan, among others, and its operating battalions.

At the time of the arrest, detention and investigation since May 12, the NPA custodial unit fully respected the rights of Cpls. Bawagan, Asumo, Alcala and CAA Pitogo as prisoners of war in accordance with the Geneva Conventions and Protocols, and the NPA's policy of humane and lenient treatment of POWs. Under the prevailing guerilla conditions inside the territories of the People's Democratic Government, the POWs' safety and welfare were guaranteed, and they were provided the basic necessities.

The NPA acknowledges the third party facilitators from the church sector, GRP Local Government Units, peace and human rights advocates and concerned individuals for working on the safe and orderly release of the four prisoners of war. The revolutionary forces and the families, the involved clergy and well-meaning individuals and groups have shown unity of purpose in exhausting all means to expedite the reunion of the POWs with their families despite the stumbling block posed by Maj. Gen. Carlos Holganza's all-out offensive order to the 10th Infantry Division-AFP.

Notwithstanding Maj. Gen. Holganza's total disregard for his troops' plight and apathy towards the clamor of their families, multi-sectoral and religious groups, the NPA undertakes the orderly release today of POWs Cpl. Bawagan, Cpl. Asumo, Cpl. Alcala and CAA Pitogo; and effect the safe return to their families. Maj. Gen. Holganza's pathetic attempt to pressure Diocese of Tagum Bishop Wilfredo Manlapaz last night clearly shows the 10th ID-AFP's resistance to the efforts of the NPA and the religious, peace and human rights advocates, GRP local officials, among others, to undertake this release safely and orderly. Maj. Gen. Holganza might as well be also called Gen. 'Hulga' (threat) with his sugar-coated threats to the Bishop and opposition to the efforts for a safe release.

Maj. Gen. Holganza's massive combat and 'rescue' operations are face-saving measures that have utterly failed leaving his officers in the 10th ID-AFP downright frustrated. The breadth and depth of the Guerilla Front 2 territories, the revolutionary mass base and the NPA's tactical offensives have dealt the fascist enemy another blow. Maj. Gen. Holganza and his rotten regime should expect more NPA tactical offensives, arrests and punitive actions and precision strike operations along with the surging revolutionary armed resistance of the peasants, lumads and other oppressed and exploited classes.

http://www.philippinerevolution.net/cgi-bin/statements/stmts.pl?author=cuc;date=100615;lang=eng

[The Vegan Marxist]

NDFP renders highest honor to Comrade Joan Hinton, proletarian revolutionary heroine

Luis G. Jalandoni
Chief International Representative
Member‚ National Executive Committee
National Democratic Front of the Philippines
June 15, 2010

The National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) extends its heartfelt condolences to Fred, Billy, and Karen and other relatives and friends of Joan Hinton on Joan's passing away last June 8.

The NDFP renders the highest honor to Comrade Joan Hinton, who served the Chinese people and revolution starting in 1948, all the way through the great years of socialist revolution and construction led by the Communist Party of China under Comrade Mao Zedong. After the death of Comrade Mao Zedong, she tirelessly continued her selfless service to the Chinese people while she, together with her comrade husband Erwin "Sid" Engst, strongly opposed the capitalist road taken by the revisionist leadership of China. Joan called the so-called reforms made under Deng Hsiao Ping as "betrayal of the socialist cause".

Joan Hinton was a promising young nuclear physicist who had been selected by the US government to be part of the elite and secret team called the Manhattan Project which worked on the first atomic bomb. The nuclear bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki by the US in August 1945 shocked her. She decided to leave the Manhattan Project.

In March 1948 she went to China with the intention of going to the liberated area under the Communist Party of China under the leadership of Mao Zedong. There she joined her fiance, Sid Engst, an agriculturist who had gone to China two years earlier and was already an active participant in the Chinese Revolution.

Through numerous twists and turns, Joan and Sid tirelessly worked for the construction of socialism in China. Asked why she and Sid persevered despite wrong policies which adversely affected them, them, they unhesitatingly responded: "Because we believe in socialism!"

Joan was a bubbling irresistible fighter, who, even in her late seventies and early eighties continued to integrate with the Chinese people. She welcomed many comrades and friends from different countries, including the Philippines, and shared her rich experience and unwavering commitment to socialism. She was often invited to speak in international conferences.

Joan was a proletarian revolutionary, whose heart was for the struggling oppressed and exploited peoples. The Filipino people's struggle for national and social liberation and for socialist revolution was close to her heart. She became very close to Filipino comrades. She had a special interest and close friendship with the Filipino women comrades.

Joan's enthusiasm and commitment were infectious. She inspired those whose lives she touched. She loved the Philippine revolution and fostered the solidarity and cooperation between the Chinese people and the Filipino people. They took practical steps to foster such solidarity and cooperation.

In 2002, the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Philippines and the National Council of the National Democratic Front of the Philippines awarded a citation to Joan and Sid. The citation given to Sid as he lay ill in the hospital, with Joan at his side, declared: "For more than half a century, you have unselfishly used your unique knowledge and skills in the service of the Chinese people, and of all people struggling for national and social liberation from imperialism and reaction.

"We deeply appreciate your keen interest in the Philippine revolution and your militant support for the Filipino people in their struggle for national liberation, democracy and socialism. Your selfless devotion to the cause of the exploited and the oppressed is a great example to revolutionaries of today and will be an inspiration to future generations of revolutionaries."

The death of Joan Hinton last week deeply saddens us, as did the death of Sid in 2003. Joan's and Sid's revolutionary legacy will live on as a source of inspiration and strength for all who struggle for national liberation, democracy and socialism.

Long live the noble memory and revolutionary legacy of Comrades Joan Hinton and Sid Engst!
Long live proletarian internationalism and international peoples' solidarity!

On behalf of the National Executive Committee,
National Democratic Front of the Philippines:

LUIS G. JALANDONI
Member, NDFP National Executive Committee
NDFP Chief International Representative

http://www.philippinerevolution.net/cgi-bin/statements/stmts.pl?author=lj2;date=100615;lang=eng

[The Vegan Marxist]

Current concerns and prospects regarding Aquino Regime

Prof. Jose Ma. Sison
Founding Chairman of the Communist Party of the Philippines
and Chief Political Consultant of the National Democratic Front
June 19, 2010

Interview with Prof. Jose Maria Sison,
Founding Chairman of the Communist Party of the Philippines
and Chief Political Consultant of the National Democratic Front

By Ang Bayan, June 19, 2010

1. Could you describe in brief the conduct and results of the past reactionary elections? How would you describe the electoral victory of Benigno Aquino III? What was the role in this of the US imperialists (and other key forces) and how would this affect the incoming Aquino regime?

JMS: As a whole, the 2010 elections were dominated by the political leaders, candidates, parties and coalitions of the local exploiting classes of big compradors and landlords. The US had a direct control over the automated electoral system and made sure that Noynoy Aquino was elected president through electronic pre-programming. The biggest US and local businessmen in the Makati Business Club provided huge campaign funds for him. As a consequence, the Aquino regime will serve the interest of the US and the local big comprador-landlords rather than the interest of the Filipino people.

2. What do you think would be the principal differences between the incoming Aquino regime and the outgoing Arroyo regime? What would be the commonalities? What do you think would be the highlights in the next six years under the Aquino regime.

JMS: For a short while, the Aquino regime will try to differentiate itself in appearance from the Arroyo regime and will present itself through sleek propaganda in the Philippine, US and global bourgeois media as more democratic than its predecessor. But it would be essentially a continuation of the Arroyo regime in terms of subservience to the US economic policy of neoliberal globalization and the US policy of so-called anti-terrorism and counterinsurgency, which is outlined by the Counterinsurgency Guide and combines US military intervention and state terrorism.
Like the Arroyo regime, the Aquino regime is set to be a puppet regime of the US, corrupt and brutal. In the next six years, the socio-economic suffering of the people will become intense. The reactionaries themselves will become more divided against each other. Human rights violations will become more gross and systematic than ever before. The oppression and exploitation of the Filipino people will escalate. As a consequence, the conditions will incite the people to wage revolutionary resistance more than ever before.

3. What is your assessment of the seriousness and chances of Noynoy Aquino in carrying out his campaign promise of pursuing criminal charges of corruption against Gloria Arroyo? What would be Arroyo's chances and tactics in fighting off such plans? What would most likely be the role and handling of the US on this matter? What should the people's democratic mass movement do to push the prosecution and eventual punishment of Arroyo?

JMS: The pre-programming of the automated electoral system in favor of Noynoy Aquino would not have been possible without the collaboration of the US, Arroyo ruling clique, the Comelec and the Aquino family. I will not be surprised if so soon in a matter of months it will become publicly evident that Aquino has no intention of fulfilling his campaign promise of pursuing Arroyo with criminal charges of corruption. But if contrary to what I say now, Aquino fulfills his promise of sending Arroyo to prison, then I will be among the first to commend and congratulate him.

There is a definite reasonable standard to apply on the question of Aquino fulfilling his promise to send Gloria M. Arroyo to prison. He will have no excuse for failing to cause her arrest and detention within the span of three months. Arroyo was able to cause the arrest and detention of Estrada for plunder in April 2001, some three months after taking power in late January 2001. As president, Aquino has enough powers to cause a speedy investigation and prosecution of Arroyo, unless he is told by the US to go slow and forget about his promise.

Arroyo still has some significant amount of power and influence. This might be enough to persuade Aquino to collaborate with her. But she does not have enough power to fight and overpower a president determined to send her to prison. As in Taiwan and South Korea, the US always sides with the new top puppet when this is really determined to send a predecessor to prison on the charge of corruption. It is up to the mass movement to press for the punishment of Arroyo for corruption and to be ready to denounce Aquino when he fails to fulfill his promise within three months.

4. Aquino has announced that it will definitely replace Arroyo-loyalist Gen. Delfin Bangit as the AFP chief-of-staff. How will this affect the fractiousness of the AFP? How much of an influence does Arroyo retain in the AFP? What are Aquino's options to unite the AFP and consolidate it under his new leadership?

JMS: Gen. Delfin Bangit is notorious for being a running dog of Arroyo and for human rights violations. But he is a minor player. As an individual officer, even as chief of staff, he is impotent by law and habit in relation to the new president as commander-in-chief. He is a creature of the command structure. Upon the change of president, Arroyo would have automatically lost a great deal of influence beyond those officers that she has favored and promoted.

In relation to the outgoing president, the incoming president inherits the obedience of the reactionary armed forces. In the case of Aquino, he also gets the advice of former officers loyal to his mother. And he is now consolidating the officers that he considers as most loyal to him. But beneath any apparent unity of the armed forces, there are contradictions among the thieving groups and criminal syndicates and among the running dogs of conflicting politicians.

Aquino can increasingly lose his grip on the military when his favoritism offends most officers and men, when he commits his own crimes or abuses of authority and becomes unpopular and isolated within and outside the military and when as a consequence a broad united front of opposition forces become strong and effective against him.

5. How would you picture the contradictions between the Aquino camp and the Arroyo camp vis-a-vis Congress, the Supreme Court and other aspects of the state that the Arroyo camp tries to maintain its hold on, and what effect do you foresee these contradictions would have on the functioning and effectivity of the Aquino regime and the reactionary state? What opportunities does such a situation open for the revolutionary forces?

JMS: There is potential sharpening of contradictions between what you call the Aquino and Arroyo camps. Aquino now might seriously try to cause the arrest and detention of Arroyo on the charge of corruption or plunder. Arroyo might someday find cause to rally her loyalists in the House of Representatives to threaten Aquino with impeachment. The Arroyo appointees in the Supreme Court might make a decision against the Cojuangco-Aquino interest in Hacienda Luisita.

However, do not be too sure about dramatic clashes between the Aquino and Arroyo sides in various branches of the government even as contradictions between both camps may persist. Do not discount the proofs or indications that the Aquino and Arroyo families have already secretly made agreements of convenience during the electoral campaign. These two families have a long history of collaboration. At any rate, Arroyo's remaining power and influence are dwindling. Thus Arroyo would be more inclined to retain as much of these by seeking and making compromises with Aquino.

6. The American Chamber of Commerce (Amcham) and the Joint Foreign Chambers of Commerce in the Philippines and big comprador business groups such as the Makati Business Club and Management Association of the Philippines that have supported the Aquino campaign are now putting their agenda and blueprints forward, including on matters of the government deficit, taxes, investments and workers' wages. How do you see the economic prospects under the Aquino regime vis-a-vis the interests of imperialist and local big business on the one hand and the toiling masses and the Filipino people on the other?

JMS: The incoming Aquino regime follows the US-dictated neoliberal line of denationalization, liberalization, privatization and deregulation at the expense of the working people and the entire nation. Under conditions of a depressed agrarian and underdeveloped economy, the imperialists headed by the US and their big comprador-landlord partners will maintain or raise their profits by pressing down wages and exporting raw materials at a low price and will accumulate and concentrate land in the hands of a few at an accelerated rate.

Despite the depressed condition of the economy, the announced policy of Aquino is to impose new taxes and improve tax collection in view of the bankruptcy of the reactionary government. From year to year, austerity measures will be adopted at the expense of the working people. The public debt is now 4.5 trillion pesos and debt service has a crippling effect on the state. And yet the reactionary state is bound to escalate military spending and all kinds of counterproductive activities. The public debt will continue to mount because the trade and budgetary deficits are ever growing and new debts are incurred despite more onerous conditions of borrowing.

The toiling masses of workers and peasants and the entire people will suffer increased oppression and exploitation. They will be driven to make demands for the improvement of their living conditions and respect for their national and democratic rights. But the regime is predetermined to be servile to the economic dictates of the US and the exploiting classes and would be predisposed to blame communists for the ills of the rotten ruling system and to unleash state terrorism.

7. The Arroyo clique is now on a propaganda binge to cover up its corruption, gross human rights violations and socio-economic malaise with false claims of economic progress under its rule and calls for reconciliation under the incoming Aquino regime. It is likely that the Arroyo camp will also be in a fast draw to also expose corruption under the Aquino regime. What are her chances of getting away from people's historical judgment in much the same way Estrada was allowed to elude justice under the Arroyo regime.

JMS: The economy has deteriorated drastically since the 2001 beginning of the Arroyo rule. There has been no industrialization and land reform. Incomes of the working people and even the middle social strata have gone down in real terms. Poverty has been aggravated. A quick way of indicating the economic deterioration is to mention the fact that the level of public debt rose from 2.2 trillion pesos in 2001 to 4.5 trillion pesos now.

It is a nasty joke on the people for Arroyo to depict as economic growth the heavy electoral spending in the first half of the 2010. The reality of economic deterioration is too harsh and too clear for Arroyo to be able to get away with false claims to bringing about economic progress.. Puppet regimes have kept the Philippines backward, agrarian and semifeudal and have always misrepresented consumption driven by foreign and domestic borrowings by the state as real economic growth.

I would expect that as soon as the Aquino regime engages in corruption Arroyo and her followers will expose it, unless the Aquino and Arroyo followers agree or come to a mode of collaboration and mutual benefit in a new wave of corruption. Like the two previously feuding wings of the Cojuangco clan, the Arroyo and Cojuangco-Aquino families are not beyond reconciling and collaborating. The imprisonment of Arroyo might never happen. Even when it happens as in the case of Estrada, Arroyo would not be at a loss as regards to ways of getting off the hook.

8. The return to power of the Aquino-Cojuangco family and the Kamag-anak Inc. fuels speculation that corruption and bureaucrat capitalism will definitely worsen under the Aquino regime. What do you think would be the key issues and tactics in exposing corruption in the incoming regime? Aside from those mentioned, could you identify the biggest comprador-landlords and bureaucrat capitalists who are poised to benefit the most under Aquino's regime?

JMS: The biggest comprador-landlords and bureaucrat capitalists that will benefit from the Aquino regime include the resurgent Kamag-anak Inc. headed by Jose Cojuangco and the business empire of Eduardo Cojuangco and all the other business moguls in the Makati Business Club who contributed heavily to the Aquino campaign fund, like the Ayalas, Lopezes, Razons and Pangilinans.

The list of donors and contributions for the Aquino campaign fund is obviously incomplete. . Aquino is a liar for claiming to have spent only a little more than 400 million pesos and having for donors only those openly listed. . Right from the beginning, his lack of personal integrity and credibility is showing. He is firmly on the path of deceiving and trying to make fools out of the people. This is clear no matter no much the clowns and sycophants try to hype his supposed cleanliness.

On top of the heap of big comprador-landlord families that are poised to benefit from the Aquino regime are the two wings of the Cojuangco clan, previously feuding but now collaborating to enrich themselves further through corrupt practices. From the very beginning of the Aquino regime, Danding Cojuangco is poised to overcome all the claims of the government against the ill-gotten wealth accumulated by him directly as well as put under his name by the fascist dictator Marcos. Is this not corruption on a grand scale now in the making right before our eyes?

It will take a little length of time before more scandalous cases of corruption will arise under the Aquino regime and make the regime stink to high heavens. Noynoy was lying when he said during the campaign that he could solve the problem of poverty by eliminating or reducing corruption. Corruption and poverty are inherent to to the semicolonial and semifeudal ruling system that he wants to preserve. Foreign monopoly capitalism, domestic feudalism and bureaucrat capitalism are the cause of poverty and corruption. No amount of crap from any reactionary politician can conceal this fact.

Even if Noynoy Aquino is given the benefit of a doubt, the mass movement must develop enough strength to be able to compel the new regime to cause the arrest and detention of Arroyo and her top criminal accomplices and to get back the ill-gotten wealth of the Marcoses and his big cronies like Eduardo Cojuangco, Lucio Tan, Jose Campos and others. The progressive forces must also be keen at spotting, denouncing and taking action against the new cases of corruption that will occur under Aquino regime.

The people and the broad range of opposition forces must be vigilant and militant in connection with such issues as the aforesaid ill-gotten wealth in previous regimes. There are also giant cases of tax evasion, smuggling and other major economic crimes. There are the backlog cases and there will be new cases involving Noynoy Aquino's giving big deals and privileges to his relatives, friends and other donors to his campaign fund.

Factual and legal researches must be done without let-up so that the opposition forces and the mass movement will be well-equipped in exposing and opposing corruption. There are research organizations, lawyers organizations and civic-spirited organizations concerned with good governance and corruption. They must be mustered to provide facts and support the mass movement. Definitely the mass movement must fight for national liberation and democracy against the imperialists, the local exploiting classes and the high bureaucrats who altogether are culpable for corruption and the poverty of the people.

9. The issue of land reform is one of the critical nagging questions that will continue to be faced by the incoming Aquino regime, considering that Aquino belongs to the Aquino-Cojuangco haciendero clan that has no intention of giving up Hacienda Luisita and has in fact so declared, contrary to Aquino's loose campaign promise to distribute the hacienda land by 2014 (although he also said the problem of HLI's debts that are bigger than its assets has to be solved first). What are Aquino's options in facing the widespread demand for land reform, including Hacienda Luisita? In the face of Aquino's expected failure (or more, exactly, lack of real interest) to implement land reform in the country, do you see any prospect in regard to the rise of the peasant movement's demand for genuine land reform?

JMS: Noynoy Aquino has made clear that there will be no land reform in Hacienda Luisita until 2014. He wants the stock distribution option swindle to continue. Quite obviously he is in agreement with the scheme of his family to use the next four years to further encumber Hacienda Luisita, Inc. with debts and other obligations to other Cojuangco corporations, to reclassify parts and parts of the hacienda and transfer them to other Cojuangco corporations, to lay off all or most of those farm workers and tenants who previously agreed to the stock distribution option and to buy off the minor shares of any remaining farm workers.

Noynoy Aquino wants to cast away the decision of the Agrarian Reform Council under Arroyo that rejected the stock distribution option and put Hacienda Luisita under land reform. He is also bullying the Supreme Court in order to soften up the Arroyo appointees into consenting to uphold the SDO scheme. The position of Aquino on the issues of land reform and the Hacienda Luisita massacre shows that he has no interest in genuine and thoroughgoing land reform under his own nose and anywhere else.

Aquino wants to retain CARP-ER in order to allow landlords to sell land upon their sole volition and to evade land reform by demanding fair market value for their land, by reclassifying the land to put it beyond the scope of land reform and by using the stock distribution option in order to deceive the landless tillers. Aquino is most likely inclined to give way to the US-instigated global policy of landgrabbing by multinational corporations. It is inevitable for the peasant movement to rise and advance in order to demand genuine and thoroughgoing land reform. The landless tillers are hard pressed by the ever worsening social and economic conditions. They have no choice but to fight for land.

10. How would you describe the social democrats and other pseudo-progressive and reformist groups that were active in the Aquino campaign? How much influence would they be able to wield in the incoming Aquino regime? What role do you see them playing?

JMS: The social democrats and other pseudo-progressive and reformist groups that were active in the Aquino campaign are special agents of the counterrevolutionary state and do the dirty propaganda job for the worst of the reactionaries. During the electoral campaign, they specialized in Red-baiting the two senatorial candidates of Makabayan and the progressive party list groups. They acted in concert with their military psywar partners.

The most powerful components of the Aquino regime are the moneygrubbers of the Cojuangco and Aquino families in back offices and their favorites among other big businessmen and the top-rung military and police officers. Relative to them, the social democrats or clerico-fascists and other special anti-communist agents are minor players but will have a major special role in continuing with their Red-baiting and anti-communist functions. They are inserted in presidential staff units, press office, education, finance, national security and so-called peace processes.

11. The fascist violence and violations of human rights perpetrated by the Arroyo regime under Oplan Bantay Laya 1 and 2 generated widespread national and international condemnation. Should not the Aquino regime release immediately the political prisoners and cause the investigation and prosecution of human rights violations, including the extrajudicial killings, enforced disappearances, illegal detention and torture of activists and other unarmed critics of the reactionary government under the Arroyo regime?

JMS: The widespread national and international condemnation of human rights violations under the Arroyo regime should have an impact on the incoming Aquino regime and should move it to order the immediate release of all political prisoners and cause the investigation, prosecution, trial and punishment of the human rights violators, from the level of Arroyo downwards. But even Philip Alston has expressed doubts that the new regime would dare to act against them and incur the risk of losing the support of the military and police.

Experience has shown that Cory Aquino could easily order the release of all political prisoners in 1986 but she did not dare to go after the human rights violators under the Marcos dictatorship. The victims had to file their tort case in US courts. Cory Aquino was not able to cause the punishment of the murderers of her own husband. Now, Noynoy Aquino is reconciled with Eduardo Cojuangco who used to be regarded as the co-mastermind of Marcos in having Ninoy Aquino murdered.

Noynoy Aquino himself is probably inclined not to go after human rights violators under the Arroyo regime because of his apparent complicity in the Hacienda Luisita massacre and the subsequently killings in Tarlac. Like his late mother, Aquino is again under advice by US operatives to concentrate on armed counterrevolution rather than to hold the military and police accountable for human rights violations. Aquino himself has already started to retreat from his previous promise of stopping and punishing violators human rights despite his continuing pretense at promoting democracy and avowals of defending the rights of his opponents.

It is important for the human rights organizations, the lawyers and other professional groups, the religious organizations and the broad masses of the people to persevere in the campaign against human rights violations and demand the punishment of the human rights violators, up to the level of those with command responsibility. With such a campaign, there is a chance for obtaining some amount of justice or reducing the human rights violations. But without such a campaign, the human rights violators would be further emboldened to commit their heinous crimes with impunity.

12. Would we expect the incoming Aquino regime to support the long standing demand for the compensation of the victims of human rights violations way back under the Marcos dictatorship?

JMS: It should be far easier than anything else for Noynoy Aquino to support and give way to the demand for compensation of the victims of human rights violations under the Marcos dictatorship. He should be able to sympathize with the victims because he, his parents and his entire family were also victims. The US court system decided the case against the Marcos estate and determined those victims that must be indemnified.

The beneficiaries in the US court decision must first be served in one act before there is another act to benefit other victims who are not covered by the said decision. Otherwise the charade will continue from year to year of denying indemnification to the clear beneficiaries and ridiculing them as greedy under the pretext of aiming with one legislative act to indemnify all victims of human rights violations, including those who did not join the suit against the Marcos estate in the US.

By the way, the indemnification of the victims of human rights violations, as determined by the US court decision, is stipulated in the GRP-NDFP Comprehensive Agreement on Respect for Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law (CARHRIHL). The Aquino regime needs to be reminded that there can never be a final peace agreement without fulfilling the demand for the indemnification of the victims of human rights violations under the Marcos regime.

13. Do you think Aquino will pursue the same program as the OBL or even a worse one in confronting the ongoing people's war?

JMS: There are clear indications that Aquino is bound by the US Counterinsurgency Guide and will continue Oplan Bantay Laya under a new name. In a speech on peace and security before foreign correspondents on April 22, he did not point to the importance and necessity of peace negotiations as the way of addressing the roots of the armed conflict and forging agreements on social, economic and political reforms in order to lay the basis for a just peace.

He echoed the line of the US Counterinsurgency Guide that the reactionary government can destroy, coopt or render the revolutionary movement inconsequential by operating efficiently without the necessity of peace negotiations. In that context, he presented four guideposts: good governance, delivery of services, economic rehabilitation and development and security reforms. The clear implication is that he can ignore all the demands for peace negotiations so long as he operates according to these guideposts.

Aquino has been chosen as the new chief puppet of the US because he is seen as having the penchant for unleashing violence against the working people and their supporters as in the Hacienda Luisita massacre and subsequent killings in Tarlac. He is already mouthing the terms of the US Counterinsurgency Guide and he is already assuring his US and Filipino handlers that he will allow the review of the Visiting Forces Agreement if only to satisfy the demands of some senators, allow some adjustments but keep the agreement intact and further legitimize the interventionist presence and entry of more US military forces.

14. The NDFP peace panel has said that it is open to resuming peace talks with the GRP under the Aquino regime. What would you say are the conditions and prospects of the talks?

JMS: In expressing its willingness to resume peace negotiations with the GRP, the NDFP has made clear that the two sides must reaffirm, comply with and carry forward The Hague Joint Declaration, the Joint Agreement on Safety and Immunity Guarantees, the Joint Agreement on the Sequence, Formation and Operationalization of the Reciprocal Working Committees, the Comprehensive Agreement on Respect for Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law and other agreements. There is no precondition whatsoever. The two sides are simply to comply with existing agreements.

There is yet no serious preliminary approach from the GRP to NDFP. The GRP-NDFP peace negotiations might never be resumed or will be delayed for a long time if Aquino takes orders from the US regarding peace negotiations and let military morons and the clerico-fascists control the GRP side of the negotiations like during the time of Arroyo. Like before, the GRP might be interested only in conjuring the illusion of GRP-NDFP peace negotiations to serve as a minor adjunct of the escalating brutal military campaigns of suppression cum fake local peace talks and fake social integration program.

15. In the past, what were the obstacles to the continuous progress of the GRP-NDFP negotiations? Why such obstacles?

JMS: First, let me point out that the peace negotiations would have progressed greatly since a long time ago if the GRP had complied with The Hague Joint Declaration and subsequent agreements. It is well proven by the successful forging and mutual approval of the CARHRIHL that the GRP and NDFP can make a comprehensive agreement if the GRP does not insist on putting up obstacles in violation of The Hague Joint Declaration.

For long stretches of time, the GRP put up obstacles like 1) the demand for holding the peace talks in the Philippines, 2) the demand to take up all four items of the substantive agenda all at the same time in a maneuver to frontload the fourth and final item on ending hostilities and to lay aside the second item on social and economic reforms and the third item on political and constitutional reforms, 3) the precondition of an indefinite ceasefire, 4) informal talks until a final agreement is to be formalized, 5) the terrorist blacklisting of the CPP, NPA and the NDFP chief political consultant, 6) the illegitimate so-called suspension of the Joint Agreement on Safety and Immunity Guarantees and 7) the abduction, torture and murder of NDFP consultants and staffers.

It was clear that the GRP became a party to the bilateral agreements with the NDFP, not to address the roots of the armed conflict and forge agreements on basic reforms for the purpose of attaining a just peace, but only to create the illusion of peace negotiations for the simultaneous purposes of deceiving the people, probing for ways to undermine the revolutionary movement and escalating the military campaigns of suppression against the people and revolutionary forces.

16. It looks like the feuding families of the Aquinos and Marcoses are happily living together in the enclave paradise of the big compradors and landlords in the Philippines. The feuding branches of the Cojuangco clan have also reconciled with each other and are together poised to take advantage of the Filipino people. How do you respond to them and their propagandists when they attack you as merely on self-exile and enjoying yourself abroad? How do you respond in case Noynoy Aquino himself or any of his major subalterns rhetorically invite or challenge you to return home and they also call on the NDFP negotiating panel to hold formal peace talks in the Philippines?

JMS: It is unfair even for the reactionary mass media to keep on describing me quite casually as self-exiled. The public knows that in 1988 Cory Aquino cancelled my passport in order to compel my return home and set me up for arrest by the military at the airport in Manila. But I applied for political asylum. Since then, I have been on forced exile and I have been recognized as a political refugee.

The wealthy and powerful Aquinos, Cojuangcos, Arroyos and Marcoses and their propagandists are not any better than me because they are in the Philippines. They are malefactors responsible/accountable for exploitation and oppression. They are in the Philippines to exploit and oppress the Filipino people. Their exploitative class of big comprador-landlord-bureaucrats and their military and police minions keep me out of the country and are always on the lookout for my return so that they can do something against me.

Even while abroad, I have been subjected to all kinds of attacks by the US and the Philippine rulers. They have acted to block my asylum, to slander me continuously in the bourgeois press, to subject me to assassination attempts, to put me on the terrorist blacklist, to prevent me from compensated work, to deprive me of social benefits, to arrest and detain me on the trumped-up charge of murder and to continue imposing on me many kinds of restrictions and prohibitions even now, after the Dutch and European court decisions nullifying the false charges of murder and terrorism against me. Would any sane person say that I enjoy the material comforts that my adversaries and detractors enjoy in surfeit.

You can be sure that the Aquino regime is not interested in resuming the formal peace negotiations as soon as it uses the tactic of calling on me and on the NDFP negotiating panel to go the Philippines for formal peace talks. This kind of tactic would be in violation of the Joint Agreement on Safety and Immunity Guarantees which stipulates the neutral foreign venue for the negotiations. It would be a tactic to put the NDFP panelists, consultants and staffers under military surveillance for eventual bloody suppression as had happened during the time of Cory Aquino in 1986 and 1987.

Formal talks even in the countryside are not acceptable to the NDFP because of the need for the large mobilizations of forces on both sides and the danger of sabotage from those who oppose the peace negotiations and because the revolutionary forces would be vulnerable to surveillance with the use of drones, GSP, monitoring of electronic communications, thermal heat sensing, night goggles and other technical devices. The NDFP is already well informed about the military objective of the GRP in wishing to have the formal peace talks in the Philippines.

17. Are you optimistic that the CPP will greatly develop guerrilla warfare and advance the people's war from the stage of strategic defensive to that of the strategic stalemate in the next five years under the US-Aquino regime? What can the Party and the revolutionary movement do in the new situation and the areas of work that particularly need to be stressed?

JMS: Far more important than my optimism about anything are the clear public pronouncements of the Communist Party of the Philippines on the concrete conditions, political requirements and the strategy and tactics involved in the plan to accelerate the development of guerrilla warfare and advance from the strategic defensive to the strategic stalemate in the people's war.

The CPP has pointed to the ever worsening socio-economic and political crisis of the domestic ruling system and likewise of the world capitalist system as the most important objective conditions for advancing the people's war. The toiling masses of workers and peasants and the middle social strata are suffering extreme forms of exploitation and oppression. And the widespread social discontent gives rise to various forms of mass resistance by the people.

The political requirements involve arousing, organizing and mobilizing the masses along the general line of struggle for national liberation and democracy through the strategic line of people's war. I presume that the CPP has definite ideas about expanding the various types of underground mass organizations in the guerrilla fronts and the urban underground. I also presume that it welcomes and encourages the mass organizations and other progressive formations based in the urban areas.

In its recent message to mark the anniversary of the New People's Army, the CPP Central Committee called on the New People's Army to intensify its tactical offensives in order to seize more arms and build more NPA units and more guerrilla fronts, to complement the tactics of annihilation with the tactics of attrition in order to further debilitate the enemy, to enable the building of the organs of political power and mass organizations in the guerrilla fronts, to train the people's militia and self-defense units as auxiliary forces and to support the undertaking of land reform and other mass campaigns for the benefit of the people. All these foretell the bright future for the revolutionary movement of the people.

http://www.philippinerevolution.net/cgi-bin/statements/stmts.pl?author=jms3;date=100619;lang=eng

[The Vegan Marxist]

Released NPA Prisoners of War

Public Information Bureau (http://www.philippinerevolution.net/cgi-bin/statements/cgi-bin/statements/stmts.pl?author=pibmac)
Merardo Arce Command
New People's Army-Southern Mindanao
June 19, 2010

http://www.philippinerevolution.net/pib/archives/2010/100619.ndfsm.photo1.jpg

PHOTO 1. FREED NPA POWs. (From left to right) CAA Pitogo, Cpls. Alcala, Bawagan, Asumo during the release ceremonies last June 15. The Merardo Arce Command-NPA ordered their release based on humanitarian grounds despite the finding of probable cause by the region's revolutionary organ of political authority against them for various acts constituting serious violations of Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law. The release is in recognition of the appeals made by the families, religious groups and personalities, well-meaning individuals and progressive groups on their behalf. (Photo by the Public Information Bureau-Merardo Arce Command-New People's Army-Southern Mindanao)

http://www.philippinerevolution.net/pib/archives/2010/100619.ndfsm.photo2.jpg

PHOTO 2. A comrade uncuffs POW Cpl. Ariel Asumo (in white shirt) during the release ceremonies last June 15. The NPA accords the released POWs the chance to conduct themselves in a manner respectful of the people's rights and the international laws of war. (Photo by the Public Information Bureau-Merardo Arce Command-New People's Army-Southern Mindanao)

http://www.philippinerevolution.net/pib/archives/2010/100619.ndfsm.photo3.jpg

PHOTO 3. Freed POWs (from left to right) CAA Victor Pitogo (SN#006279), Cpl. Eduardo Alcala (SN#806489), Cpl. Marcial B. Bawagan (SN#794130) and Cpl. Ariel P. Asumo (SN#803445) being interviewed by the media during the June 15 release ceremonies in Compostela Valley Province. (Photo by the Public Information Bureau-Merardo Arce Command-New People's Army-Southern Mindanao)

http://www.philippinerevolution.net/pib/archives/2010/100619.ndfsm.photo4.jpg

PHOTO 4. The NPA custodial force belonging to the Crucifino Uballas Command-Front 2 Operations Command-NPA during the release ceremonies last June 15 in Compostela Valley Province. While in detention, the rights of the four released POWs were guaranteed and protected by the NPA custodial force who strictly adhered to the rules of war, the Geneva Conventions, and the NPA's own rules of discipline. (Photo by the Public Information Bureau-Merardo Arce Command-New People's Army-Southern Mindanao)

http://www.philippinerevolution.net/pib/archives/2010/100619.ndfsm.photo5.jpg

PHOTO 5. Freed POWs (in white shirts) and the third party facilitators (in colored prints) during the June 15 release ceremonies. Third party facilitators composed of GRP local government officials in ComVal, the religious, human rights and peace advocates and well-meaning individuals worked for a safe and orderly release together with the revolutionary forces amid Maj. Gen. Carlos Holganza's continuing all-out combat offensive order and the so-called 10th ID-AFP's rescue operations that ended as one big flop. (Photo by the Public Information Bureau-Merardo Arce Command-New People's Army-Southern Mindanao)

http://www.philippinerevolution.net/cgi-bin/statements/stmts.pl?author=pibmac;date=100619;lang=eng

[The Vegan Marxist]

NPA seizes 2 gov’t troops in Compostela Valley

By Frinston Lim
Inquirer Mindanao
06/20/2010

TAGUM CITY, Davao del Norte, Philippines – New People's Army rebels on Saturday abducted anew two government troops in Compostela Valley, police on Sunday said.

The kidnapping of a soldier and a militiaman near the gold-rich Mt. Diwalwal in Monkayo town happened just days after the rebels freed four government troops they had abducted in the same province last May.

Senior Superintendent Aaron Aquino, Compostela Valley police chief, identified those kidnapped as Staff Sergeant Bienvinido Arguilles and Citizen Armed Forces Geographical Unit (CAFGU) member Job Latiban.

Arguilles is a member of the Army's 25th Infantry Battalion while Latiban belongs to a unit backing up the 72nd IB.

Aquino said the two troopers were seized when some 30 gunmen from the NPA's Pulang Bagani Company (PBC) 5 and Milisya ng Bayan (People's Militia) under a certain Janggo put up a roadblock in Sitio (Settlement) Mabatas, Barangay (Village) Upper Ulip at around 8 a.m., flagging down and checking on motorists.

“The group abducted (the two soldiers) who were riding in tandem on a motorcycle bound for Sitio Depot, in Barangay Mt. Diwalwal,” Aquino told the Philippine Daily Inquirer in a text message, adding the suspects, with their captives, withdrew toward Sitio Dash Three, also in Upper Ulip and a known NPA lair.

He said soldiers have been conducting an operation to locate and rescue the kidnap victims.

The rebels have yet to issue a statement related to the latest abduction.

http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/regions/view/20100620-276612/NPA-seizes-2-govt-troops-in-Compostela-Valley

[t.shonku]

Wow!!!!!!!!!!!! hats off for our Filipino comrades.:thumbup1:

[t.shonku]

I've decided to release images from the NPA which shows drills, women who's joined, & their duties while the camp site:

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This guys seems so well organised.I have developed a new respect for them.It seems that they have developed makeshift hospitals too,that's important.

[The Vegan Marxist]

Tribute to Comrade Joan Hinton, proletarian internationalist
Communist Party of the Philippines
June 20, 2010

In behalf of the Filipino people and their revolutionary forces, the leadership and entire membership of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) pay the highest tribute to Comrade Joan Hinton, indefatigable communist, anti-revisionist and proletarian internationalist. The working class and oppressed peoples across the globe feel a deep sense of loss with the passing away of Comrade Joan last June 8. She was 89. We express our heartfelt condolences to her children, family, friends, comrades and all the people she served and loved.

Through the most part of her life, Comrade Joan, with husband Ernest "Sid" Engst and brother William (Bill), served the Chinese people and worked tirelessly with them to advance the revolutionary struggle and build socialism in China. She and her husband worked in various people's enterprises, including an iron factory, various dairy farms and other agricultural projects where they contributed all their efforts and expertise. She continually integrated with the workers and peasants, helped build the Party, upheld Marxism-Leninism-Maoism and fought revisionism and the restoration of capitalism in China.

Comrade Joan was a pioneering nuclear physicist in the United States in the 1940s. She was one of those chosen by the US government to form an elite team in Los Alamos, New Mexico to secretly work on the Manhattan Project for the development of the first atomic bomb. The dropping of the US atomic bombs in Hiroshima and Nagasaki and the mass destruction they caused among innocent Japanese people in 1945 shocked and angered Comrade Joan, prompting her to leave the project.

She was inspired to go to China in March 1948 by her then fiancé Sid who left for China in 1945 and joined the Chinese revolution and the work in the liberated areas under the leadership of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and Chairman Mao Zedong. Sid was an American agriculturist. They got married in 1949 in Yanan, the main base of the people's revolutionary government when the national democratic revolution in China was about to be completed and the People's Republic of China was to be innaugurated.

For the next several decades, Comrades Joan and Sid devoted all their efforts to the Chinese revolution and the socialist cause. As they served the Chinese people and revolution, they expressed disdain against the special treatment of "foreign experts" and sought to be treated equally, to have the same living standard as their local counterparts and not be accorded special distinctions based on their specializations. She worked as an equal among workers and peasants as they built socialism from the 1950s to the 1970s, established their communes, developed industries and agriculture, carried out criticism and self-criticism, consolidated the Party, studied Marxism-Leninism-Maoism and launched struggles against revisionism.

She witnessed and experienced setbacks in the struggle for socialism leading to the restoration of capitalism in China as the revisionists seized power within the CPC from 1976 onwards. She criticized the rise of exploitation in China as the revisionist leadership of Deng Xiaoping tore down the socialist system and paved the way for the return of the big bourgeoisie and foreign monopoly capitalists in China. It was due to her fearless and undying devotion to the socialist cause and the proletarian revolution that she persisted in revolutionary work and the struggle for socialism in China despite the many difficulties she, her family and the people she worked with have encountered since revisionism took over and set back the socialist revolution in China.

Comrade Joan, as well as her husband Sid and brother Bill were long-time friends of the Philippine revolution. Their writings chronicling their experiences in building socialism in China from the 1950s to 1976 and the rise of revisionism and restoration of capitalism there from 1977 onwards have been well read by Filipino communists and revolutionaries. Her writings provided the Filipino communists and revolutionaries a clear picture of the Chinese people's daily struggles and practical lessons in the merging of Marxist-Leninist-Maoist teachings with the concrete experiences on the ground in the context of the Chinese revolution, especially in carrying out of agrarian revolution and advancing the socialist transformation of agriculture. Their incisive analyses and criticisms of revisionism and the restoration of capitalism have further enriched our grasp of Marxism-Leninism-Maoism.

She helped develop solidarity between the Filipino and Chinese peoples. She took great interest in the development of the Philippine revolution under the leadership of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) and supported several progressive causes in the Philippines. She visited the Philippines with her brother Bill in 1996 to participate in the People's Campaign Against Imperialist Gloablization and the People's Caravan Against the APEC summit. She warmly welcomed Filipino comrades who visited her in China and fostered frienship with Philippine progressive and democratic forces. She particularly developed a special interest and close friendship with the Filipino women comrades.

Comrade Joan was a staunch proletarian internationalist. Her loyalty to the working class and people transcended national boundaries. The significance of her work and writings has contributed greatly to the proletarian ideological counter-offensive throughout the 1990s and the resurgence of revolutionary struggles in the past decade.

She will continue to serve as an inspiration to the oppressed Chinese, Filipino, American and other peoples, and to all victims of imperialist globalization, semicolonial and semifeudal oppression and capitalist restoration. Her memory will forever be etched in the hearts of the world's proletariat as they continue to carry forward their historic mission to put an end to capitalism, build socialism and achieve communism.

Raise high the red banner of proletarian revolution in memory of Joan Hinton!

Long live the international communist movement!

http://www.philippinerevolution.net/cgi-bin/statements/stmts.pl?author=cpp;date=100620;lang=eng

[Veg_Athei_Socialist]

Wow, thanks for keeping us updated!

[Yazman]

Again, thanks for the continued updates. I am pretty angry at the latest election results with yet another fucking Aquino in power.

[The Vegan Marxist]

Again, thanks for the continued updates. I am pretty angry at the latest election results with yet another fucking Aquino in power.

Yeah, I know. Yet there's a good number of people that seem to feel like the Aquino's have been rehabilitated for some fucked up reason.

[Yazman]

Yeah, I know. Yet there's a good number of people that seem to feel like the Aquino's have been rehabilitated for some fucked up reason.

Yeah, its true. A lot of people in Iloilo I know seem to think that even they 'deserve another chance', although nobody can really give me any good reasons why.

[The Vegan Marxist]

Can someone update this thread by going to philippinerevolution.net and posting the new articles from "npa on abusive..." to "cpp reiterates...". Thanks. I would, but I'm using a cell to type this. Sorry for the trouble.

[t.shonku]

Have anyone in this board ever visited Philippines?? Can anyone give us eyewitness account of social and economic life there?

[Yazman]

Have anyone in this board ever visited Philippines?? Can anyone give us eyewitness account of social and economic life there?

I used to live there. The problem with your question, t.shonku, is that you can't give a broad picture of social and economic life in the Philippines as it varies drastically according to the region. Most of the support for the NPA comes from Mindanao (in the south) although they have branched out into the Visayas and even have conducted operations in Luzon before, although its rare. They sometimes do stuff in the Western Visayas - I've heard reports of them being on Panay (I lived in Iloilo which is on that island) although only in regional areas.

[thomasludd]

NPA punishes abusive 1105th PMG-PNP in Cateel, Davao Oriental: three killed, five wounded

Dyomabuk Kadyawan (http://www.philippinerevolution.net/cgi-bin/statements/stmts.pl?author=aac)
Spokesperson
Antonio Nerio Antao Command
New People's Army-Southern Mindanao
June 21, 2010

Fascist deception really knows no bounds. This matter of fact is once again proven in the latest spin about NPA casualties the 10th Infantry Division-AFP (10th ID-AFP) and the Philippine National Police Regional Office XI (PRO XI) have fed the media in a concerted attempt to conceal their mounting losses and failure to contain the revolutionary armed struggle.
The 10th ID-AFP and the PRO-XI, as if on cue, mouthed similar yarns about NPA casualties following the successful punitive action last Friday by the Antonio Nerio Antao Command-Front 15 Operations Command-New People's Army against the abusive 1105th Police Mobile Group-PNP in Sitio Dao, Brgy. Poblacion, Cateel, Davao Oriental.


To set the record straight and provide an accurate accounting, there was no casualty on the NPA side during the June 18 tactical offensive.
Ten minutes into the fight, the first enemy reinforcement from poblacion Cateel arrived in an attempt to extricate the beleaguered PNP patrol base. After 30 minutes of fierce exchange, the NPA striking force shifted to plan B as real-time reports from the ANAC-NPA's advanced reconnaissance started pouring in warning about the large contingent of enemy troops from the Baganga 1105th PMG-PNP headquarters approaching the encounter site. The NPA command decided to disengage, and made prompt preparations to confront the enemy's main column. The blocking force of the ANAC-NPA set up an ambush and hit the second reinforcement coming from Baganga. The series of encounters resulted to three members of the 1105th PMG-PNP killed and five wounded.


The masses in Cateel are celebrating the latest tactical offensive by the Red Army that served as punitive action against the abusive members of the reactionary police stationed in Dao.


Numerous complaints brought by the masses to the NPA's attention on the 1105th PMG's abuses prompted the ANAC-NPA to mount the punitive action against the abusive PNP unit. Elements of the 1105th PMG-PNP posted in Dao have made a lucrative livelihood out of their extortion operation targeting hapless motorists. These 1105th uniformed highwaymen impose a standard P1,500 SOP fee on commercial and logging trucks who invariably pass by the strategically positioned base while illegal drugs and petty theft proliferate. It has become a long-running joke by the people that these bloated goons in uniform are so adept at lifting bottles of beer yet never lift their fingers against the criminality victimizing so many people.
When Cateel town was decked all over with banners congratulating the Red Army on its 40th anniversary, 1105th PMG-PNP hooligans accosted motorists and ordered them to do push-ups as punishment for the festive atmosphere. Residents in Brgy Poblacion have lobbied many times for the dismantling of this outpost.


The 1105th PMG-PNP has also been indicted to have conspired with the 67th IB-AFP and the 10th ID's Military Intelligence Battalion in the political killing of peasant activist Ludenio 'Dos' Monson in Boston town last year. Monson, an indigenous Mandaya was a staunch critic of the abuses of the 1105th PMG-PNP and one of the complainants of a number of cases filed against the unit at the reactionary Commission on Human Rights.
Following the Friday NPA punitive action, the 1105th PMG-PNP went on a rampage and vented their ire on civilians. Four civilians were man-handled, including one youth who is still in pain after the severe beating. They have been conducting arbitrary searches on houses and interrogating civilians they suspect as supporters of the NPA.


The NPA once again makes it clear that abusive elements of the reactionary armed and police forces will be punished for their crimes against the people.


http://www.philippinerevolution.net/cgi-bin/statements/stmts.pl?author=aac;date=100621;lang=eng

[thomasludd]

PRESS RELEASE
Information Bureau
Communist Party of the Philippines

CPP reiterates demand for AFP to surface CPP-NPA-NDFP leader Prudencio Calubid et al, 4 years after their abductionJune 26, 2010



The Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) today reiterated the demand for the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) to surface Prudencio Calubid, his wife and other companions who were abducted by armed military agents exactly four years ago. A member of the CPP Central Committee, leading officer of the New People's Army (NPA) and consultant of the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) in the peace negotiations , Calubid and his companions were abducted on June 26, 2006 along Quirino highway, near Sipocot, Camarines Sur.


Calubid was with his wife Celina Palma, niece Gloria Soco, staff Ariel Belo and Antonio Lacno aboard a vehicle on their way to Bicol. At around 8 p.m., their vehicle was waylaid by a convoy of five vehicles. They were taken at gunpoint and brought to an unidentified military safehouse. For two days, Calubid and his companions underwent severe torture in the hands of their fascist military captors.
On the third day, they were brought to a secluded mountainous area ostensibly to be finished off by the fascists. In a last minute attempt to free themselves, Calubid and Lacno tried to fight off their captors. Lacno was able to escape and wandered for days along the Southern Tagalog-Bicol border forest before being able to get in touch with relatives and comrades in Manila. The fate of Calubid and other companions remain unknown to this day.


It was through Lacno's testimonies and signed affidavit that the revolutionary movement and the public learned about the brutalities that he and his abducted companions suffered and the likely extrajudicial killing of those who were not able to escape.
"The abduction, torture and forced disappearance of Calubid, Palma, Soco and Belo are among the most heinous crimes committed by the fascist agents of the US-Arroyo regime in more than nine years of its rotten and brutal rule. It was a direct affront on human rights, and an outright violation of the Joint Agreement on Safety and Immunity Guarantees (JASIG) and the Comprehensive Agreement on Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law (CARHRIHL) that were jointly signed in peace negotiations between the NDFP and the government of the Republic of the Philippines," said the CPP.


"Calubid's abduction was a direct assault against the peace negotiations," said the CPP, pointing out that under the JASIG, both the NDFP and the GRP vowed to ensure the security and immunity of personnel of both sides engaged peace negotiations. The CPP said peace negotiations with the US-Arroyo regime became more untenable after the abduction and enforced disappearance of NDFP consultants Leo Velasco and Rogelio Calubad, staff Philip Limjoco in 2006 and other NDFP consultants and staff members.
"The fourth anniversary of the abduction of Comrade Calubid and company is being observed by the CPP, the NDFP and the entire revolutionary movement a few days before the inauguration of the new president. The Philippine revolutionary forces now place on the incoming Aquino regime the responsibility of accounting for, and redressing, the fascist crimes against Calubid and his other missing companions and all other victims of forced disappearances and other gross violations of human rights in the past, and making those responsible pay for their crimes," added the CPP.


The CPP released today a special issue of Ang Bayan giving revolutionary tribute to Prudencio Calubid (known by his nom de guerres Ka Elliot, Ka Baki, Ka Papong, Ka Alex, Ka Rito and Ka Dindo) and his other abducted companions.

Reference:

Marco Valbuena
Media Officer
Cellphone Numbers: 09156596802 :: 09282242061
E-mail:[email protected]

http://www.philippinerevolution.net/cgi-bin/statements/releases.pl?date=100626;refer=cpp;lang=eng

[A Revolutionary Tool]

PRESS RELEASE
Information Bureau
Communist Party of the Philippines

Is Aquino interested at all in peace negotiations?--CPPJuly 1, 2010



The Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) today expressed doubts on whether newly installed President Benigno Aquino III has any serious intention of resolving through peace negotiations the root causes of the ongoing civil war. The CPP noted how he completely failed to address the issue in his innaugural speech yesterday.
"Neither has Aquino declared in any of his previous policy statements and speeches any intention of resuming the peace negotiations," the CPP said. "The only thing the new reactionary president has done related to the peace talks is to appoint as Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process, Teresita Deles, a pseudoprogressive who once held the same position in the previous regime before parting ways with Arroyo. Deles was no help at all to the peace process, as all the government peace panel under her did was try to induce the revolutionary movement to disarm and surrender," said the CPP.
The CPP added that "The Filipino people would have wanted Aquino to reverse his predecessor's policy of fooling around with and eventually abandoning the peace negotiations as a means of resolving the raging armed conflict. With the US-designed Oplan Bantay Laya spanning the entire nine and half years of its rule, the puppet Arroyo regime relied on fascist brutal force and vicious psywar to suppress the revolutionary armed movement, wage a campaign of impunity against social activists and critics, and terrorize the masses."
The CPP said further that "It would appear that the new puppet regime is under the direction of its US imperialist master to adhere more closely to the US Counterinsurgency Guide, belittle peace negotiations and use it only as a tactic to inveigle the revolutionary movement to surrender. The US government is more interested in seeing the new US-Aquino regime intensify its counterrevolutionary war of suppression, coupled with deceiving the people through psywar and shallow political gimmickry."
Formal peace negotiations between the Government of the Republic of the Philippines and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) achieved significant progress during 1992-1998 under the Ramos regime. This period saw the signing of The Hague Joint Declaration in 1992 and the Joint Agreement on Safety and Immunity Guarantees (JASIG) in 1995, and the completion of the Comprehensive Agreement on Respect for Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law (CARHRIHL) which was signed by Ramos' successor Joseph Estrada as soon as the latter assumed the presidency in 1998. Peace negotiations have since been practically stalled.
The CPP said that "The US-Arroyo regime practically ignored previous aggreements and erected so many stumbling blocks in the peace process during its nine and half years of rule. In league with the US imperialists, it waged an all-out campaign to tag the CPP, the NPA and NDFP senior political consultant Jose Ma. Sison as 'foreign terrorists.' It fabricated more than a thousand charges against NDFP peace consultants and progressive leaders and social activists, and illegally arresting and detaining many of them. It plotted with US intelligence agents and the Dutch police for the filing of trumped-up murder charges, to cause the arrest and detention of Comrade Sison in The Netherlands. It carried out the abduction, enforced disappearance and extrajudicial killings of several NDFP peace negotiation consultants and staff. All this, in violation of the JASIG, CARHRIHL and other previous peace aggreements."
"The NDFP maintains a policy of remaining open to peace negotiations with the reactionary Philippine government as long as the latter reciprocates such openness, commits to upholding all previous agreements in the peace process, and engages without preconditions in negotiation to address the problems which are at the root of the ongoing armed conflict," declared the CPP.
"The revolutionary forces have already declared their readiness to engage the Aquino government in formal peace negotiations. With the intensification of the civil war in the coming years, the US-Aquino regime is bound to face a mounting demand to pursue the peace process. The ball is now in the hands of Aquino," the CPP said further.

http://www.philippinerevolution.net/cgi-bin/statements/releases.pl?date=100701;refer=cpp;lang=eng

[A Revolutionary Tool]

PRESS RELEASE
Information Bureau
Communist Party of the Philippines

AFP chief has not learned lessons about setting deadlines to end people's armed resistance--CPPJuly 3, 2010



The Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) today dismissed "as a big joke" the declaration yesterday by newly installed Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Ricardo David that the military can put an end to the revolutionary armed struggle within three years.
The CPP said "General David's statement is hilarious, coming in the wake of the AFP's failure to meet its previous deadline of reducing the New People's Army (NPA) to insignificance by the end of Arroyo's term last June 30. General David even contradicts the new Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin's statement a day earlier that Aquino's administration "would not make the same mistake committed by its predecessor by imposing impossible deadlines for counter-insurgency efforts versus the ongoing people's war."
"Like the June 2010 deadline set by previous regime, the AFP chief of staff's statement which now sets another three years to defeat the revolutionary armed struggle is another pipedream. From as early as the Marcos fascist dictatorship, defense secretaries, AFP chiefs and other top officials of the fascist military have all kept repeating similar declarations only to have these blow up in their faces," said the CPP.
The CPP said further that General David and Secretary Gazmin and the newly installed Aquino regime must resolve among themselves their approach to the ongoing revolutionary war raging in the country, especially after the Aquino regime has reciprocated the National Democratic Front of the Pilippines (NDFP)'s statements that it is open to the resumption of peace talks. Secretary Gazmin said that "We sit down and talk... the more you kill, the more enemies you create."
"In the last nine and a half years, the AFP carried out an all-out military campaign of suppresssion under the Arroyo regime's Oplan Bantay Laya. Not only has the AFP failed in its declared objective, it has further incited the people to take up arms as the military's fascist onslaught left a long bloody trail of killings, abductions, torture, mass terrorism and other violations of human rights and international humanitarian law," said the CPP.
The CPP raised concerns that General David's declaration will bring about a further spread and intensification of human rights abuses by the fascist armed forces. "By setting another three-year deadline, the AFP is bound to become more desperate and resort to intensifying brutalities against communities its fascist military regards as supportive of the NPA."
The CPP also chided the Aquino government's plan to increase the number of soldiers and police, as declared in the inaugural speech of Benigno Aquino last June 30. "Without first resolving outstanding cases of human rights abuses and atrocities perpetrated by the AFP, increasing their number can only be interpreted as a pat on the military's back and lead to more widespread violations of human rights." The CPP noted that Aquino made no similar declaration with regard the number of teachers.
"By waging guerrilla warfare with revolutionary devotion and wide-and-deep people's support, the NPA and the revolutionary forces in the countryside continue to reap victory after victory in launching tactical offensives, building the people's organized strength, advancing their agrarian and other struggles, setting up local organs of people's democratic government and expanding to more areas," added the CPP. "In the past nine years, the NPA has recruited thousands and seized thousands of weapons from the AFP, its paramilitary groups and warlord armies."
The CPP, in its current program, has called on the NPA to fully develop guerrilla warfare in order to bring the people's war from its current stage of strategic defensive to the stage of strategic stalemate in the next five years.



http://www.philippinerevolution.net/cgi-bin/statements/releases.pl?date=100703;refer=cpp;lang=eng

[A Revolutionary Tool]

PRESS RELEASE
Information Bureau
Communist Party of the Philippines

CPP welcomes Aquino government's peace overturesJuly 3, 2010



The Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) today welcomed the statements of the Aquino government's peace adviser Teresita Deles reciprocating earlier declarations of the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) that it remains open to the resumption of formal peace negotiations between the NDFP and the Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP).
Deles yesterday said the Aquino government is committed to providing a "negotiated settlement" to the raging armed conflict in the Philippines. She said she has already sent messages to the NDFP seeking the resumption of peace negotiatations.
To resume and push forward the peace negotiations, the Aquino government needs to commit itself to all previous agreements, including The Hague Joint Declaration of 1992 which set the guiding principles, framework, agenda and procedures for the talks, the Joint Agreement on Safety and Immunity Guarantees (JASIG) and the Comprehensive Agreement on Respect for Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law (CARHRIHL).
The CPP also urged the Aquino government to resolve the outstanding cases of abduction and enforced disappearance of NDFP peace consultants including Leo Velasco, Prudencio Calubid and Rogelio Calubad and their staff members. It also called for the immediate release of Eduardo Sarmiento, Eduardo Serrano, Edgardo Sacamay, Glicerio Pernia, Angela Ipong, Jaime Soledad, Randy Malayao, Alfredo Mapano, Jovencio Balweg, and other NDFP consultants who were arrested during the previous Arroyo regime and continue to languish in the GRP's detention centers.
These cases of abduction, enforced disappearance and illegal detention were carried out by the Arroyo regime in gross violation of the JASIG and CARHRIHL.
In 2007, the Arroyo regime also plotted with the US intelligence and Dutch police in filing trumped-up murder charges in a Dutch court against NDFP chief political consultant Jose Ma. Sison and having him arrested in 2007. Sison was subsequently released after the Dutch court determined that Sison was not guilty of the charges.
The NDFP-GRP peace negotiatations have been practically stalled since 2004 when the Arroyo regime reneged on most of its commitments in the peace talks. Among these was the commitment to take steps to undo the Arroyo regime's collusion with the US to campaign for the inclusion of the CPP, NPA and NDFP chief consultant Jose Ma. Sison in the US and other imperialists' list of "foreign terrorists." The NDFP also asked for the release of 14 illegally detained and missing peace consultants, but the Arroyo government only conditionally released two of them.


http://www.philippinerevolution.net/cgi-bin/statements/releases.pl?date=100703a;refer=cpp;lang=eng

[The Vegan Marxist]

CPP condemns violent dispersal of Mendiola peasant demonstrators
July 4, 2010

The Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) today condemned the violent dispersal of peasant demonstrators near Mendiola Bridge yesterday afternoon, calling the act "a signal fire of the new Aquino regime against the mass movement of peasants and their continuing clamor for genuine agrarian reform."

At least 40 peasant demonstrators were arrested during the violent dispersal. Among the demonstrators were farm workers from the Aquino-Cojuangco-owned Hacienda Luisita in Tarlac. A number of demonstrators were hurt and brought to hospitals.

The demonstrators led by the Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) have been camping out at the vicinity of the Mendiola Bridge since Aquino's inauguration last Wednesday. They intended to stay in the area to press the new government to address the issue of land reform, and specifically to voice their demand to scrap the Stock Distribution Option (SDO) and thus allow the distribution of the Hacienda Luisita land to the farmers and farm workers.

"Yesterday's dispersal cannot but make us recall the Mendiola Massacre of 1987 during the incumbency of Corazon Aquino where thousands of demonstrators demanding land reform were dispersed with gunfire, killing at least 13 marchers," said the CPP. "It also reminds us of the Hacienda Luisita Massacre of 2004, for which current president Noynoy Aquino was personally culpable, and the subsequent killings of leaders and advocates of the peasant movement in Tarlac."

The CPP noted that the Aquino government has yet to make any commitment to undertake land reform. "He has spoken of providing marketing services to farmers, but ignores the more fundamental problem of land monopoly ownership by landlords that has been subjecting millions of peasants to oppression and exploitation for centuries."

"By turning a deaf ear to the growing clamor for land reform, Noynoy Aquino is bound to incite more peasant unrest," said the CPP. "His callousness to the demands of the peasant masses will only succeed in pushing more and more people to the path of revolutionary armed struggle."

http://www.philippinerevolution.net/cgi-bin/statements/releases.pl?date=100704;refer=cpp;lang=eng

[The Vegan Marxist]

Let's not take this as truth until any confirmation of such is brought forth. For now, this is mere propaganda led by the Filipino government & media.

3 hurt as NPA rebels attack military outpost in ComVal
By Frinston Lim
Philippine Daily Inquirer
07/01/2010

TAGUM CITY, Philippines – At least three people, including a civilian, were wounded when suspected New People’s Army rebels attacked an army detachment in Maragusan town, Compostela Valley on Wednesday night, said the military on Thursday.

Captain Emmanuel Garcia, 10th Infantry Division public affairs officer, identified those injured as Sergeant Reglyn Locario and Pfc. Jaime Galiza, and civilian Nanietes Niengo.

Garcia said the attack happened at around 9:15 p.m. when 50 rebels onboard two Saddam-type logging truck swooped down on the temporary patrol base of the Army’s 66th Infantry Battalion in Cambagang village.

Soldiers manning the outpost fought back, driving off the attackers after a 30-minute firefight, Garcia said, adding one of the trucks was abandoned by the fleeing rebels several kilometers away.

“The [NPA rebels] surely suffered casualties as they were forced to retreat despite their big number as compared to the squad in the temporary patrol base. One of their leaders might be one of the casualties as one Icom radio was left behind [by the fleeing insurgents]. Radios are normally used by their leaders,” Colonel Roberto Ancan, 66th IB commander, said.

Garcia said the three wounded were being treated at a local hospital while pursuit operations against the rebels were ongoing.

http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/regions/view/20100701-278604/3-hurt-as-NPA-rebels-attack-military-outpost-in-ComVal

[The Vegan Marxist]

Filipino people joins Indian people in condemning execution of Comrade Azad
Communist Party of the Philippines (http://www.philippinerevolution.net/cgi-bin/statements/cgi-bin/statements/stmts.pl?author=cpp)
July 5, 2010

The Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) and all Filipino revolutionary forces join the Indian people in condemning the summary execution of Comrade Azad (Cherukuri Rajkumar) and his companion Comrade Hem Pandey (Jitender) by the fascist Indian police last July 2 in the Adilabad jungles near the Maharashtra border, Andhra Pradesh.

Comrades Azad and Hem Pandey were en route to meet other comrades in Nagpur District, Maharashtra when they were abducted by the notorious Andhra Pradesh Special Branch Police. They were likely flown by helicopter to the jungles where they were summarily executed.

To cover up its fascist crime, the Indian police claim that Comrade Azad was killed in an armed encounter and to have recovered an AK-47 rifle at the scene. According to reports, Comrade Azad was traveling unarmed when he was accosted. His killing was carried out by the Indian police in cold blood and in complete disregard of international laws of war.

Comrade Azad was a member of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of India and served as its spokesperson. He was a disciplined student of Marxism-Leninism-Maoism who dedicated three and a half decades of his life to the revolutionary struggle of the Indian people. He was well regarded for living a simple life and working hard for the revolutionary cause. His death is mourned by the working class and oppressed people of India, the Philippines and the world over.

The CPP pays the highest revolutionary tribute to Comrade Azad and encourages all its members and revolutionary forces under its leadership to read and study the life story of Comrade Azad and be inspired by his revolutionary dedication.

http://www.philippinerevolution.net/cgi-bin/statements/stmts.pl?author=cpp;date=100705;lang=eng

[A Revolutionary Tool]

PRESS RELEASE
Information Bureau
Communist Party of the Philippines

By not censuring AFP, Aquino is liable for Aklan extrajudicial killing--CPPJuly 6, 2010



The Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) today denounced the killing yesterday morning of Fernando Baldomero, a coordinator of the progressive party-list group Bayan Muna and a councilor of Lezo, Aklan. Baldomero is the first victim of extrajudicial killing under the Aquino regime.
The CPP said "newly installed President Benigno 'Noynoy' Aquino III must be made responsible for Baldomero's murder after having failed to censure the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) for its past campaigns of terror and suppression and issue an order to investigate and ensure prosecution of past crimes and violations of human rights."
Baldomero was preparing to bring his 12-year old son to school yesterday morning when two armed men wearing helmets and denim jackets stormed inside his house and shot him.
"Aquino as commander-in-chief of the government's armed forces has faced the military organization twice already in the past five days. Yet, not a word was said about providing justice for all the fascist abuses perpetrated by the government's military in the past, not a word repudiating the crimes of Gen. Jovito Palparan and other top military officials behind the AFP's bloody campaign of impunity in the past nine and a half years," the CPP pointed out.
More than a thousand activists and critics of the government have fallen victim to the systematic campaign of summary liquidation by state agents since 2001. Independent investigations into these killings, including that conducted by the United Nations Commission on Human Rights in 2007 have concluded that the killings of those considered "enemies of the state" can only be the handiwork of the government and its military.
"By promising to unconditionally provide everything that the AFP asks for, Aquino has virtually given his officers the go-signal to continue with the military's relentless attacks against the people," added the CPP. "The notorious Oplan Bantay Laya appears to be still in effect."
"Aquino will end up being fiercely hated and fought by the people as he fails to order his men to stop its campaign of killings of activists and critics of government," the CPP said.


http://www.philippinerevolution.net/cgi-bin/statements/releases.pl?date=100706;refer=cpp;lang=eng

[A Revolutionary Tool]

The government tries to pin the murder of an activist on them, saying they're "purging" members.




PRESS RELEASE
Information Bureau
Communist Party of the Philippines

"Purging" theory in Baldomero to deflect blame against military--CPPJuly 7, 2010



The Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) today said the "internal purging" spin now being floated by the military and police officials with regard to the killing last Monday of Bayan Muna Aklan coordinator and Lezo town councilor Fernando Baldomero "is meant to deflect the blame for the murder from the fascist military and security agents of the reactionary state."
"Because of the widepread indignation over the killing, the AFP is now trying to shift the blame for the killings of activists to the activists themselves," said the CPP. Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) spokesman Brig. Gen. Jose Mabanta yesterday complained that the military has become the easy usual target for blame in such cases, and retorted that communists or even the militants themselves could be behind the killing.
"Baldomero is a dedicated social activist and outstanding servant of the people. His killing is a big loss to the toiling masses and the movement for national freedom and democracy," said the CPP. "He is well loved by the people of Lezo. The revolutionary forces continued to regard Baldomero highly even after he decided to shift to the open, legal arena of struggle since his release from detention in 1994."
"The AFP and its henchmen in the RPA-ABB have long wanted to do away with Baldomero who has consistently served the people's national democratic aspirations," said the CPP. "He performed his duties in the local parliamentary struggle just as ardently and effectively as he did in the armed struggle before his detention. But his shift to the legal and parliamentary struggle made him an open target of the fascist agents of the reactionary state, the only ones with the motive to kill the likes of him." Baldomero was rearrested by the military in 2004 and detained for three months.
The CPP expressed that "It is through such psywar spins as 'internal cleansing' or 'communist purging' that the military and police try to cover up the extrajudicial killings, abductions and other attacks perpetrated by state armed agents against the open, legal cause-oriented activists and organizations which they consider as 'enemies of the state'."
"Such psywar spins have been thoroughly disproven and discredited," the CPP stated further, pointing to investigations in 2007 by the United Nations Human Rights Commission (UNHRC) headed by Extrajudicial Killings Special Rapporteur Philip Alston which concluded that such killings have actually been the handiwork of state forces. Alston's report pointed to the organic connection between the campaign of vilification by the government and military against progressive activist groups and the killings perpetrated against their ranks.
The CPP described as "lame and inadequate" Aquino's order to the Philippine National Police (PNP) to investigate the killing of Baldomero. "Putting a stop to the extrajudicial killings requires an overhaul of the very framework of the goverment's military and security forces in carrying out their counterrevolutionary war, something that Aquino has failed to do."
The CPP forewared Aquino that, "ultimately, he himself will be blamed for the killings. His failure to countermand the AFP's fascist terror tactics-cum-vilification campaign against activists, progressive groups and movements constitutes implicit support to the military's fascist reign of impunity."


http://www.philippinerevolution.net/cgi-bin/statements/releases.pl?date=100707;refer=cpp;lang=eng

[scarletghoul]

This is interesting. Wish there was more info on the US military involvement. http://www.philippinerevolution.net/cgi-bin/statements/releases.pl?date=100708;refer=cpp;lang=eng

PRESS RELEASE
Information Bureau
Communist Party of the Philippines

US troops engaged in combat and other forms of military intervention--CPPJuly 8, 2010



The Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) today lambasted US Ambassador Harry Thomas for "lying through his teeth" when he claimed yesterday that US troops in the Philippines are not engaged in combat operations in the Philippines.
The CPP said "The US government is actively waging a multi-dimensional interventionist war in the Philippines. US troops are actually engaged in military operations in the country, starting from the provision of advice and training, sending 'humanitarian assistance forces,' in the country providing logistical, intelligence and combat support to local puppet troops, or actual engaging in covert combat operations."
Since 2001, a 600-strong contingent of US soldiers under the US Pacific Command's Joint Special Operations Task Force-Philippines (JSOTFP) have been operating in many regions of the country under the guidance of their exclusive headquarters inside various AFP camps.
The CPP pointed out that "More than just an open secret, there have been factual reports that US soldiers stationed in the Philippines have been actively involved in so-called counterinsurgency operations in the country. It has carried out military operations independent of or integrated with the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) including providing intelligence, weapons and other logistical support, and joining operations in the battlefield. In many cases, US military officers based in tactical command posts in battlefields have actually been the ones giving instruction or 'expert advice' to AFP commanders during combat operations."
"Ambassador Thomas glosses over the fact that in the past several years, there have been several reports of US troops engaged in battlefield operations together with AFP units in various provinces across the country, most of them in Mindanao," the CPP added.
Various instances of direct involvement of US troops in operations against the Abu Sayyaf in Mindanao were cited by the CPP: "In September last year, two American soldiers were killed when they were ambushed in Indanan, Sulu. Earlier that month, a team of US soldiers transporting undisclosed items passed by the port of Jolo in Sulu and opened fire indiscriminately in a knee-jerk reaction to a supposed grenade explosion. The US soldiers damaged dock facilities and a nearby mosque. Back in 2002, Sgt. Reggie Lane, a US Army serviceman embedded among troops of the 18th IB shot Buyong-buyong Isnijal, a farmer in Basilan in a raid on his house to arrest him for suspicion of being an Abu Sayyaf element."
The CPP also enumerated a number of instances US where military personnel were witnessed to have been playing active roles in combat operations in Mindanao against the New People's Army (NPA):
"Around mid-February and again in early July this year, US soldiers were seen together with troops of the AFP operating against the NPA in Quezon, Bukidnon. These interventionist troops, together with a unit of the AFP, engaged an NPA unit in a firefight and even committed atrocities against the residents in the area."
"In April and again in September last year, US troops were also sighted with AFP soldiers in Valencia and Malaybalay asking local residents for possible NPA locations and even intimidating civilians in the area. In May 2008, a four-man team of US military officers set up office inside the tactical command post of the 1003rd Brigade during a massive anti-NPA operation in Compostela Province. In April last year, a US soldier was wounded in a firefight between the New People's Army and troops of the 9th IB in Masbate."
The CPP added that US interventionist forces have been expanding the scope of their Joint US-Philippine Balikatan military exercises to cover areas with strong NPA presence for the purpose of military mapping and mastering the area, setting up their own intelligence infrastructure and providing intelligence and backup support to puppet troops engaged in combat operations against the NPA. The CPP also cited increasing reports of US drones flying over guerrilla fronts of the NPA to monitor guerrilla movements and feed these to the puppet operating troops.
"Within the framework of its doctrine of counterinsurgency, various US agencies also launch 'civilian-military operations' with the aim of painting a benevolent image of US imperialism and drawing the people away from waging armed resistance."
"All these forms and levels of direct and indirect military intervention are being undertaken by the US government in line with its US Counterinsurgency Guide, which stipulates the US' self-claimed role of interfering in the internal affairs of a sovereign state and in the fight against local armed resistance," the CPP said further.
The CPP added: "What makes it worse for the Filipino peoples is the fact that the puppet Philippine government acquiesces to such unabashed foreign political and military interventionism. US officials have repeatedly claimed that its presence and operations in the Philippines are being undertaken upon the request of the Philippine government." It also noted that in his speeches, the new president of the puppet state, Benigno Aquino III has been openly and repeatedly declaring his obeisance to the entire concept of the US Counterinsurgency Guide."

[scarletghoul]

http://theprwcblogs.blogspot.com/2010/07/12-afp-troops-killed-in-action-in-may.html

12 AFP troops killed in action in May-June in Northern Samar (http://theprwcblogs.blogspot.com/2010/07/12-afp-troops-killed-in-action-in-may.html)

Efren Martires Command
New People's Army-Eastern Visayas
Hulyo 9, 2010

The Efren Martires Command of the New People's Army in Eastern Visayas
today said that Rodante Urtal Command in Northern Samar not only
foiled but seriously pummeled the government's offensive under Oplan
Bantay Laya 2. "From May-June in Northern Samar, on the side of Armed
Forces of the Philippines, at least 12 were killed in action and seven
wounded in action in an NPA ambush and other military actions," said
Ka Karlos Manuel, EMC spokesperson. "Meanwhile, one Red fighter was
martyred."

The EMC spokesperson cited the following NPA military actions:

* May 2 -- The NPA harassed operating enemy troops in Brgy. Rizal, Gamay.

* May 3 -- An NPA unit had an encounter with 10 government troops
between Brgy. Nagbubtac and Brgy. Lanubi in Laoang town. In a two-hour
firefight, three soldiers were killed and two wounded, while the NPA
had no casualties.

* May 31 -- The NPA ambushed operating enemy troops between Brgy.
Osias and Brgy. Bangon in Gamay. Seven soldiers were killed and three
wounded, while one Red fighter was also killed in action. The NPA
likewise confiscated one K3 weapon and one M203 rifle.

* June 23 -- In Brgy. Poponton, Las Navas, the NPA seized the
initiative by attacking first against an enemy unit of more than 30
elements that was part of a four-column enemy offensive. The alert NPA
had discovered the enemy presence even though the soldiers moved only
at night and did not pass through the villages to conceal their attack
maneuvers. In three firefights, at least two soldiers were killed and
two wounded, while the NPA had no casualty. The enemy troops withdrew
in confusion as their plan was thrown in disarray."

Ka Karlos Manuel said that the NPA will further intensify tactical
offensives to defeat the continuing offensives of Oplan Bantay Laya 2.
"The NPA is ready to face whatever succeeding operational plan the new
Aquino regime may have, such as the three-year deadline to defeat the
NPA put forth by AFP chief of staff Gen. Ricardo David. Today, the
continuing government offensives and the continuing political and
media killings are meant to suppress the people's resistance and
struggle against the corruption, fascism and puppetry of the
reactionary ruling system. The Aquino regime is seemingly uninterested
in addressing the people's grievances to root out the causes of the
civil war through peace talks, and appears more interested in
escalating its own dirty war according to the wishes and guidance of
the US. If so, the NPA is even more determined to wield its firearms
and advance the people's war with the perspective of achieving
strategic stalemate in the next five years. The NPA calls on the
people to remain courageous in fighting for their rights and to
support the just war for national and social liberation."#


--
Roy Santos
NDF-EV Media Officer
Email: [email protected], [email protected]
Blog: http://evsirang.blogspot.com
Connect also to Roy Santos through Facebook.

[The Vegan Marxist]

^That's great news to hear. And what's more is that these victories continue & the NPA is gaining massive support & numbers, all while they've got both filipino counterinsurgency & US military trying to take them down.

[scarletghoul]

Yeah. The new Aquino government has been just as bad as the Arroyo one and is using the same failed strategy so far. The US role is curious, and I wonder what theyll do if fighting intensifies further and a strategic stalemate is reached

[scarletghoul]

Jose Maria Sison now has a blog
http://josemariasison.wordpress.com/

[The Vegan Marxist]

Apparently, unless it's just my computer, the Philippine Revolution website is now forbidden for any access. Can anybody confirm if this is happening to other people's servers? Thanks.

[RedScare]

Apparently, unless it's just my computer, the Philippine Revolution website is now forbidden for any access. Can anybody confirm if this is happening to other people's servers? Thanks.
Doesn't work for me either.

[The Vegan Marxist]

8 Marines wounded in Palawan NPA ambush
By Redempto Anda
Inquirer Southern Luzon
07/10/2010

PUERTO PRINCESA CITY, Philippines—Armed men believed to be New People's Army rebels ambushed a contingent of Philippine Marines Friday in a remote area of San Vicente, Palawan, wounding eight soldiers, including one officer, the military said Saturday.

The government troops, members of a special operations platoon of the Marine Battalion Landing Team 8, were on a military truck that was negotiating a hilly curve in Sitio Itabiak when the rebels detonated an improvised explosive device (IED).

Lt. Col. Yuri G. Pesigan, commanding officer of the MBLT 8, told reporters that the soldiers engaged an estimated 20 rebels in a one-hour battle before the latter decided to pull back.

Government troops have launched operation against the rebels.

Pesigan said they were lucky that the 6x6 truck vehicle ended up on the side of the road, causing the ambushers to lose a clear view of the soldiers after they exploded the IED.

"We were able to fire back until reinforcements arrived," Pesigan said.

The eight wounded soldiers were taken to to the hospital of the Western Command for treatment. Pesigan said none of them was in critical condition.

A team from the Navy Special Weapons and Action Group recovered a second unexploded IED on the other side of the road where the ambush took place.

The Western Command had earlier estimated the armed strength of the NPA in Palawan to be around 30 men.

Last week, the NPA was believed to be behind the burning of a Globe telecommunications tower, also in San Vicente.

http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/regions/view/20100710-280287/8-Marines-wounded-in-Palawan-NPA-ambush

[The Vegan Marxist]

Doesn't work for me either.

I wonder what exactly is going on. There's loads of different reasons behind the forbidden access. We'll just have to wait & see what's going. I'll get connected to one of them & find out what.

[The Vegan Marxist]

CPP rejects Gazmin's “surrender” precondition for peace talks resumption

Information Bureau
Communist Party of the Philippines
July 9, 2010

The Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) today rejected the position set by Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin that the New People's Army (NPA) should first surrender its arms before formal peace talks can resume between the Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP) and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP).

The CPP also questioned whether Gazmin's statements yesterday on the matter of peace talks constitute the Aquino regime's official position. It noted that Presidential Peace Adviser Teresita Deles earlier expressed openness to work for a “negotiated political settlement” of the armed conflict.

Gazmin's surrender precondition “exposes the defense secretary's bellicose position where peace is equated with the surrender or suppression of the people's armed resistance,” said the CPP. “Gazmin's militarist definition of peace must be repudiated for formal peace negotiations to advance under the Aquino regime.”

“The Filipino people desire a resolution of the armed conflict by addressing the roots of the civil war, principally the grave violations of human rights, the worsening socio-economic conditions and the continuing political marginalization of the toiling masses,” said the CPP. “These are the issues that must be addressed through peace negotiations.”

“Gazmin's precondition has long been discredited by the achievements of GRP-NDFP peace negotiations from 1992 to 1998,” pointed out the CPP. “Without requiring any party to surrender its arms or setting any other precondition, the GRP and NDFP negotiating panels succeeded in forging several historic documents.”

Among the documents signed during this period are The Hague Joint Declaration of 1992, the Comprehensive Agreement on Respect for Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law (CARHRIHL) and the Joint Agreement on Safety and Immunity Guarantees (JASIG).

In statements last week, the CPP expressed the willingness of the NDFP to resume formal peace negotiations with the GRP after being stalled for the past several years under the Arroyo government. “The Aquino regime need only recognize and abide by all previous agreements in order to propel the GRP-NDFP peace negotiations forward.”

“However, the apparently contradictory statements of Aquino's officials are not helping push forward the peace talks,” said the CPP. “Aquino must issue a clear statement committing his government to peace negotiations and take the necessary steps for the formal talks to resume.”

http://theprwcblogs.blogspot.com/2010/07/cpp-rejects-gazmins-surrender.html

[The Vegan Marxist]

CPP hails NPA's successful ambush in Mt. Province

Information Bureau
Communist Party of the Philippines
July 10, 2010

The Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) today congratulated the New People's Army (NPA) for its successful ambush shortly before noon yesterday on an elite team of the Philippine Army’s 52nd Division Reconnaissance Company in Sitio Chawer, Samoki, Bontoc, Mt. Province.

The entire seven-man contigent of the 501st Brigade, including its team leader 1Lt. Lito Punio was wiped out. The NPA seized two M203 grenade launchers, four M16 Armalites and other war materiél.

“The Filipino people celebrate the exemplary victory of the NPA in Bontoc yesterday,” said the CPP. “With revolutionary dedication and the solid support of the people, the NPA Red fighters put to use their mastery of guerrilla tactics in wiping out the supposedly elite government military unit and seize all its weapons.”

“The heavily armed fascist unit was ambushed close to the 501st Brigade tactical command base where it came from and was on its way to support troops of the 5th Infantry Division engaged in combat operations against the NPA in the Cordillera Mining concession area that they are protecting against the interests and resistance of the people. That the people’s army successfully ambushed the enemy contingent close to the tactical command base of its battlefield operations only shows how confident the NPA unit was with its tactical superiority and support of the people.”

“That this military unit was supposed to participate in a medical mission is the usual desperate propaganda ploy of AFP psywar agents to cover up their defeat,” said the CPP.

The CPP added that “The victorious attack against the AFP’s fascist forces in Bontoc is a slap on the face of newly installed AFP Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Ricardo David who prated that the AFP will be able to wipe out the NPA within three years.”

“The Aquino regime is trying to redecorate its counterrevolutionary campaign to inveigle the people and suppress the people's resistance. It cannot, however, change the fact that the fascist war it is waging in defense of the rotten and bankrupt system is doomed to fail.”

“In the coming years, the revolutionary forces will be launching more tactical offensive against the fascist forces of the puppet reactionary state as the people more vigorously and intensely advance their democratic and patriotic struggle,” added the CPP.

http://theprwcblogs.blogspot.com/2010/07/cpp-hails-npas-successful-ambush-in-mt.html

[The Vegan Marxist]

CPP rejects Gazmin's "surrender" precondition for peace talks resumption

Friday, 09 July 2010
By CPP Information Bureau

The Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) today rejected the position set by Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin that the New People's Army (NPA) should first surrender its arms before formal peace talks can resume between the Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP) and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP).

The CPP also questioned whether Gazmin's statements yesterday on the matter of peace talks constitute the Aquino regime's official position. It noted that Presidential Peace Adviser Teresita Deles earlier expressed openness to work for a "negotiated political settlement" of the armed conflict.

Gazmin's surrender precondition "exposes the defense secretary's bellicose position where peace is equated with the surrender or suppression of the people's armed resistance," said the CPP. "Gazmin's militarist definition of peace must be repudiated for formal peace negotiations to advance under the Aquino regime."

"The Filipino people desire a resolution of the armed conflict by addressing the roots of the civil war, principally the grave violations of human rights, the worsening socio-economic conditions and the continuing political marginalization of the toiling masses," said the CPP. "These are the issues that must be addressed through peace negotiations.

"Gazmin's precondition has long been discredited by the achievements of GRP-NDFP peace negotiations from 1992 to 1998," pointed out the CPP. "Without requiring any party to surrender its arms or setting any other precondition, the GRP and NDFP negotiating panels succeeded in forging several historic documents."

Among the documents signed during this period are The Hague Joint Declaration of 1992, the Comprehensive Agreement on Respect for Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law (CARHRIHL) and the Joint Agreement on Safety and Immunity Guarantees (JASIG).

In statements last week, the CPP expressed the willingness of the NDFP to resume formal peace negotiations with the GRP after being stalled for the past several years under the Arroyo government. "The Aquino regime need only recognize and abide by all previous agreements in order to propel the GRP-NDFP peace negotiations forward."

"However, the apparently contradictory statements of Aquino's officials are not helping push forward the peace talks," said the CPP. "Aquino must issue a clear statement committing his government to peace negotiations and take the necessary steps for the formal talks to resume."

http://ndfp.net/joomla/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=867&Itemid=1

[The Vegan Marxist]

What can anyone tell me about the "Alliance of United Farmers 3100"? Are they connected in any way with the CPP &/or NPA? Either way, this shows the exact corruption that is continuing under the new Aquino regime.

Peasant leader slain in front of family; 2nd slain activist under Aquino
12 JULY 2010

MANILA — A leftist peasant leader in the northern Philippines was shot dead on Friday, the second activist to have been killed in less than a month since the new president, Benigno S. Aquino III, took power.

Pascual Guevarra, 78, one of the leaders of a group called Alliance of United Farmers 3100, was gunned down in front of his family on Saturday, police said. A grandson who tried to help the victim was also shot but survived.

The Peasants Movement of the Philippines, with which Mr. Guevarra’s group is affiliated, denounced the murder and blamed the military for it. Danilo Ramos, the movement’s secretary-general, said Sunday that Mr. Guevarra had been campaigning to distribute 3,100 hectares inside a military reservation to landless farmers under the country’s agrarian reform program. The military, Mr. Ramos said, resisted Mr. Guevarra’s campaign.

“The military is obviously accountable as it happened inside their area of responsibility. They are in control of the area,” Ramos said in a statement. The armed forces have not released a statement on the killing.

Mr. Guevarra’s murder came less than a week after Fernando Baldomero, a leader of another leftist group in the central Philippines, was shot dead in front of his son on July 5.

The Philippines has grown notorious for the extrajudicial killings of leftist activists and journalists, most of them blamed on the military. According to human-rights group Karapatan, more than 1,200 activists have been slain since 2001 while the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines said 104 journalists have been killed in the same period.

On Friday, police said another journalist, Miguel Belen of Camarines Sur province, survived an ambush by unidentified gunmen.

Last week, the Department of Justice announced that it would create a “superbody” that would investigate the killings of journalists. Secretary Leila de Lima told members of the National Press Club on Friday that this body “will be stronger” than an existing one being ran by the police.

http://www.pinoypress.net/2010/07/12/peasant-leader-slain-in-front-of-family-2nd-slain-activist-under-aquino/

[The Vegan Marxist]

Here's another incident that's taken place under the Aquino regime. These attacks are daily incidents, in which show reason why such groups like the NPA are gaining numbers & support as they wage revolutionary warfare against the Filipino State.

Two Leftist Public School Teachers Killed, Another Survives Attack in Masbate

PUBLISHED ON JULY 12, 2010
By JANESS ANN J. ELLAO
Bulatlat.com

MANILA – Two more activists, this time teachers who were members of the leftist group Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT), were killed in just the first 10 days of the administration of President Benigno Aquino III, bringing the number of extrajudicial killings under his watch to four.

Mark Francisco, 27, a teacher of San Isidro Elementary School in Palanan, Masbate province in Bicol, was on his way home with four co-teachers on Friday, July 9, at around 5:00 p.m when two men wearing masks and camouflaged uniforms fired at their group. His body was riddled with bullets from an M-16 rifle. Francisco’s co-teacher managed to escape as the killers tried to pursue him. He reported the incident to the police.

On the same day, Edgar Fernandez, 44, another public school teacher from Barangay central, Masbate City, Masbate, was shot dead by unidentified men on his way home.

“I least expected that this would happen because Edgar seemed to be very happy during the welcome program that we prepared for students that day,” Myrna Laurio said in a telephone interview with Bulatlat. She is the principal of Roco C. Pahis Sr. Central School where Fernandez taught.

Laurio said Fernandez sleeps in the school during weekdays because he lives far from the school. He only goes home on Fridays for the weekend. But on July 9, Fernandez and a co-teacher, both riding a motorcycle, were fired at by an unidentified man. Fernandez died immediately but his co-teacher survived with a bullet wound.

Laurio added that Fernandez’s co-teacher and friend told her recently that the slain teacher had received death threats through text messages. But Fernandez did not take it seriously.

“The whole school is in mourning,” Laurio said. She added that these unidentified gunmen seem to have no respect for the lives of the teachers who were probably educating their children.

Earlier, another ACT member and public school teacher Dexter Legazpi, 36, also of Palanan, Masbate was shot at on July 6. Luckily, he survived. He and his wife were on a motorcycle going to school when five men, also wearing ski masks and military uniforms, shot at them. Legazpi was able to speed away to safety on his motorcycle.

The three public school teachers are members of the Alliance for Concerned Teachers’ local chapter in Masbate. They actively campaigned for its party-list bid during the May 2010 elections. ACT Teachers Party and other progressive party-list groups such as Bayan Muna, Gabriela Women’s Party, Anakpawis, and Kabataan are targets of vilification campaigns by the military, which accuses them of being “front organizations” of the New People’s Army.

“We demand justice for our fellow teachers and party members,” ACT Teachers Rep. Antonio Tinio said in a statement. He called on the authorities to conduct a thorough investigation on the brutal murders of Francisco and Fernandez and the attempted murder on Legazpi to ensure that justice would be served. He added that the Department of Education should work with the Philippine National Police and local government authorities to ensure that protection would be given to the teachers who survived the attack and those who may serve as witnesses to the crime.

Benny Almanzor of ACT in Masbate said teachers in Palanas town in Masbate are afraid to go to school now. Classes were suspended in 16 schools in the said town because of the killings. “Teachers and barangay captains are going to the local government office to see what can be done to protect the teachers.”

As for teachers in Roco C. Pahis Sr. Central School, Laurio said they are taking extra precautions.

“The Aquino government must immediately take steps to put an end to the violence faced by teachers in Palanas town,” Tinio said, “The Aquino government’s ability to ensure the well-being and safety of its citizens is being put to the test.”

Tinio said these murders show that extrajudicial killings targeting activists continue even under the newly installed Aquino administration. “It has only been a few days, yet the death toll is already rising. We expect nothing less than an end to impunity from this new government.”

“President Aquino must direct the necessary government resources to ensuring that the perpetrators of these four murders are caught, tried and punished,” Tinio said.

The first victim of extrajudicial killing under Aquino was 61-year old Fernando Baldomero, municipal council and Bayan Muna member, who was shot in front of his son in Kalibo, Aklan. The second victim was 78-year old farmer Pascual Guevarra of Nueva Ecija in Central Luzon. Guevarra’s grandson Ronnel Villoria was also wounded when he tried to help his grandfather.

http://www.bulatlat.com/main/2010/07/12/two-public-school-teachers-killed-another-survives-attack-in-masbate/

[Delenda Carthago]

this thread needs to be transfered on "ongoing struggles" section

[The Vegan Marxist]

this thread needs to be transfered on "ongoing struggles" section

This. I couldn't agree more.

[The Vegan Marxist]

Without pinpointing AFP culpability, Aquino's call for military to prioritize human rights is meaningless--CPP

Information Bureau, CPP
July 13, 2010

The Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) today dismissed as meaningless Pres. Benigno Aquino III's call on the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) to give priority to respecting human rights, while stating in the same breath that the spate of extrajudicial killings of social activists in the country is just the result of 'personal feuds'."

The CPP said such exculpation will only frustrate the quest for justice in the killings. "It trifles the issue and immediately absolves the state and responsible government, military and security officials."

Yesterday, Aquino insisted that extrajudicial killings are not a result of state policy, saying that many of the cases were personally motivated. Since 2001, there have been at least 1,000 cases of extrajudicial killings which systematically targeted leaders, members and supporters of progressive organizations, and other serious critics of the government and ruling system. At least 600 of those cases involve the killing of peasant activists demanding land reform.

"The way he dismisses the issue," said the CPP, "Aquino seems not to not to have read or comprehend the report prepared by Special Rapporteur on Extrajudicial Killings Philip Alston which clearly points to the military as the perpetrator of the killings in accordance with policies of the ruling state and orders from those in authority." Alston submitted the report in 2007 to the United Nations Human Rights Commission after making a six-month investigation into extrajudicial killings in the country since 2001.

The report clearly attributed extrajudicial killings since 2001 to "the military's counterinsurgency strategy against the CPP/NPA/NDF (that) increasingly focuses on dismantling civil society organizations... purported to be 'CPP front groups.'" The report also found fault in the failure of the government's criminal justice system, especially its "distortion of priorities that has law enforcement officials focused on prosecuting civil society leaders rather than their killers."

The Alston Report pinpointed the puppet reactionary state's allout war against the revolutionary forces and its fascist and antipeople counterinsurgency policy and campaign as the reason behind the widespread trampling of the people's democratic and human rights.

The CPP further cited Alston's charge that the government military was "in denial" in its insistence on blaming the victims themselves through its claims of "internal purges" and "personal feuds" for the killings. Alston identified this as a stumbling block to the pursuit of justice and the prosecution of those responsible for the extrajudicial killings and other gross human rights violations.

"Now, Aquino himself is also in denial," said the CPP.

Aquino's exculpation of the military "is setting the stage for a coverup of grand proportions", said the CPP. "The fascist masterminds of these killings, including Gloria Arroyo, her top military and security officials, those now in command, and their US advisers, are being let off the hook."

"Aquino is even now showing how dependent and afraid he is of the military forces under his jurisdiction. He worries that if he were to seriously pursue the demand for justice for the victims of gross human rights violations, he will be on a collision course with the AFP. He will thus be incapable of pursuing justice for the more than one thousand victims of extrajudicial killings in the past, and the growing number of victims under his rule," added the CPP.

Since Aquino's assumption into office, at least four more activists have become victims of extrajudicial killings. On July 11, two members of the Alliance of Concerned Teachers, Mark Francisco, 27, and Edgar Fernandez, 44, were ambushed and killed by gunmen wearing camouflage fatigues and ski masks in separate incidents in Masbate. On the same day, peasant activist Pascual Guevarra, 78, a member of the Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas, was shot dead inside the Fort Magsaysay military reservation in Laur, Nueva Ecija. On July 5, Fernando Baldomero, 61, a Bayan Muna provincial coordinator was killed in in his home in Lezo, Aklan.

http://theprwcblogs.blogspot.com/2010/07/without-pinpointing-afp-culpability.html

[The Vegan Marxist]

News in Pictures: Masbate Teacher 3rd of Four Activists Killed Under Aquino

http://www.bulatlat.com/main/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/markfrancisco.jpg

Mark B. Francisco (http://www.bulatlat.com/main/2010/07/12/two-public-school-teachers-killed-another-survives-attack-in-masbate/), 27, a public school teacher of San Isidro Elementary School in Palanas, Masbate, and member of ACT Teachers Party-list was killed by unidentified gunmen last July 9. Due to continuing threats of violence against teachers, classes have been suspended in 14 schools in Palanas municipality. This photo was taken on May 6, 2010.

http://www.bulatlat.com/main/2010/07/13/news-in-pictures-masbate-teacher-4th-activist-killed-under-aquino/

[The Vegan Marxist]

The revolutionary movement in Mindanao has advanced during the U.S.-Arroyo regime and will further advance in Noynoy Aquino's term

Jorge "Ka Oris" Madlos
National Democratic Front of the Philippines-Mindanao

June 29, 2010

Statement in audio format here: English (http://rcpt.yousendit.com/908837613/17b05cf3cd0b5fadc26ed33d6db1947a), Bisaya (http://rcpt.yousendit.com/908872251/4dbe3d9409a05296aba0f44898f8d53d)

http://theprwcblogs.blogspot.com/2010/07/revolutionary-movement-in-mindanao-has.html

[The Vegan Marxist]

An indictment as the first step to justice for Fernando Baldomero

Concha Araneta
National Democratic Front of the Philippines - Panay
July 12, 2010

Fernando Baldomero, Provincial Coordinator of MAKABAYAN for Aklan and councilor of Lezo Municipal Council, was gunned down by motorcycle-riding assailants as he was preparing to bring his child to school on July 5, 2010 in Kalibo, Aklan. This was the last of the long series of threats and harassments inflicted on him because of his unswerving commitment to the people's cause.

A few years before this, he was arrested and imprisoned based on trumped-up charges which included alleged arson and participation in ambuscades of government troops in places far- away from his home and business. After months of imprisonment and trial, all cases were eventually dismissed due to the incredibility of the evidence presented against him.

In the months leading to his assasination, he received a letter warning him to desist from his militant political activities. A grenade was thrown and exploded outside his home in Lezo. Two weeks prior to his death, the Army Hour program of the Civilian Relations Service of the 3rd Infantry Division (3ID) under Commanding General Vicente Porto and the 301st Brigade (301Bde) under Brigadier General Gerardo Layug finger-pointed Fernando Baldomero as "front- man of communist terrorists" and his organization as a "front organization of terrorists".

Aside from these, during the election campaign, all other progressive candidates and Party-Lists and their campaigners and voters were especial targets for harassment and threats by units and elements of the reactionary Armed Forces under the two commands above-mentioned. House- to-house campaigns by soldiers not to vote for progressive parties and candidates, removal of campaign posters as soon as they were posted, threat letters, surveillance, threats to sympathizers, and false accusations were dished out by armed forces elements.

Prosecutor's of the people hold that these actuations of the 3ID and 301Bde, PA immediately before and in the years preceding the crime are incriminating indications of motive and opportunity for Baldomero's assassination. They set up Baldomero for the killing and blood is on their hands.

The public and even those in the reactionary military and police know that the state's security agents and their henchmen killed Baldomero. Only the Armed Forces' spokesperson has the gall to claim that Baldomero's killing was the result of a so-called purging among the rebel ranks. This squid tactic has been bandied so often that nobody is buying the lie. In fact, such outright lie constitutes a cover-up, thus implicating the AFP as accessory to the crime after the fact.

In this regard, the people's democratic government in Panay has indicted the following for participation in the murder of Lezo Councilor Fernando Baldomero, having found prima facie evidence against them:

1. Major General Vicente Porto for inciting to murder in his command responsibity of the CRS unit that branded the victim as "front man for terrorists". In today's political atmosphere, such public accusations incite and give license or serve as outright command to all state security agents to murder with impunity the targetted political activists.

2. Brigadier General Gerardo Layug for inciting to murder for the same reason given above.

3. The CRS elements directing the anti-Baldomero program for the same reasons.

The people's prosecutors and all revolutionary forces are continuing to investigate the incident to find those who committed the actual crime and their masterminds. An arrest order will be issued as soon as the evidence warrants a full indictment. While some may ridicule indictments by the people's court, and though arrest warrants may not be served for years, the long arm of revolutionary justice will catch up with perpetrators like what happened to Leyne Leysa, killer for hire and hit man involved in the killing of Sonny Laporga, whose sentence was carried out after more than two decades.

The Aquino2 government has ordered an investigation primarily because the murder has become a media event even in international media outlets. He was embarrassed by the first extrajudicial killing that marks his presidency as no different from the Arroyo regime in this regard. The Aquino2 regime is linked to the Arroyo by the bloodthirsty AFP and other security forces that it inherited and who continue its bloody tradition of extrajudicial killings and abductions in the pursuit of a "counter-insurgency program" that Aquino himself now directs. In fact, the assassination of Baldomero immediately followed the declaration of the regime's new plan to "decimate the insurgency in three years", and announced by President Aquino's own appointee, CS Gen Ricardo David himself.

The Aquino government may actually come to present or apprehend some fall guys or even some perpetrators but it will never push through to the masterminds nor reveal the actual reason why Baldomero was killed by his assassins. Doing so will amount to admitting the truth that the extrajudicial killings and other atrocities by the state are creations of the AFP and its Oplan Bantay Laya. Justice for Fernando Baldomero, then, will only be fulfilled by bringing down the very state system that carries out these oppressive strategies.

And beyond Baldomero's demise, true justice can never be served without the victory for Baldomero's cause. Baldomero fought against the Marcos dictatorship for more than a decade by force of arms. He then fought for the downtrodden and the weak in the legal arena and even within the local government of the reactionary state for a decade and more. Baldomero lived and died for the cause of a truly democratic and truly free Philippines.

By making the leap toward the strategic stalemate in the people's war in five years and eventually winning victory for the people's war, we will ensure that people like Baldomero will not have died in vain.

Justice for Baldomero, justice for the Filipino people!!

Fight till victory for Baldomero's dream of a free and truly democratic Philippines.

http://theprwcblogs.blogspot.com/2010/07/indictment-as-first-step-to-justice-for.html

[The Vegan Marxist]

NPA Facilitates Return to Civilian Status of Minor Recruited as Combatant by AFP

MERARDO ARCE COMMAND
NPA-Southern Mindanao Regional Operations Command
16 July 2010

"Jomar" (true name withheld to protect his rights), the minor recruited as combatant by the 10th Infantry Division of the Philippine Army-AFP was turned over by the Conrado Heredia Command--NPA to his family this afternoon somewhere in the revolutionary base areas of Guerilla Front 20. In line with the international rules of war, specifically because of his age of minority, the NPA did not consider him a prisoner of war (POW).

By facilitating his return to his family, the MAC-NPA corrects the serious and long running misconduct and violation of international humanitarian law committed by the 10th ID-AFP and its 72nd IB CAFGU mis-handler pertaining to the recruitment of minors for AFP combat duties. While the AFP, by deliberate and deceitful design, made a combatant out of "Jomar" and 18 other minors from a single batch of CAFGU in 2008 alone, the NPA made concrete steps to allow him to revert to civilian status.

The NPA checkpoint in Monkayo, Compostela Valley on June 19, 2010 where CAFGU "Jomar" was arrested allowed the truth to surface. Where it not for this, the likes of 10th ID-AFP Maj. Gen. Carlos Holganza and his mouthpiece Capt. Emmanuel Garcia would have continued to swindle the people with a straight face and misrepresent fake as fact, hoax as honesty and trick as truth.

We found the smoking gun, so to speak, in so far as the evidence of the AFP's covert policy of minor recruitment is concerned. It turns out in reality that AFP black propaganda against the people's army is a matter of official policy long implemented and practiced in its own dirty backyard.

Again, the people in the region can retort to these fascist liars, and with oozing zest say: Preposterous! Fool Yourselves!

http://theprwcblogs.blogspot.com/2010/07/npa-facilitates-return-to-civilian_16.html

[The Vegan Marxist]

Leftist rebels release 1 of 2 kidnapped soldiers in Compostela
July 17, 2010

DAVAO CITY, Philippines (Xinhua) - The leftist New People's Army rebels on Friday released one of two government troops they had kidnapped in southern Philippines last month, military and local officials said today.

Job Latiban was freed by his NPA captors in a hilly village in Compostela town, in Mindanao's Compostela Valley province 2 p.m. Friday, Captain Emmanuel Garcia, spokesperson of the army's 10th Infantry Division, said.

The freed soldier was in good spirits although somehow weak when local officials and religious leaders received him from the NPA after a brief ceremony, Avelino Cabag, vice mayor of nearby Monkayo town told Xinhua by phone.

"He was examined by a physician who accompanied us and he was okay," Cabag said.

Latiban and another soldier, Sergeant Bienvinido Arguelles, were seized in a rebel checkpoint on their way to their camp in a gold-rich village in Monkayo town on June 19.

The vice mayor said the rebels separated the two soldiers and that they are hopeful the other trooper would also be released the soonest.

Latiban is now in the military's custody and undergoing medical examinations and debriefing, Garcia told Xinhua in a text message.

The NPA, armed wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines, has been waging a guerrilla campaign in the countryside for four decades. Military estimates the NPA strength at more than 4,000 men scattered in more than 60 guerrilla fronts throughout the country.

Peace talks between the government and the leftists bogged down after the United States included the NPA and its parent body as foreign terrorist organizations in 2002.

http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=594212&publicationSubCategoryId=200

[The Vegan Marxist]

Download the April - June 2010 issue of Liberation International (http://www.ndfp.net/liberation_intl/zzLI_103006/LI_july2010b_online.pdf)

Filipino people have little to gain from May national elections
By Bagani Dong-Ilay

Is there hope for genuine change? This has been the question inside and outside the country in the aftermath of the 10 May 2010 national elections in the Philippines.

The Filipino people can expect nothing by way of real change from the recently concluded elections. The same old names, the same old political dynasties, have been proclaimed winners. All the mainstream bourgeois parties represent the interests of the local exploiting classes of big compradors and landlords. They act as junior partners of US imperialism in exploiting and oppressing the Filipino people and in keeping the country backward, non-industrialized and agrarian.

Also in this issue:

Filipino revolutionaries condemn Comrade Azad execution
by the Communist Party of the Philippines

Organized masses, consolidated areas grew 80% in 10 years
Interview with Maria Malaya, NDFP Spokesperson, Northeastern Mindanao
by Roselle Valerio

NPA offensives expose failure of US-Arroyo regime's security program
by Isah Antonio

World condemns Israeli massacre on Freedom Flotilla
by Isah Antonio

Violations of human rights presented before UN and EU
by Pingkian and Isah Antonio

Comrade Joan Hinton, proletarian internationalist
More than 60 years service to the Chinese and world revolution
by Ed Ladera

http://theprwcblogs.blogspot.com/2010/07/liberation-international-april-june.html

[The Vegan Marxist]

Just so everyone knows, PhilippineRevolution.net is now back up & running.

[The Vegan Marxist]

NPA releases POW to give human rights and international humanitarian law a chance to be respected at all times

Rigoberto F. Sanchez
Spokesperson
Merardo Arce Command
Southern Mindanao Regional Operational Command
New People's Army
July 20, 2010

The Merardo Arce Command-Southern Mindanao Regional Operations Command of the New People's Army released today prisoner of war S/Sgt. Bienvenido Gentugao Arguelles Jr. (of the 25th Infantry Battalion-AFP with Serial Number 779878) by his custodial unit under the Conrado Heredia Command-Guerilla Front 20 Operations Command.

The decision to release POW Arguelles is based on humanitarian considerations. It is in compliance with the revolutionary movement's long-standing policy of lenient treatment of POWs and its serious adherence to the NDFP Declaration of Undertaking to Apply the Geneva Conventions of 1949 and Protocol 2 of 1977. By releasing him and other POWs on this ground, the revolutionary movement is giving chance for human rights and the international humanitarian law to be respected at all times.

POW Arguelles's arrest on June 19 in Sitio Mabatas, Barangay Upper Ulip, Monkayo, Compostela Valley province should serve as a warning to all AFP personnel (regular and paramilitary) and PNP personnel who commit incursions into guerilla bases especially those who conduct intelligence operations against the Red fighters and the masses.

It should also serve as warning to those who serve as protectors of large-scale, environmentally destructive and exploitative foreign and local firms under the pretext of Investment Defense Force and "peace and development projects" especially that the Diwalwal mining area in Monkayo town is up for total sell-out.

http://www.philippinerevolution.net/cgi-bin/statements/stmts.pl?date=100720;author=mac;lang=eng

[scarletghoul]

Just so everyone knows, PhilippineRevolution.net is now back up & running.
It often seems to go offline for a while only to come back up. Most likely government interference.

[The Vegan Marxist]

It often seems to go offline for a while only to come back up. Most likely government interference.

I talked with them a few days ago & they said that they were being prevented from gaining permission from the database server.

[The Vegan Marxist]

NPA punishes drug lord and corrupt ex-mayor Mateo Biong, Jr.
July 21, 2010

The Efren Martires Command of the New People's Army in Eastern Visayas today acknowledged that the NPA had carried out the death sentence by the people's court on Mateo Biong, Jr., a big drug lord and a corrupt former mayor of Giporlos, Eastern Samar. According to Ka Karlos Manuel, EMC spokesperson, Biong was punished by operatives of the NPA's Sergio Lobina Command at 3 p.m. on July 13 in Brgy. Coticot, Giporlos.

Ka Karlos Manuel elaborated that the death sentence was meted on Biong by the people's court because of the following capital crimes:

1. Biong was a big drug lord. He was one of those responsible for the recent spread of illegal drugs in Eastern Samar on such a massive scale that it had caught media attention since last year. He had at least eight goons who handled the delivery of "shabu" (methamphetamine) throughout the province. The exchange of cash and drugs was done at sea, as described in media reports on the illegal drugs trade in the province.

2. Biong was the mastermind behind various murders in Eastern Samar, such as that of Ronnie Barsana, Remigio Quiminales, an ex-army soldier known only as Resureccion, and others. These persons were either aware of Biong's illegal activities or were his rivals in crime.

3. Biong plundered public funds as Giporlos mayor from 2004-2010. He stole at least P50 million earmarked for five bridge projects, which scandalized the people but for which he was never held to account. He also implemented only half of a P36 million water system project and pocketed the rest of the funds.

4. Biong likewise plundered and destroyed the environment. He masterminded illegal logging and illegal sand and gravel quarrying in Giporlos. Thus the forests and environment of Giporlos have been seriously damaged. Biong also led illegal fishing with the use of dynamite and trawls, while pretending to crack down on others who were in fact his rivals.

The EMC spokesperson added that Biong also had other lesser offenses such as overcharging for lending the fiesta sound system (charging P80,000 when it should be half that), as well as exploiting women. He had least two mistresses, one of whom was even a town council member.

Ka Karlos Manuel also dismissed the claim by the Commission on Human Rights that Biong's punishment was an extrajudicial killing. "The people's court observed due process in investigating, trying and punishing Biong in accordance with the revolutionary justice system. Meanwhile, the CHR pays lip service to solving the real problem of more than 1,000 political killings as well as the killings of media people. Thus the government's Oplan Bantay Laya continues to menace innocent civilians and the media."

The NPA spokesperson said that Biong's punishment rendered justice to his victims and the people, and serves as a warning to other crime lords and corrupt politicians that the revolutionary movement will pursue and punish them.

http://www.philippinerevolution.net/cgi-bin/statements/releases.pl?date=100721;refer=emkm;lang=eng

[The Vegan Marxist]

Patrol conducted by abusive Philippine Army detachment ambushed; 3 high-powered rifles seized by NPA

Ka Marcella Valiente
Spokesperson
Armando Dumandan Command
NPA-Southern Mindanao
July 21, 2010

Red fighters of the Armando Dumandan Command-Guerrilla Front 33 Operations Command of the New People's Army ambushed a patrol conducted by the 10th Infantry Division's 72nd Infantry Battalion in Brgy. El Salvador, New Corella, Davao del Norte yesterday.

Three high-powered rifles (1 M16 Armalite, 1 M14 rifle and 1 Garand rifle) were seized. Two paramilitary elements of the Civilian Armed Forces Geographical Unit (CAFGU) were killed on the spot while two others were wounded, including the commander of the Philippine Army detachment in the same barangay. There were no casualties on our side.

The wounded detachment commander surrendered. He was given immediate first aid by the medical personnel of the ADC-NPA platoon after his men retreated after a brief armed engagement. This is in line with the NPA's policy of humane treatment towards enemy personnel already unable to give battle. Also, it is in performance of its obligations under Article 7, Part III of Protocol II of the Geneva Convention which provides for the giving of medical care and attention to wounded members of armed forces to the fullest extent practicable and with the least possible delay.

This tactical offensive against combatants of the regular and paramilitary forces is a legitimate military action by the people's army. It is an attack against the 72nd IB and CAFGU forces in Brgy. El Salvador who have figured in many incidents of violations of human rights in the area. These prevalent acts include, but are not limited to, mauling of civilians, extortion, serious threats and repression of farmers.

Enough of the 10th Infantry Division's empty talk about the discipline of their units and troops! That extrajudicial killings of unarmed and legal activists from almost all sectors is a national centerpiece program of the AFP explains why human rights violations of these sort are common practice. The peasants and lumads in the countrysides know for a fact and from direct experience how fascism is inherent in a counterrevolutionary army serving the interests of the elite ruling classes and their imperialist master.

http://www.philippinerevolution.net/cgi-bin/statements/stmts.pl?author=adc;date=100721;lang=eng

[The Vegan Marxist]

Uhhh ohhhhhh.... I wonder what consequences might come from this incident. Don't get me wrong, I definitely support this action by the NPA 100%, but if there's an action, there'll be a reaction. Best of luck to the NPA & I hope those imperialist bastards get what they deserve.

Punish US soldiers in sexual molestation of female singer in Basilan concert—CPP
July 23, 2010

The Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) today demanded punishment for five US military personnel involved in the sexual molestation of a female band singer last July 3 during a concert in Isabela City, Basilan. The CPP also strongly criticized the arrogant and rowdy behavior of the US soldiers during the concert sponsored by the city government.

The US soldiers, who are part of the Joint Special Operations Task Force-Philippines (JSOTFP), were identified as Petty Officer 2 Eric Snatch and Petty Officer Devin Fitzgerald of US Navy; Sgt. Thomas Patterson and Corporal Brian Nguyen of the US Marine Corps; and Staff Sgt. Mathew Blanchard of the US Army.

The five drunken US soldiers climbed up the stage towards the end of the concert, shouted invectives at the concert's musical band members and grabbed the instruments of the band while they were packing up. They then turned their attention on the female band singer and took turns kissing and molesting her. The US troopers started to forcibly hie her off to their barracks, but were stopped by Filipino soldiers there, who also suffered indignities as the US troopers shouted invectives at them.

"The Filipino people demand that the Aquino government immediately and decisively move to protect the dignity of the Filipino people and carry out the necessary police and judicial measures to ensure that the US soldiers be punished for sexually molesting the female band singer," said the CPP. "The Filipino people demand that these soldiers be prosecuted and punished under Philippine laws."

The CPP warned the Aquino regime against "repeating its predecessor's mistake of always buckling to US pressure to always uphold the unilateral and unfair US-RP Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) and absolve erring US personnel of all crimes and liabilites in the country."

"The Arroyo regime did its best to and prevent the redress of injustice in the crime committed by Lance Cpl. Daniel Smith, a US soldier who raped 22-year old ‘Nicole' in the Subic Freeport Zone in 2005," the CPP recalled. "The Arroyo government prevented Smith's incarceration in a Philippine prison by smuggling him out of a Philippine National Police detention facilty in the dead of night and passing him to the custody of the US embassy, rendering him out of reach of Philippine law enforcers."

Under pressure from the US government, the Arroyo government then did all it could to overturn Smith's conviction in 2006 and succeeded in 2009 through collusion between the Department of Justice and Smith's lawyers and their application of intense pressure on the victim herself."

The CPP also reiterated its demand for the abrogation of the VFA, which allows the free entry and presence of US soldiers in the country and "shields them from Philippine judicial and sovereign authority." At least 600 US soldiers are permanently stationed in the Philippines, mainly in the headquarters of the JSOTF-P within various camps of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) in Mindanao.

"The VFA is one among many unequal treaties between the US and Philippine governments that trample on Philippine sovereignty and pave the way for US military intervention, domination and wrongdoing," said the CPP. "Through the VFA and the subservience of the Philippine government, US military advisers and soldiers have been asserting their authority and committing crimes against the Filipino people with high-handedness and outright disregard of Philippine laws."

http://www.philippinerevolution.net/cgi-bin/statements/releases.pl?date=100723;refer=cpp;lang=eng

[The Vegan Marxist]

Water crisis exposes Aquino's sheer insensitivity, immaturity and incompetence--CPP
July 23, 2010

The Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) today lambasted the government of Benigno Aquino III for "exhibiting sheer insensitivity, immaturity and incompetence in face of the grave water crisis in Metro Manila and nearby areas."

"Despite long queues of people desperate for a pail of water and, worse, reports of zero water supply in several barangays, Aquino had the gall to deny that there is no water crisis. The Aquino government has shown sheer insensitivity to the plight of more than a million residents in some 120 barangays in Metro Manila and Cavite who have been experiencing severe shortage of potable water for the past two weeks."

"By adopting a hands-off policy, Aquino has left the problem to private profit-makers in the water industry," said the CPP. "By deploying soldiers to secure private water tankers 'to deal with agitated residents,' the Aquino regime even shows total contempt for the mass of urban dwellers demanding clean water. Aquino is exposing his inclination to resort to military force when confronted with crisis."

"The Aquino government has shown more interest in small gimmicks like banning 'wangwang,' rather than paying attention to bigger and more serious problems affecting the people, making deeper analyses and coming out with more relevant and strategic solutions. It is now at a loss regarding the essential things to do in the face of the Metro water crisis and has instead resorted to knee-jerk reactions.

"The current water crisis highlights the long-term decay of public infrastructure brought about by the state's policy of abandonment in favor of the denationalization and privatization of water services, power generation and other public utilities and strategic facilities," said the CPP.

The CPP pointed out that the major players in the water industry in Metro Manila and nearby areas are all private operations of foreign and comprador rentiers whose principal objective is monopoly profits and not really public service.

"Water services in Metro Manila are totally in the hands of big bourgeois comprador family firms and their imperialist partners. Maynilad which monopolizes the supply of water for the West Zone is owned by the Consunjis and PLDT's Manny Pangilinan in partnership with the French water utilities giant Suez Lyonnaise des Eaux, while Manila Water which monopolizes the East Zone is owned by the Ayalas in partnership with the US engineering giant Bechtel and the British utilities giant United Utilities," the CPP elaborated.

"Foreign and comprador private water service concessionaires have been raking in profits by jacking up its rates without concomitantly raising the quality of their services and ensuring long-term sustainability of the infrastructure to avert such a crisis of public service as Metro Manila residents are suffering now, especially in the more socio-economically depressed sections of the metropolis," the CPP said further.

"On the other hand," the CPP added, "operations of water reservoirs such as the Angat Dam, are being geared towards more profitable power generation over irrigation and supplying clean water resulting not only in a shortage of potable water supply for Metro Manila and nearby areas, but also of irrigation water. This has resulted in massive damage to crops amounting to at least P10 billion during the drought season in the early part of this year."

http://www.philippinerevolution.net/cgi-bin/statements/releases.pl?date=100723a;refer=cpp;lang=eng

[The Vegan Marxist]

NDF-EV calls for resistance against escalation of foreign mining in the region
July 24, 2010

The National Democratic Front-Eastern Visayas today expressed disgust and outrage at the Aquino government's announcement of the rise of mining activities in the region. "We condemn the Aquino government's rush to exploit Eastern Visayas as anti-people, anti-development, anti-environment and pro-foreign," said Fr. Santiago Salas, NDF-EV spokesperson. "The Mines and Geosciences Bureau's claim that these mining activities are small-scale and exploratory only is meant to disguise their real nature as large-scale foreign mining. For example, many towns along the Samar and Leyte coasts will be affected by just two mining concessions, Northern Access Mining Inc. and Pan-Asia Mining Limited, which will export magnetite sand to China.

"Furthermore, the extracted resources will be all for export and not for domestic development. The sheer scale of mining applications for 2010 alone thus confirms large-scale foreign mining, with 66 approved and 197 more pending. The escalation of mining activities as divulged by the MGB therefore means economic plunder, suffering for the people and environmental destruction."

Fr. Salas also said that the Aquino government is not pushing real economic development but appears hell-bent on continuing the previous Arroyo administration's neoliberal globalization policies. "Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino is pursuing Arroyo's tack of opening the country to further foreign exploitation. He refuses to carry out agrarian reform and national industrialization, which are prerequisites for genuine development and will make mining truly useful to the national interest. Instead, he wants to fully implement the pro-foreign Mining Act of 1995 despite years of opposition and calls for its scrapping by the people. He ignores so many communities throughout the country that have already stood up to large-scale foreign mining. They condemn the plundering of the economy and the national patrimony, the destruction of the people's livelihoods, and the damage to the environment that will take decades to repair, if at all."

The NDF-EV called on the people to unite and resist the escalation of foreign mining in the region. "We urge the people to defend their communities, livelihoods, the environment, and the national patrimony against large-scale foreign mining. We support the calls to junk the Mining Act of 1995 and for genuine agrarian reform and national industrialization. The revolutionary government will continue the long-standing policy of investigating and stopping imperialist mining in its jurisdiction. If the mining firms refuse to heed the revolutionary government's cease and desist orders, the NPA is authorized to undertake punitive actions. The NPA units enlighten the mining company's workers about the evils of imperialist mining, and confiscate or disable the mining equipments. In the final analysis, we must all unite and oppose large-scale foreign mining, and struggle for genuine development based on national sovereignty and democracy."

http://www.philippinerevolution.net/cgi-bin/statements/releases.pl?refer=ndfev;date=100724;lang=eng

[The Vegan Marxist]

Filipino people wants Aquino to make Arroyo face justice, and more--CPP
July 25, 2010

The Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) today welcomed plans by Philippine Pres. Benigno Aquino III to expose in his state of the nation address (SONA) what he describes as "shocking cases" of unprecedented corruption by the Arroyo government, but added that "that will not be enough."

The CPP reminded Aquino of the need for "swift and decisive efforts to prosecute and punish Arroyo and her cohorts for their grievous crimes against the people." The demand to prosecute Gloria Arroyo for capital crimes of plunder and gross human rights violations within the new administration's first 100 days is the most urgent demand of wide sections of the people, said the CPP.

"Aquino has been in office for almost a third of that deadline. Yet, except for the appointment of the chairman of the Truth Commission, no definitive steps have yet been taken towards initiating the criminal prosecution of Arroyo. Questions have also been raised loudly about the propriety of appointing a chairman who benefited a lot from the past administration," the CPP pointed out.

The CPP said further that "Everyday Gloria and her ilk remain unpunished for wanton plunder, gross human rights violations and other capital crimes, the Filipino people become more and more critical about the new administration itself." The National Democratic Front of the Philippines also warned that Aquino's failure to fulfill his promise (to prosecute Arroyo) within the first 100 days of his rule will "outrage the people."

The CPP also pointed out that "Aside from Arroyo's prosecution and punishment for gargantuan cases of corruption and plunder, she must be held to account and be punished for the several thousand cases of human rights violations perpetrated by the fascist military and security forces under her overall command as commander-in-chief."

"It is of prime importance not only to make Arroyo responsible for the crimes against humanity perpetrated by fascist state agents in the nine and half years of her reign. Aquino must also to put a stop to the impunity with which the AFP has carried out its attacks against activists and unarmed critics of government," said the CPP.

"Aquino's failure to punish Arroyo and her key officials responsible for the military campaign of suppression and annihilation under the AFP's Oplan Bantay Laya will not only mean a failure of justice for the people. Worse, it will embolden the fascists to continue their war of terror that only victimizes the people," the CPP added. "As the new commander-in-chief of the reactionary armed forces, Aquino himself will be responsible for the blood spilt from the acts committed by his men since his first day in office."

The CPP said further that prosecuting and punishing Arroyo is only one of the crying demands of the people. "There are long-standing basic demands that have become more and more pressing in the face of the worsening decay of the antiquated semicolonial and semifeudal policial and socio-economic system and the resulting increasing sufferings of the mass of the Filipino people.

Even as the CPP expects Aquino's SONA to pin all the blame on his precedessor for the people's suffering and make lame promises for the people's political and socio-economic upliftment, the CPP called on the Filipino people to advance all the more their demand and struggle for national freedom, people's democracy and their socio-economic interests, including genuine land reform, national industrialization and social services.

"They must raise their awareness of the fact that the US-Aquino regime is just the new caretaker of a decadent social system that engenders exploitation and corruption, poverty, injustice, state violence and oppression. Aquino's empty rhetoric and shallow gimmickry can only mask the intensity of the social crisis and the people's sufferings."

"Given the new puppet's all-out espousal of neocolonial and neoliberal policies dictated by its US imperialist master, the people have no choice but to rely on their own struggles and forces for revolutionary change in order to achieve their aspiration for national freedom, social liberation and progress."

http://www.philippinerevolution.net/cgi-bin/statements/releases.pl?date=100725;refer=cpp;lang=eng

[The Vegan Marxist]

Military coercing local government units through draconian MOA

Simon "Ka Filiw" Naogsan
Spokesperson
Cordillera Peoples' Democratic Front
July 23, 2010

The latest maneuver of the 5th Infantry Division to impose a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) on local provincial executives is a desperate and coercive measure that worsens the national oppression of the national minorities in the Cordillera.

Drafts of the MOA have been pressed by the 5th ID on the local provincial executives and the police superintendents of Ifugao and the Mountain Province. A similar MOA was signed between the local provincial executive of Kalinga and the commanding officer of the 5th ID. When signed, the MOA makes the 5th ID a virtual higher authority over the provincial governments. It violates the principle of civilian supremacy over the military. The MOA is based on several controversial laws such as Arroyo's EO773 and EO739 which were severely criticized in 2009 by the Senate and many local government officials.

Under EO773, the Philippine Army has control over local governments under the guise of Peace and Order Councils (POC). These POCs will turn local government and police forces into adjuncts of the military in the counter-insurgency campaign.

The MOA also calls for local governments to shoulder some of the expenses in maintaining the CAFGU. This passes the expense to the already financially burdened LGUs and provides an easy way for the generals to save on expenses and possibly line their pockets with public funds. LGU funds and resources that can be put to more use for the people will be diverted to unproductive counter-insurgency operations.

The MOA are similar to the draconian divide-and-rule tactics of the Marcos dictatorship and the subsequent regimes that miserably failed to stem the revolutionary tide and rammed development aggression down the throats of the indigenous people of the Cordillera.

For as long as there are local dogs of war such as Gen. Gomez, Col. Bismarck Soliba and Col. Miguel Puyao Jr. who are hell-bent and ever ready to use their own province as a laboratory for new counter insurgency operations, the atmosphere of fear and disquiet will prevail in the mountain villages of the Cordillera. If Igorot military officers are willing and ready to sacrifice their kailian for the advancement of their careers, then they will exacerbate the misery of the people.

The MOA fits in with the peace and order situation demanded by the planned exploration activities of the Cordillera Exploration Inc. (CEXI)/Anglo-American PLC Group in 1,800 hectares covering three municipalities in western Mountain Province, as well as the planned geothermal power plants in the boundary of Ifugao and Benguet, and in Sadanga and Bontoc.

It is the peace of the grave through militarization that Gen. Gomez wants to achieve through the MOA. LGU executives contemplating on signing the MOA must look closely at the general's record of deceit. Last January, Gen. Gomez went home to Bontoc to call for peace in the Mountain Province, then a few days later unleashed his troops on upland Bontoc and northern Sagada. In 1999, as commander of the 69th IB, he allowed his troops to engage in the shooting during the raging Dalican-Pidlisan tribal conflict. This indicates the insensitiveness of Gen. Gomez to the intricacies of Cordillera communities and shows he has no genuine interest in solving the problems of the national minorities in the Cordillera. If he continues to protect the interest of the ruling classes through an aggressive military campaign, then he inflicts harm and betrays his fellow Cordillerans. He will surely earn the mistrust and ire of the people.

The MOA is an empty and futile instrument. It will not stop the people from asserting their rights to self-determination and the defense of their ancestral land and resources.

http://www.philippinerevolution.net/cgi-bin/statements/stmts.pl?author=cpdf;date=100723;lang=eng

[The Vegan Marxist]

Lies, all lies!

Ka Magno Udyaw
Spokesperson
Leonardo Pacsi Command
NPA-Mountain Province
July 23, 2010

This is a reply to the many lies and slander spread by spokespersons of the 5th ID and its organic units against the revolutionary movement, especially after the victorious ambush staged by the Leonardo Pacsi Command against troops of the 52nd DRC last July 9 in Samoki, Bontoc, Mountain Province. It is clear that the 5th ID wants to demonize the revolutionary forces.

The LPC asserts that the dead soldiers have not been stripped of their clothing. LPC guerillas only took the weapons and other military equipment of the dead soldiers and did not take personal belongings such as clothing, wallets, and cellphones. The NPA strictly adheres to international laws governing armed conflicts, the Comprehensive Agreement on the Respect of Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law (CARHRIHL) signed by the Government of the Republic of the Philippines and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines, and its own rules as a people’s army.

It is not true that the LPC desecrated the bodies of the dead soldiers, such as by firing point-blank into their heads. If any soldier was hit in the head, this happened during combat. In an ambush, fire is concentrated and the target is mobile, any part of the body can be hit.

On the other hand, it is the fascist troops of the AFP who repeatedly violate the rules of war and desecrate the bodies of dead NPA Red fighters. They tortured and mangled with bullets the bodies of Magno "Ka Braga" Ayabo and Sammy Rey "Ka Cholo" Cayago both of whom were wounded and captured in action in Tubo, Abra in 2005 and 2008 respectively. Many innocent civilians in Mountain Province were tortured and killed by operating military troops. In 2001, they tortured and killed Johnny Camareg, a farmer from Betwagan, Sadanga. In 2003, they killed Etfew Chadyaas, a farmer from Belwang, Sadanga. In 2006, they killed Michael Uyad, a student from Agawa, Besao. The militar shamelessly said their civilian victims were NPA commanders killed in action.

The people see that drunkenness, gambling, womanizing, and the use of prohibited drugs are the vices of fascist AFP troops. It is well-known that corruption is part of the rotten AFP structure. There is no basis for the military to maliciously link the NPA to these evil vices.

It is a rotten lie that the ambushed troops were on their way to coordinate a medical mission. It comes out now that they were on their way to Bontoc to push for the signing of a memorandum of agreement between the 5th ID and the provincial officials and PNP for the counter-insurgency program. The spokespersons of the 5th ID spread the story about the medical mission to get public sympathy. The 52nd DRC is a fighting unit, combat is their primary job.

The vilification of the revolutionary movement is part of Oplan Bantay Laya 2 which the AFP is implementing up to the present. They use all dirty tactics to try and win the hearts and minds of the people. But the lies, slander, and other dirty tactics of the AFP cannot fool all of the people, all of the time. The violent, arrogant, and evil character and deeds of the AFP are the basis of the people in choosing to join and support the growing revolutionary movement.

http://www.philippinerevolution.net/cgi-bin/statements/stmts.pl?author=lpc;date=100723;lang=eng

[The Vegan Marxist]

Let us commence discussing concrete proposals long put forward by the NDFP--CPP
July 27, 2010

The Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) today said the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) has long put forward substantive and concrete proposals for socio-economic and political reforms and challenged the Aquino government to immediately compose its counterpart negotiating panel and appropriate subcommittees in order to commence discussion on these draft agreements and the rest of the peace agenda in line with agreed upon procedures.

At the same time, the CPP cautioned the Aquino government against forcing the issue of an immediate ceasefire agreement which is premature at this stage when talks have yet to resume. The CPP said that this should be duly taken up in the later stage of the peace negotiations as substantive agreements are made in accordance with the agenda.

This was the reaction of the CPP to Philippine President Benigno Aquino III's call on the revolutionary forces to agree to an "immediate ceasefire." and "put forth concrete solutions rather than pure criticism and finger-pointing." Aquino made the call during his state of the nation address yesterday.

"The NDFP has long declared its willingness and readiness to engage the Aquino regime in peace negotiations. The NDFP negotiating panel and its subcommittees continue to function and await only the next steps of the Aquino government," said the CPP. "Negotiations between the NDFP and the Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP) will prosper as long as both sides seriously work hard to come up with mutual agreements addressing the socio-economic and political roots of the armed conflict."

Among the principal documents signed by the GRP and NDFP are The Hague Joint Declaration of 1992 which sets the principles, framework and sequence of agenda of the talks, the Joint Agreement on Safety and Immunity Guarantees (JASIG) signed in 1995 and the Comprehensive Agreement on Respect for Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law (CARHRIHL) signed in 1998.

The CPP explained that the signing of the CARHRIHL comprises the completion of the first of the four-part substantive agenda of the peace talks. Discussions on the second part of the negotiations which covers social and economic reforms have long been stalled after the Arroyo government threw one monkey-wrench after another at the peace negotiations in order to justify launching its allout war of terror during the entirety of its reign from 2001 to 2010.

The CPP said that "The Arroyo regime unilaterally suspended the JASIG; carried out the abduction and forced disappearance of Leo Velasco, Prudencio Calubid and a number of other NDFP peace consultants and staff members; filed trumped-up murder charges against NDFP senior consultant Jose Ma. Sison to cause his arrest and detention in 2007; and persecuted, arrested and illegally detained several other consultants as well as other critics of the reactionary government. The Arroyo regime earlier also colluded with the US and other imperialist governments to have the CPP, NPA and Prof. Sison included in the "foreign terrorists" listing of the US and European Union in a desperate effort to defame the Philippine revolution, hinder the peace process and pave the way for its war of terror.

"For peace negotiations to prosper under Aquino, he simply must commit to uphold all previously signed agreements and undertake concrete measures to undo the harm caused by the actions of the previous regime and to enhance the process," said the CPP.

At the same time, the CPP advised Aquino "to abide by the agreed upon agenda and discuss the matter of ceasefire in its proper time when fundamental questions of social, economic and political reforms have been forged and start to be operational."

"If Aquino is really interested in effecting a ceasefire the soonest, he can have the peace process hastened in an agreement with the NDFP on the Concise Agreement to End Civil War and Achieve Just Peace put forward as a proposal by the NDFP National Council in 2005," added the CPP. The proposed agreement "lays the basis for the early attainment of truce and just peace on the basis of mutual agreement on principles and policies upholding national independence and democracy and common efforts to resolve the basic political, socio-economic and other problems of the Filipino people."

http://www.philippinerevolution.net/cgi-bin/statements/releases.pl?date=100727;refer=cpp;lang=eng

[The Vegan Marxist]

Two proposals for a just and lasting peace

Prof. Jose Ma. Sison
National Democratic Front of the Philippines
Chief Political Consultant
July 27, 2010

The Negotiating Panel of the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) has repeatedly declared its readiness to resume peace negotiations with the Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP) under the Aquino II administration. It has also signalled its willingness to receive in The Netherlands or Norway a senior emissary or a team of emissaries of said administration to discuss the possible course and perspective of the GRP-NDFP peace negotiations.

On my part, as chief political consultant of the NDFP Negotiating Panel, I have long proposed the resumption and acceleration of the GRP-NDFP peace negotiations, especially with regard to social and economic reforms, in accordance with The Hague Joint Declaration and subsequent major agreements.

I have also gone so far as to propose a concept of immediate truce and alliance on the basis of a mutually acceptable declaration of principles and policies upholding national independence and democracy, confronting the basic problems of the Filipino people and adopting effective measures of social, economic and political reforms. It is unjust for anyone to expect that the revolutionary forces and the people to simply cease fire and surrender to a rotten ruling system that shuns patriotic and progressive demands and refuses to engage in basic reforms.

I hope that the Aquino II administration can consider seriously the two proposals for the benefit of the people. Like the NDFP, I welcome any serious step of said administration towards the attainment of a just peace and national unity by addressing the roots of the armed conflict and arriving with the revolutionary forces and the people at agreements on basic social, economic and political reforms.

I urge the Aquino II administration to override such counterrevolutionary notions as those previously spelled out by its officials that the military can get anything it wants despite the severe economic crisis and bankruptcy of the reactionary government, that the revolutionary forces and people surrender and that they can be destroyed and pacified in the next three years.

I challenge the Aquino II administration to reject the US Counterinsurgency Guide and take the path of seeking a concord of just peace and national unity with the NDFP by addressing the roots of the armed conflict and forging agreements on social, economic and political reforms. It is malicious and unjust to construe the people's resistance to injustice, oppression and exploitation as the problem rather than as the consequence of foreign and feudal domination.

Such monstrous problems as foreign monopoly capitalism, domestic feudalism and bureaucratic corruption are the longrunning and current causes of underdevelopment, unemployment, poverty and misery. All well-meaning forces and people must unite and work together to confront and solve these problems and work for a new and better Philippines that is truly free and democratic, socially just, progressive and peaceful.

http://www.philippinerevolution.net/cgi-bin/statements/stmts.pl?author=jms;date=100727;lang=eng

[The Vegan Marxist]

Peace talks premised on immediate ceasefire won't prosper--CPP
July 28, 2010

The Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) today reiterated its warning to the Aquino government against using the "immediate ceasefire" line as the premise for the resumption of formal peace talks with the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP). The CPP has reiterated its readiness to immediately resume the long-suspended formal peace negotiations based on previously agreed principles and agenda and without any preconditions.

The CPP challenged Aquino to "immediately commence negotiations and abide by previous agreements," including The Hague Joint Declaration of 1992 which sets the framework, principles, agenda and sequence of the peace negotiations.

The CPP urged Aquino to "clear all hurdles to the resumption of formal negotiations between the Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP) and the NDFP in accordance with previous agreements and let the matter of ceasefire fall in its proper place--that is, in the process of solid gains in agreements in the remaining substantive agenda."

"For the armed revolutionary forces, engaging in peace talks while their weapons are tied up, is violative of revolutionary principles and virtually holds us hostage," the CPP pointed out. "It would be foolish for us to expect to talk on fair and equal terms regarding life-and-death questions with the other side, when we have our arms dropped while the forces on other side have the barrels of their guns pointed at our heads."

The CPP also added that "Aquino should know better than to insist on peace negotiations premised on a ceasefire agreement which was proven unsuccessful during the term of his mother as president."

"The three-month ceasefire in late 1986 to early 1987 did not result in any fruitful agreement in terms of addressing the roots of the armed conflict. Worse, it was used by the first US-Aquino regime to induce inertia among the revolutionary armed forces, and for the puppet reactionary armed forces and intelligence agents to freely enter and intensify surveillance in revolutionary areas."

The CPP pointed out that it was only after the Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP) under Ramos agreed to throw away the earlier premise of tying the talks to an immediate and prolonged ceasefire agreement did the NDFP-GRP peace negotiations become fruitful in terms of forging important agreements.

In that period, said the CPP, aside from The Hague Joint Declaration of 1992 which set forth the framework, principles and sequence of peace negotiations, other important agreements mutually signed by the NDFP and GRP include the Joint Agreement on Safety and Immunity Guarantees (JASIG) signed in 1995 and the Comprehensive Agreement on Respect for Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law (CARHRIHL) signed in 1998.

"If Aquino insists on having peace talks premised on an immediate ceasefire, he will be reducing his peace declarations to empty rhetoric," pointed out the CPP.

http://www.philippinerevolution.net/cgi-bin/statements/releases.pl?date=100728;refer=cpp;lang=eng

[The Vegan Marxist]

Interview on GRP-NDFP Peace Negotiations With Luis Jalandoni

By Paolo Capino
RPN 9 News Desk Supervisor
July 28, 2010

Q.: Sir, do you have any pre-condition before you are willing to talk with the government?

We have no precondition for resuming formal peace talks with the Aquino government. We have repeatedly declared that we are ready to resume formal talks on the basis of The Hague Joint Declaration and other peace agreements signed from 1992 to 2004. The Hague Joint Declaration states that no precondition that negates the inherent character and purpose of peace negotiations may be imposed and that the agenda will take up human rights and international humanitarian law, social and economic reforms, political and constitutional reforms and end of hostilities and disposition of forces, in that sequence.

Q. Do you agree with a ceasefire?

We do not agree with Mr. Aquino's ceasefire ("malawakang tigil-putukan") as a precondition for formal talks. This precondition is a violation of The Hague Joint Declaration. It practically blocks the resumption of formal talks and prevents the negotiations on social, economic and political reforms to address the roots of the armed conflict. These reforms, such as genuine land reform and national industrialization, are necessary to respond to the basic aspirations and demands of the peasants, workers and other sections of the people. They are necessary to achieve social justice as the foundation of a just and lasting peace.

Q. What are your other thoughts on the peace talks and what other issues will you likely ask the government for the resumption of the talks?

We have the concrete proposal to resume formal talks on the basis of The Hague Joint Declaration and other agreements. We are suggesting that the Aquino administration send an emissary or team of emissaries to meet with us here in The Netherlands or in Norway to discuss preparations for the resumption of formal talks. Such emissaries were sent by former Presidents Corazon Aquino and Fidel Ramos as well as Gloria Arroyo.

The release of political prisoners (as Cory Aquino did in 1986 and Ramos too from 1992), the indemnification of victims of human rights violations under the Marcos regime, the release of NDFP consultants (detained in violation of the agreement of the Joint Agreement on Safety and Immunity Guarantees), the resumption of meetings of the Joint Monitoring Committee (mandated to monitor the Comprehensive Agreement on Respect for Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law (CARHRIHL), negotiation on social economic reforms, are among the points we will take up. But all these and other points both sides will bring up, can be discussed with the emissaries.

The Aquino government should also consider the concrete proposal made by the NDFP on 27 August 2005: "Concise Agreement for Immediate Just Peace" which was personally handed over to the GRP Panel in Oslo on 28 August 2005. Mr. Aquino appears not adequately informed about this and the other above-mentioned concrete proposals of the NDFP.

http://theprwcblogs.blogspot.com/2010/07/interview-on-grp-ndfp-peace.html

[The Vegan Marxist]

Oppose mass rail transit fare hike, privatization plan--CPP
July 31, 2010

The Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) today urged the Filipino people to unite and oppose plans by the Aquino government to hike fares in the Metro Rail Transit (MRT) and Light Rail Transit (LRT) systems. Government officials have confirmed plans to raise the fare citing rising operational costs and plans to reprivatize government-owned shares.

"The rail transit fare hike plan shows that behind its rhetoric of concern about the poverty of the people, the new puppet reactionary regime is actually insensitive to the downtrodden masses' social and economic plight," the CPP said. "This increase would increase the daily cost of living of the impoverished masses, with 10% of their minimum income already being spent on transport fares." The MRT and LRT combined have an average of about a million riders a day.

The CPP added that the fare hike is actually meant to ensure the profitability of the mass rail transport systems and make them more attractive to potential buyers. "The fare hike is but a prelude to a more sinister agenda, that is the reprivatization of government-owned shares in the MRT."

The CPP said the new US-Aquino regime "is proving itself no different from past regimes in terms of upholding the policies of denationalization, privatization and deregulation imposed by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) that make the public become a milking cow for the private rentiers' superprofits.

"Because of this profit-oriented and anti-public service framework of the elite reactionary government, investments in the public railway system are being disparaged by the IMF--trained financial and public transport managers of the new puppet government as well as by imperialist institutions as losses instead of necessary social expenditures for the benefit of the public," said the CPP.

"Esential social services such as state public transport systems necessarily require government subsidies and should not at all be means for private profit," added the CPP. The CPP pointed out that a large part of the so-called losses being shouldered by the government are actually payments for guaranteed profits in the form of "equity rental payments" as well as for loans incurred by the Metro Rail Transit Corporation (MRTC) when it built the MRT under a 25-year "build-lease-transfer" (BLT) scheme in 1997.

The BLT contract guaranteed the consortium a 15% rate of profit. A large part of the so-called "government subsidies" also went to interest payments for debts to Export-Import Bank of Japan, the Sumitomo Bank, and other Japanese and Czech banks, as well as some local banks like the Bank of Philippine Islands (BPI) and the Ayala-led MRT Holdings Inc.

The majority of MRT shares is currently owned by the government after government financial institutions led by the Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) and the Landbank acquired 76% of MRT's assets for $800-$900 million starting December 2009. These shares were ordered transferred to the National Development Corporation last February to facilitate privatization.

"Instead of raising fare rates, the Aquino government should have reviewed the lopsided BOT contract and possibly rescinded or renegotiated it with the public welfare in mind," pointed out the CPP. "The Aquino government should take advantage of its present majority ownership of the MRT to ensure that fare rates remain low and accessible to the people. Instead, it plans to re-privatize its shares in the MRT, completely ignoring the lessons of the past."

"In the face of the intense economic crisis and the already miserable plight of the toiling masses, the US-Aquino regime is poised to further its denationalization, privatization and deregulation offensive, selling off the few remaining assets of the state at the expense of social subsidies, making it no different from its predecessor," said the CPP.

The CPP urged the Filipino people to vigorously resist the unjustified mass rail transit fare hike plan as well as the new puppet regime's further denationalization, privatization and deregulation schemes.

http://www.philippinerevolution.net/cgi-bin/statements/releases.pl?date=100731;refer=cpp;lang=eng

[A Revolutionary Tool]

17 year-old sneaks into camp by saying he's his uncle and escapes with two high-powered rifles. The AFP directed him to do it and now he's being paraded around as a child soldier enlisted in the NPA...Lying bastards.


The 39th IB trains and uses minors as action agents (http://theprwcblogs.blogspot.com/2010/08/39th-ib-trains-and-uses-minors-as.html)

VALENTIN PALAMINE REGIONAL OPERATIONS COMMAND
New People’s Army, Far South Mindanao Region
31 July 2010

May we express our deepest concern over the recent events in FarSouth Mindanao on the unconscionable exploitation of minors by the 39th Infantry Battalion of the 10th Infantry Division – AFP. Its most recent victim is Roy Parasa, a 17 year old of Brgy. Tagaytay, Magsaysay, Davao del Sur who has been trained and tasked to penetrate into an NPA unit and steal high powered rifles. At present, he is being paraded by the 39th IB as an “NPA child warrior.” For the information of all, Roy Parasa has never been in the NPA roster as a combatant or in whatever capacity. Under the despicable design of the 39th IB the boy was able to enter the NPA camp under the auspices of the impostor and traitor Roger Parasa, his uncle, and cart away 2 high-powered rifles.

The 39th IB proudly paraded Roy Parasa to the media as its achievement; it has no qualms at all of having exposed a minor to such a dangerous mission such as the boy did. This battalion has not the least bit concern for the interest and welfare of minors. This is no different from what the 39th IB did to Eric Layal, a 17 year old of Brgy. Malawanit, Magsaysay town who was tortured in the hope of using him as another “NPA child warrior”. Fortunately, Eric was able to escape his captors and lived to tell his tale. A less fortunate victim is Donita Rose Barro, of Dungan Pekong, Matanao, Davao del Sur whose scripted account of having been a “child warrior” has been repeatedly paraded to the media.

All of the above – Donita Rose Barro, Eric Layal and Roy Parasa have never been recruited into the ranks of the NPA. They are simple barrio folks, unfortunate minors, who have been used by the reactionary armed forces in their propaganda war against the revolutionary movement.

Due to the 39th IB’s miserable failure to win the war in the battlefield or even to inflict damage on the NPA in FSMR, it is now trying to destroy the revolutionary movement’s image by spinning tall tales of so-called “NPA child warriors” which in effect has done so much harm not only to the youth and minors involved but to their families and communities as well.

Oplan Bantay Laya II’s most recent tactic of trying to discredit the revolutionary movement with its accusations of violating the international humanitarian law is an old ploy that is bound to fail because it has neither truth nor substance and has been very harmful to the people, especially children and minors who are exposed to extreme psychological trauma.

It is clear to all and sundry that the NPA has consistently and passionately defended human rights and valiantly fought for the people’s welfare and interest for more than four decades. It shall continue to do so. In particular, it shall continue to abide by the NPA Rules and Regulations on recruitment and other policies related to the Rules of War and the like.

For the Valentin Palamine Regional Operations Command,

Ka. DENCIO MADRIGAL

http://theprwcblogs.blogspot.com/2010/08/39th-ib-trains-and-uses-minors-as.html

[The Vegan Marxist]

Aquino's Truth Commission has holes to serve as Arroyo's way out--CPP
August 3, 2010

The Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) today questioned the newly formed Truth Commission's ability to investigate and prosecute Gloria Arroyo for grievous crimes committed during her rule. Said the CPP, "there are serious doubts on whether the commission will be able to effectively and decisively address the Filipino people's widespread clamor to punish Arroyo. Built-in legal and judicial loopholes may even serve as Arroyo's way out."

Philippine President Benigno Aquino III issued Executive Order No. 1 last week forming the Truth Commission which is tasked to investigate the biggest cases of graft and corruption under the previous regime. The report of the Truth Commission will be submitted to the Office of the Ombudsman which will then prosecute the cases afterwards. Its December 31, 2012 deadline is supposed to coincide with the retirement of current Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez, a well-known Arroyo loyalist.

"The Truth Commission is a toothless, single-target, slow-moving animal that may ultimately fail to catch up with Gloria Arroyo and her pack of criminal cohorts," said the CPP. "It does not have real subpoena powers. It cannot prosecute and is limited only to investigating cases. Its two and a half year timetable gives much time for Arroyo to come up with the necessary political, legal and extra-legal countermanuevers to dodge criminal prosecution."

"In contrast," said the CPP, "former president Joseph Estrada was sent to jail within three months from the day he was ousted from office in January 2001."

"Aquino may end up frustrating the Filipino people who have been clamoring for determined and swift prosecution and punishment of the Arroyos not only for a few 'political impact' cases but for a whole range of economic, political and fascist crimes committed by Gloria Arroyo and her cohorts," said the CPP. Aquino has limited the scope of the Truth Commission to a handful of corruption cases.

The CPP pointed out that "the Filipino people have been clamoring for the prosecution and punishment of Gloria Arroyo and her cohorts for massive fraud committed during the 2004 and 2007 elections, widespread extrajudicial killings and other crimes against humanity perpetrated by the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) in the nine and a half years that it was under her command."

"The hundreds of thousands of victims of fascist military abuses under the Arroyo regime are fast losing hope of ever attaining justice under the Aquino regime," said the CPP. "The Aquino government seems to be stonewalling efforts to investigate cases of human rights abuses for fear that this will lead to exposing the criminal responsibility not only of Arroyo and her top security and defense officials, but of the entire puppet reactionary state and its military establishment, including those now serving the new regime."

"The built-in legal and judicial limitations of the Truth Commission buttress suspicions about secret deals entered into by Aquino and Arroyo on the eve of the last elections, where a smooth transition of power was effected in exchange for providing Arroyo a way out of her criminal accountabilities," the CPP asserted.

http://www.philippinerevolution.net/cgi-bin/statements/releases.pl?date=100803;refer=cpp;lang=eng

[The Vegan Marxist]

People's Court metes capital punishment to a criminal intellegence asset of the 39th IB

Dencio Madrigal
Commander
Valentin Palamine Command
Regional Operational Command
NPA-Far South Mindanao Region
August 4, 2010

Following the People's Court decision in FSMR the NPA meted the capital punishment on one of the most hated criminal intelligence assets of the 39th Infantry Battalion, 10th Infantry Division, Philippine Army.

Cresaldo Banan, an ex-NPA from Matanao, Davao del Sur was found guilty beyond reasonable doubt for his crimes against the people and his crimes against the revolutionary movement.

In September last year, Cresaldo was responsible for surrendering two (2) high-powered rifles to the military. He was very active as the 39th IB's guide during combat operations which brought so much fear and suffering to the innocent peasant folks who were unjustly suspected as being rebels or NPA supporters. He was the notorious scourge of Dungan Fekong, handing over to the innocent barangay residents as "masang aktibista" which resulted to their incarceration and torture. He also butchered several of his neighbors' horses, robbed their products and destroyed their crops on the pretext that since they were NPA supporters, they deserved such treatment. He even manned food blockades during military operations and many people, especially children went hungry because of him.

Under the tutelage of the fascist military and following the psyops tactics of Oplan Bantay Laya 2. Cresaldo's attacks of Dunga Fekong residents became even more violent and frequent. He intentionally ignored many efforts made by the NPA to dissuade and neutralize him from his anti-people activities. Instead, he become more arrogant and abusive. He was incorrigible.

His case was then brought the People's Court and after a long and thorough deliberation, it was unanimously decided that he be meted with the capital punishment for the gravity of his crimes.

It is very disturbing that the fascist AFP, particularly the 39th IB has continued to create social monsters like Cresaldo under the name of counterinsurgency, wrecking havoc on the hapless residents who are already burdened with the ever-deteriorating economic crisis.

The NPA on the other hand, as the true army of the people, will continue to do its utmost best to actualize the people's demands and abide by the principles of revolutionary justice as expressed in the judicial rules and processes of the People's Revolutionary Government.

For the Valentin Palamine Regional Operations Command,
Ka. DENCIO MADRIGAL

http://www.philippinerevolution.net/cgi-bin/statements/stmts.pl?author=vpc;date=100804;lang=eng

[The Vegan Marxist]

Response to military propaganda for surrender before peace talks
August 5, 2010

The National Democratic Front-Eastern Visayas today said that the 8th Infantry Division, by calling for the surrender of the revolutionary forces, highlighted the unjustness of the ceasefire-and-surrender line of the Aquino administration. "Through its program in a radio station last August 1, the 8th ID essentially dismissed the peace talks as irrelevant and called on the revolutionary forces to surrender first," said NDF-EV spokesperson Fr. Santiago Salas. "This is blatant disregard for discussing the basic reforms necessary to solving landlessness, joblessness and other causes of the people's poverty and suffering. On the part of the Aquino government, this would be displaying extreme laziness, belligerence and disregard for the common good."

Fr. Salas also warned that the continuation of Oplan Bantay Laya's dirty war in lieu of peace talks may be pursued by the Aquino government. "In the same radio program, the 8th ID's special psywar agent Norberto "Huling" Gacuma openly expressed that the military will continue the killings of progressive activists and other innocent civilians. Gacuma even said that the former 8th ID chief Gen. Jovito Palparan is better than the present one because he carried out widespread extrajudicial killings and struck fear in the hearts of the people. This goes to show that the military will be targeting not only the NPA, but even civilians such as progressive activists, the media, and other government critics and suspected supporters of the revolutionary movement."

However, the NDF-EV spokesperson challenged the Aquino regime to still choose to resume peace negotiations. "The Aquino regime merely has to follow the agreed upon agenda and previous major agreements. There is a pressing need to discuss social and economic reforms, which should be on the agenda if the peace talks resume. It would be more beneficial to the people rather than counterproductive attempts to demean the peace process."

Fr. Salas also said that if the Aquino regime wanted an immediate ceasefire, the NDFP had already proposed in 2005 the Concise Agreement to End Civil War and Achieve Just Peace Immediately. "The NDFP proposal asserts a truce and just peace can be immediately realized on the basis of mutual agreement on principles and policies upholding national independence and democracy and common efforts to resolve the basic political, socio-economic and other problems of the Filipino people. The NDFP proposal also explicitly rejects any sham peace agreement which requires the revolutionary forces to surrender in exchange for empty promises or to engage in a ceasefire agreement for obscuring and freezing the people's demands for major reforms. Thus the revolutionary movement will never lay down its arms without a just and lasting peace."

http://www.philippinerevolution.net/cgi-bin/statements/releases.pl?date=100805;refer=ndfev;lang=eng

[A Revolutionary Tool]

NDF-Panay abides by the NDFP National Council's Proposed Concise Agreement to End Civil War and Achieve Just Peace Immediately (http://theprwcblogs.blogspot.com/2010/08/npa-panay-abides-by-ndfp-national.html)

Concha Araneta
NDF - Panay
August 2, 2010

1Lt. Mark Andrew Posadas, public information officer of the 3rd Infantry Division (3ID), is as uninformed as his president when he declared on radio last week that the NPA in Panay is not interested in ceasefire because it continues to launch tactical offensives on the fascist military troops.

More than anyone, it is the revolutionary movement that desires peace as long as it is based on justice. In a climate of peace, the revolutionary government can step up even more its ongoing education, health and production campaigns in the guerilla bases, pursue land reform, advance environmental protection and enhance cooperativity in production that actualize genuine people’s empowerment.

It is the AFP that insists on its all out war of terror and brings such fear and dislocation mong the people. It continues to occupy landgrabbed tumanduk ancestral lands, destroy homes and livelihood of the peasant masses, sow fear and distrust within the community by its witch hunts and intelligence networks, harass, threaten or murder mass leaders and violate the very essence of democracy by destroying legitimate people’s organizations and repressing the people’s right to dissent. The abduction of activists Ma. Luisa Posa and Nilo Arado in Oton, Iloilo in 2007, the murder of the peasants Charito Caspillo (Rizal Sur, Tapaz, Capiz 2009), Ronilo Perez (Maliao, 2010), in Tapaz, Capiz and councilman Fernando Baldomero in Kalibo, Aklan last month, the wounding of the peasant family Gabion in Igbaras and Jeson Eulalio in Tapaz, the bombing of Brgy. Tacayan, Tapaz, Capiz and Brgy. Igcabugao, Igbaras, Iloilo, all by the hands of the 3ID, Philippine Army, cry out for justice.

The tactical offensives that the NPA launched this July, such as the ambush in Pontevedra, apiz,
and harassment in Osorio I, San Remigio, Antique, are merely responses to the military’s continued violation of the people’s rights and defense of the revolutionary government’s territory.

By parroting the Aquino II regime’s call for "immediate ceasefire", Posadas exposes his extreme ignorance of the peace process which the NDFP has been pursuing since the regimes of Mrs. Corazon Aquino, Mr. Fidel Ramos and Mr. Joseph Estrada. From 1992 to 1998, this peace process has produced principal documents signed by the GRP and NDFP among which are The Hague Joint Declaration, the Joint Agreement on Safety and Immunity Guarantees (JASIG), and the Comprehensive Agreement on Respect for Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law (CARHRIHL). But discussions on the second part of the negotiations which covers social and economic reforms have been stalled since the Arroyo government launched its all-out war of terror in 2001 to 2010.

We suggest that 1Lt. Posadas and the whole 3ID, PA brush up their knowledge of the peace process and the conduct of the people’s war as a whole. Unless, of course, their ignorance is feigned,with the intention to sow intrigue. Their lack of intelligence that gave advantage to the NPA’s tactical offensives can be forgiven considering the capacity for secrecy of the revolutionary underground, but to be ignorant of open processes and papers that their own
government itself has co-signed is dowright shameful to taxpayer whose money they appropriate in such large quantities.

The NDF-Panay abides by the NDFP National Council’s proposed Concise Agreement to End Civil War and Achieve Just Peace Immediately put forth last 2005. The civil war ends and a just peace begins as soon as the GRP co-signs this agreement. Until then, the revolutionary movement in Panay will continue to strengthen its revolutionary forces, consolidate its revolutionary mass base, and launch more tactical offensives till victory is achieved and genuine peace and justice is realized.

http://theprwcblogs.blogspot.com/2010/08/npa-panay-abides-by-ndfp-national.html

[The Vegan Marxist]

Hacienda Luisita "deal" pushing peasants to armed revolution--CPP
August 10, 2010

The Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) today condemned the so-called compromise deal forged by the management of the Hacienda Luisita Inc. (HLI), calling it "a devious scheme to preserve the decades-old Cojuangco land monopoly in Tarlac and continue subjecting the peasants and farm workers to perpetual semifeudal exploitation and oppression."

"The so-called deal was deviously cooked up and is being vigorously pushed by the Cojuangcos through bribery, coercion and political maneuverings," said the CPP.

"By having one of their own in Malacañang, the Cojuangcos are now brazenly pushing through with all possible arrangements, however odious and malevolent, to protect their vast landholdings and preserve their wealth accumulated through power, theft, malevolence and the exploitation and oppression of their tenants and farm workers."

The CPP accused Benigno Aquino III of pretending to distance himself from the issue. "It is obvious that Aquino has been totally in, minutely following the issue, and strongly pushing for the phoney deal," said the CPP.

"The hypocritical president is now also trying to win over the chief justice, Renato Corona, whom Aquino earlier said he would not recognize for being an illegal midnight appointee of the previous president. He now wants to win his favor and that of the other justices in the SC's forthcoming hearing on appeals of peasant organizations to junk the spurious Stock Distribution Option (SDO) and immediately distribute the Hacienda Luisita lands," the CPP added.

"The Cojuangco deal is the complete opposite of the long-standing clamor for social justice," averred the CPP.

"By continuing to ignore the demand of the masses of peasants and farm workers to subject Hacienda Luisita and all other monopoly-owned haciendas to land reform, the Aquino regime only succeeds in exposing the plain truth that breaking the feudal and semifeudal system in the Philippines can only be achieved by waging agrarian revolution through armed struggle," added the CPP. "The callous Cojuangco deal will only push more and more peasants and farm workers to join the armed revolution as the only means to achieve their long-standing demand for social justice."

The SDO scheme was contained in an executive order of then president Cory Aquino, issued even before the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP) was made into law in 1988. The SDO scheme was introduced by the Cojuangco clan itself to preempt the actual application of land reform to large plantations such as their Hacienda Luisita.

The new Cojuangco "compromise deal" which was made public over the weekened purportedly gives peasants the option to choose between retaining their company stocks under the SDO or receiving a much reduced size of land. The HLI now "offers" for distribution only 1,366 hectares out of the remaining 4,915 hectares of agricultural land in the hacienda.

The CARP requires all agricultural lands to be distributed, with only five hectares to be retained by the landlord, and with the beneficiaries also receiving a share of the income of those lands already converted to other uses. More than 1,500 hectares also originally claimed by the peasants and farm workers had already been converted for industrial and commercial use during the years the hacienda was covered by CARP.

The Cojuangcos, skirted the law, using the contested SDO provision. They created a shadow corporation in the form of Hacienda Luisita Incorporated to avoid including in the SDO all the land and other assets of the original Central Azucarera de Tarlac, increasingly converted parts of the hacienda for industrial and commercial use, and gave only a nominal 30% share of HLI, purportedly to correspond with the 'value' of the entire remaining agricultural land.

The CPP said further that, "With further convoluted logic, the Cojuangcos are now only claiming that the peasants and farmworkers' 30% share of HLI stocks is equivalent to only 30% of the agricultural land. The phoney deal would leave each peasant or farm worker opting for land with a only a tenth of a hectare."

http://www.philippinerevolution.net/cgi-bin/statements/releases.pl?date=100810;refer=cpp;lang=eng

[Chimurenga.]

Hopefully that will wake up the peasantry even more to taking up arms.

[A Revolutionary Tool]

PRESS RELEASE
Information Bureau
Communist Party of the Philippines

Pushing for "localized peace talks" disrespects the peace process
August 11, 2010

The National Democratic Front-Eastern Visayas today slammed the 8th Infantry Division for pushing for "localized peace talks" and calling for support from local government units. "We denounce such statements detrimental to the peace talks from Lt. Col. Armand Rico in the 8th ID's radio program," said Fr. Santiago Salas, NDF-EV spokesperson. "But such fascist propaganda is backed by the belligerence and apparent contempt for peace talks of the Government of the Republic of the Philippines. We warn the Aquino government that such a gesture glaringly disregards the previous agreements reached by the Philippine government and the NDFP. Moreover, "localized peace talks" can be seen through as an old trick to divide and rule."
The NDF-EV spokesperson said that localized peace talks goes against previous agreements reached by the Philippine government and the NDF that laid down the peace process at the national level. "To localize the peace talks would be to ignore the fact that discussing and solving the people's problems must be done comprehensively, at the national level. There are previous agreements binding on both parties for the negotiations, and yet the Aquino government would like to disregard these and start with nothing. But in the first place, these agreements are important for the resumption of talks and to come up with basic reforms to benefit the people, such as socio-economic reforms that will be discussed should negotiations continue. The agreements signed by the GRP and NDFP include The Hague Joint Declaration of 1992 which sets the principles, framework and sequence of agenda of the talks, the Joint Agreement on Safety and Immunity Guarantees (JASIG) signed in 1995 and the Comprehensive Agreement on Respect for Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law (CARHRIHL) signed in 1998."
Fr. Salas explained that instead of being genuinely for peace, "localized peace talks" had been used by the GRP and AFP in 1987 for military purposes: to gather intelligence, and to target, attack and demoralize the revolutionary forces. "It is clear even from Col. Rico's statements that the AFP has the same intentions today. To achieve localized peace talks, he goads civilian authority, as represented by the local government units, to be subordinate to military authority and participate in this "counter-insurgency" scheme. Thus Rico shows that the 8th ID and the Aquino government have niggardly regard for really discussing and solving the problems that led to the armed conflict. What they want is to use the camouflage of localized peace talks to effectively use military force to destroy the revolutionary forces."
Fr. Salas added that if the 8th ID will continue pushing for "localized peace talks", it will only mean that the Aquino government is more interested in war rather than peace talks. "Insisting on localized peace talks is a dishonest attempt to seem to be for peace, while in fact preparing for war and disregarding any serious attempts to discuss the problems of the people. We challenge the Aquino government that if it is really for peace, it should respect the peace process and resume negotiations with the NDFP. If the Aquino government is really concerned for the people, it should be willing to discuss and pursue with the NDFP the basic reforms that will pave the way for a just and lasting peace."

http://www.philippinerevolution.net/cgi-bin/statements/releases.pl?date=100811;refer=ndfev;lang=eng

[A Revolutionary Tool]

Very interesting interview with Prof. Jose Maria Sison. His blog can be found here (http://josemariasison.wordpress.com/)

On the US-Aquino regime, peace and revolution

Prof. Jose Ma. Sison (http://www.philippinerevolution.net/cgi-bin/statements/stmts.pl?author=jms)
National Democratic Front of the Philippines
Chief Political Consultant
August 11, 2010

Interview with Prof. JOSE MARIA SISON
Chief Political Consultant
NDFP Negotiating Panel
By ROSELLE VALERIO
Liberation International
11 August 2010

1. On the basis of Aquino's policy pronouncements, appointments and other actions since his oath-taking as president, how do you characterize his regime and how do you compare it with the Arroyo regime?

JMS: The Aquino regime is the latest of regimes servile to US imperialism and representative chiefly of the local exploiting classes of big compradors and landlords. It follows such US-directed policies as neoliberal globalization and the so-called global war on terror which is used to justify state
terrorism and US military intervention in the Philippines.

The Aquino regime is fundamentally a continuation of the Arroyo regime. It is another running dog of US imperialism with a different collar. It tries to make itself look different from the Arroyo regime through sheer propaganda. From day to day, it does some publicity stunts and gimmicks to deflect attention from the big basic problems of the people, which are the main causes of poverty and corruption.

2. Would Aquino be able to fulfill his promise of sending Gloria M. Arroyo to prison for human rights violations and for plunder? Will it eliminate corruption and thus eliminate poverty? His main slogan has been: kung walang corrupt, walang mahirap (if no corrupt, no poor). What will happen
if he does not fulfill his promises?

JMS: Aquino is already making it evident that he has no intention of sending Arroyo to prison for human rights violations and for plunder. The Truth Commission is a device for getting Gloria M. Arroyo and her cohorts off the hook. The executive order creating the commission protects Arroyo from being held liable for plunder and human rights violations. The commission is also impotent and redundant even when it comes to the investigation of graft and corruption cases. The commission head, Hilario Davide, is a shared valet of the Aquino and Arroyo families.

One who promises to eliminate poverty solely by eliminating corruption is obviously a big liar from the very outset. The Aquino regime cannot eliminate poverty and corruption without confronting foreign and feudal exploitation and carrying out national industrialization and land reform. Poverty and corruption will persist so long as the evils of foreign monopoly capitalism, domestic feudalism and bureaucrat capitalism afflict the country. In the backroom of the Aquino regime, the big comprador-landlord Cojuangco-Aquino family is plotting to keep Hacienda Luisita and amass wealth in other corrupt ways like privatizing the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (Pagcor).

Going by the example of Arroyo sending Estrada to prison in three months' time in 2001, the people expect Aquino to send her to prison before the end of September. If he fails, the people will take him to task for making false promises and lying. He will be hounded, discredited and isolated by the non-fulfillment of these promises that he has made, and of course by the new wave of corruption that is sure to arise from the new set of thieving bureaucats handpicked by the big foreign and local businessmen, the Kamag-anak, Inc. and the Classmates, Inc.

3. Has Aquino taken any decisive step to stop human rights violations and improve the human rights situation in the Philippines? Is he heeding the Alston report and recommendations? Do you expect him to do so sometime later?

JMS: Aquino has not taken any decisive step to stop human rights violations. He has never spoken strongly and definitively against the gross and systematic violations of human rights committed by the previous regime. He has ignored the Alston report and recommendations. So far Aquino has not released the Morong 43 and other political prisoners. He condones the continuing use of false charges of common crimes against the panelists, consultants and staffers of the negotiating panel of the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP).

Despite the severe economic crisis and the bankruptcy of the reactionary government, Aquino has boasted that he would give everything that the military forces demand. He has openly insinuated that he wishes to double the strength of the military because the population has doubled since the time of Marcos. He has openly urged the military to give priority to counterinsurgency and escalate military campaigns.

The military forces of the reactionary government continue to commit human rights violations and carry out Oplan Bantay Laya. Aquino and his defense secretary Gazmin have demanded ceasefire, surrender and disarming of the New People's Army (NPA) as precondition to peace negotiations. The chief of staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) has boasted that the military would decimate the New People's Army in the next three years.

4. What is the purpose of Aquino and the military officials in preconditioning with a general ceasefire the peace negotiations between the Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP) and the NDFP? Is it to prevent peace negotiations or pressure the NDFP towards capitulation and the laying aside of the people's demands for reforms? Is Aquino really interested in peace negotiations as a way of addressing the roots of the armed conflict and agreeing on reforms as the basis for a just and lasting peace?

JMS: Aquino and the military officials appear to be grossly ignorant or deliberately contemptuous of The Hague Joint Declaration which prohibits any side of the GRP-NDFP peace negotiations from preconditioning the formal talks with ceasefire, surrender or anything else that negates the character and purpose of peace negotiations. In fact, Aquino seeks to violate The Hague Joint Declaration by making a demand for a general
ceasefire as precondition.

He is expressing the old reactionary position of treating the peace negotiations as a mere tool of deception in the so-called counterinsurgency. Obviously, he regards the peace negotiations as a way of immediately pacifying the revolutionary forces and laying aside the need for negotiating and forging agreements as the basis for a just and lasting peace. He follows the US Counterinsurgency Guide which considers peace negotiations as dispensable in defeating the armed revolutionary movement.

Aquino and the presidential adviser Teresita Deles follow the US line that peace negotiations are a disposable embellishment on the use of all-out military force to dismantle and disarm the revolutionary forces. The so-called military solution is combined with pretenses at good governance, delivery of services, economic rehabilitation and development and security reforms. The Aquino regime is banking so much on US military and financial assistance. It is salivating for the grant of US$434 million from the Millennium Challenge Corp. in exchange for further US military intervention and super-exploitation by US corporations and banks.

Now, the regime appears to find no urgent necessity to engage the NDFP in peace negotiations. But we should not be surprised if it is willing to resume formal talks for one reason or another. It does not give up the use of the peace negotiations in trying to deceive the people or to trick the revolutionary forces. At the same, the current worsening economic crisis, the mounting social discontent mass protests and the intensifying revolutionary armed struggle are stimuli for Aquino to approach the negotiating table.

5. Under the rotten ruling system of big compradors and landlords and the ever worsening crisis, how far can the Aquino regime make pretenses at good governance, delivery of social services, economic rehabilitation and development and security reforms? Does the regime have enough resources to satisfy the economic and social demands of the people and at the same time to increase the personnel and equipment of the military, police and paramilitary forces?

JMS: The Aquino regime cannot go very far in its pretenses at good governance. Aquino himself has become the most corrupt official by virtue of his accepting campaign funds from the imperialists and from his fellow big comprador-landlords, and thus being bound to serve their interests. He has appointed to lucrative positions certain officials close to big business and notorious for being corrupt in previous regimes. The Cojuangco-Aquino family is now using the power and influence of the president for the corrupt purpose of preventing land reform and clawing on to Hacienda Luisita.

The persistence of the ruling system and its worsening crisis render impossible any adequate delivery of social services to the people, and any economic rehabilitation and development for the country. The budgetary and trade deficits will grow. Local and foreign borrowing will become ever more burdensome. Collecting additional taxes will become ever more difficult in a depressed economy. How can Aquino impress anyone about tax collection when he is silent about the unpaid tax obligations and ill-gotten wealth of the Marcoses, Eduardo Cojuangco, Lucio Tan and other big
shots?

The Aquino regime can only fan the flames of the armed revolution by using public funds and foreign grants to enlarge its military forces in terms of personnel and equipment and escalate campaigns of military suppression. Within the span of the next three years, Aquino wishes to destroy or debilitate the revolutionary forces through propaganda stunts and brute military force. He can only fan the flames of people's war by exacerbating the socio-economic crisis with rising military expenditures.

6. How can the revolutionary forces and the people overcome the plan of the Aquino regime to destroy or debilitate them? Are they ready to fight tit for tat, deliver their own blows on the regime and the entire ruling system and advance to a new and higher stage of the people's war?

JMS: I shall answer your question as a political scientist. The revolutionary forces draw the participation and support of the broad masses of the people, especially the workers, peasants and lower middle class, because the semicolonial and semifeudal ruling system is rotten, increasingly exploitative and oppressive, and ceaselessly afflicted with socio-economic and political crisis. As the crisis of the ruling system and the world capitalist system worsens, the reactionary classes will have more difficulties because of increasingly violent factional contradictions and because of the further rise of the revolutionary movement.

The revolutionary forces have adopted the general line of people's democratic revolution through protracted people's war. This line has served the revolutionary forces and the people very well since the re-establishment of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) in 1968. They grew from small to big and from weak to strong. They were able to overcome the 14-year long Marcos fascist dictatorship and build the New People's Army nationwide. Since the fall of Marcos, they have been able to overcome all kinds of violence and deception under such operational plans as Lambat Bitag I, II and III and Bantay Laya I and II, conducted by the post-Marcos regimes. They have a wealth of experience and the will to win.

According to the publications of the CPP Central Committee, the armed revolutionary movement has a plan of advancing the people's war from the strategic defensive to the strategic stalemate in the next five years. The CPP has laid out the political requirements for such an advance. These involve the further strengthening of the CPP, NPA, the NDFP, the mass organizations and the organs of political power. The Party has also made clear the strategy and tactics to wage intensive and extensive guerrilla warfare on the basis of an ever widening and deepening mass base, develop on favorable terrain highly mobile strike forces that can operate on inter-front, inter-provincial and regional scales, and aim to build some 179 guerrilla fronts within the next five years.

7. Among the political requirements for advancing the people's war, what do you think is the most important one? Please answer according to your rich stock of knowledge and revolutionary experience since the 1960s.

JMS: In my opinion, the most important political requirement is the development of the mass movement by arousing, organizing and mobilizing the masses of workers, peasants and urban petty bourgeois who comprise the basic forces of the people's democratic revolution. After all, the revolution is a mass undertaking, from the process of overthrowing the rotten system to that of building a new Philippines that is truly independent and democratic, socially just, progressive and peaceful.

Success in the mass movement is best measured by solid mass organizing, concretely by a count of how many people become members of the various mass organizations, as a result of conscious and militant leadership, mass agitation and propaganda, members recruiting others and mass campaigns. The simplest and most effective method of expanding the mass organizations is to encourage all members to perform their basic duty of recruiting new members from among their friends, colleagues and relatives who are willing to accept the organization's constitution and program.

The mass organizations are based in the urban areas as well as in the rural areas, inside and outside of the guerrilla fronts. They can grow by relying on and trusting the masses. The imposition of unreasonable standards and sectarian biases, and then the failure to further develop the limited number of members are factors that stunt the growth of mass organizations. The large numbers of members in the basic mass organizations serve as the main source of candidate members for the CPP and as its main basis for expansion.

8. Can you say more about building the CPP? What are the requirements involved? What factors cause the expansion or contraction of the Party organization?

JMS: I can talk in general terms. The ever worsening crisis of the ruling system generates the conditions favorable to the building of patriotic and progressive mass organizations as well as to the building of the Party. The building of the Party entails ideological, political and organizational building. Ideological building involves education in applying Marxism-Leninism-Maoism on the history and current circumstances of the Philippines. Political building involves developing the mass movement along the line of people's democratic revolution. Organizational building involves upholding the principle of democratic centralism.

May I focus on the question of expansion or contraction of the Party organization. Let me start by saying that it is the basic duty of all Party members to recruit as candidate-members those who accept the Constitution and Program of the Party. Within the period of candidature of six months for workers and peasants, and one year for the urban petty bourgeois, the Party unit concerned has the duty to see to it that the candidate-member is raised to being a full member by taking the basic level of Party education and carrying out the assigned tasks.

The Party organization expands quite rapidly if this standard is followed. If not, the growth of the Party organization is stunted. Among the causes of the contraction of the Party organization are the failure to constantly urge Party members to carry out their basic duty of recruiting candidate-members in accordance with the Party Constitution, conceit manifested by applying unreasonable standards that deviate from the constitution, over-suspiciousness and inability to recognize the honesty of prospective and current candidate-members, and sheer negligence of the duty to recruit candidate-members or to help them become full members.

9. From your study of its published documents, can you explain how feasible it is for the CPP to establish 179 guerrilla fronts, develop relatively stable areas and reach the stage of strategic stalemate? Can you explain the strategy and tactics being pursued by the CPP?

JMS: Indeed, I have studied the CPP documents. The CPP has set itself five years to carry out its plan to establish 179 guerrilla fronts, develop relatively stable base areas and reach the stage of strategic stalemate. At present, such revolutionary forces as the Party, the people's army, the mass organizations and organs of political power are well-based among the toiling masses and are spread out nationwide. According to the CPP, these forces will expand and consolidate themselves from year to year.

The NPA is the main revolutionary force for advancing the people's war. It pursues the strategic line of encircling the cities from the countryside in order to accumulate armed strength. It chooses the best possible physical and social terrain for basing itself and, from there, advance wave upon wave. It aims to raise its strength and offensive capabilities and to improve coordination among its units on the scale of several guerrilla fronts,
provinces and regions.

It launches only those tactical offensives it can win and avoids battles that it is not sure of winning. Its main purpose is to wipe out enemy units, accumulate weapons and form more combat units. It seeks to punish the human rights violators, the plunderers and the worst anti-social elements. It is determined to dismantle anti-people, anti-national and antidemocratic enterprises (especially those engaged in landgrabbing, mining, logging for export, and the like) in order to combat the worst forms of exploitation, make more land available for free distribution to the landless tillers, and protect and conserve natural resources for national industrialization.

10. What is the relationship of the NPA to the mass movement in the guerrilla fronts, the organs of political power, the people's militia and self-defense units? How is this relationship affected by the drive to reach the strategic stalemate?

JMS: Let me continue restating what I read from CPP publications. Under the leadership of the CPP, the NPA does mass work in the guerrilla fronts. It does propaganda work to arouse the masses. It guides and encourages the masses to organize themselves in various forms of voluntary association. It urges them to undertake mass campaigns for the benefit of the people, such as those related to public education, land reform and production, health, defense, cultural affairs, settlement of disputes, and so on.

The NPA guarantees the development of the barrio organizing committees into barrio revolutionary committees as local organs of democratic power. It gives basic training to the people's militia as the police force and the self-defense units of the various mass organizations. It is of key importance to develop Party members from the ranks of advanced mass activists and form the Party branch as the leading force of the local mass organizations, the organs of democratic power, the militia and the self-defense units.

When the local revolutionary forces led by the Party branch exist, the NPA units can be confident of having a guerrilla base for opening new areas as well as for launching tactical offensives. In the drive to reach the strategic stalemate, the direct mass base for people's war needs to expand and consolidate, become relatively stable and support the mobile strike forces of the NPA in undertaking tactical offensives for definite periods of time. The NPA can concentrate on tactical offensives because the local revolutionary forces can take charge of their own affairs in the localities.

11. How would you compare the longevity of the Aquino regime and that of the armed revolutionary movement?

JMS: The Aquino regime is just a passing pro-imperialist big comprador-landlord regime. It has made too many promises that are false and cannot be fulfilled. It is running against itself. It will soon be utterly discredited and isolated. Aquino has cashed in on the mystique of his parents. He is wantonly spending it. The revolutionary mass movement of the people will become stronger by fighting the regime and will outlast it. It will continue to exist and grow for as long as there is a need to fight for national and social liberation, and to build a people's democratic system.

[A Revolutionary Tool]

Massive military offensives in Mindanao reveal Noynoy Aquino's contempt for the peace process

Jorge "Ka Oris" Madlos (http://www.philippinerevolution.net/cgi-bin/statements/stmts.pl?author=ndfm)
Spokesperson
National Democratic Front of the Philippines-Mindanao
August 13, 2010


All the four divisions under the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) based in Mindanao are currently conducting massive and widespread military operations against the revolutionary forces in all the five NPA regions in the whole island, particularly more intense in the Southern Mindanao Region. These began prior and during the inauguration of Noynoy Aquino, and continued before, during and after Noynoy Aquino's SONA, and still escalating almost without let-up and without rest of troops in between operations.
Most recently, almost 30 of the more than 40 AFP battalions together with para-military units in Mindanao are simultaneously scouring suspected NPA guerilla bases and zones, seeking encounters with NPA forces in all the 5 NPA regions in the island. They are employing 105mm Howitzer cannons, reconnaissance and bomber planes. As expected, instead of hitting NPA units, it is the Lumad and peasant communities that are terrorized by these AFP offensives, committing human rights violations and causing dislocation to the population. With these military operations raging in Mindanao and probably across the archipelago, the Aquino administration has reared its ugly head; it has unruffled its feathers to show its true fascist character.
On top of the US-Aquino regime's priority is to consolidate its grip on and strengthen the AFP whose badly beaten OBL needs some major adjustment and morale boosting by increasing its budget and personnel, and upgrading its weapons and equipment. The regime highlights military concern at the expense of most needed funds for genuine agrarian reform and social services.
Only into the second month of his rule, Mr. Aquino shows that he has sharper fangs than his predecessor, and seems intent on surpassing the brutality of the failed Oplan Bantay Laya, following to the letter the US Counter-insurgency manual where military options are given priority over peace talks. This is a clear gesture of gratitude for being a US-anointed president who won through a pre-programmed automated election system.
The Aquino regime, on the one hand, offers talks of peace, but on the other, it is unleashing its mercenary AFP against the revolutionary forces without even waiting to see the results of its SONA rhetorical peace overtures. This early, it appears that the Aquino regime is not serious in addressing the roots of the armed conflict. He is no better than all of his predecessors including his mother, Cory, who have shown some token interest for peace talks then by releasing political prisoners, and temporarily suspending offensive military operations. By letting loose the AFP immediately even before formally assuming office, he could yet be the most rabid warmonger GRP president, second only to the dictator Marcos.
On the other hand, his secretary for the peace process, Ding Deles, sends the wrong signal by hinting in giving priority to local peace talks and less importance to top level panel-to-panel peace talks, thus effectively sabotaging all previous GRP-NDFP signed peace agreements. The US-Aquino regime proposes for an indefinite ceasefire as a pre-condition for the peace talks, an issue which has long been resolved under previous signed GRP-NDFP peace agreements.
With regard to the MILF[lol] peace negotiations, we cannot be led to believe that the GRP under Mr. Aquino is sincere enough in respecting the right to self-determination of the Moro people now that it has allowed to continue US economic interest and military intervention in the country, particularly in Mindanao.
The Filipino people must not be deceived by this despicable dual character of Mr. Aquino, where he plays the meek and mild hero on one side and the sinister fascist on the other, with the latter gradually becoming more obvious. Indeed the countryside is teeming with "amoy pulbora" because the new GRP president feigns being deaf on the aspiration of the people for peace that is based on social justice. He prefers to follow the US manual on counter insurgency, and swallow hook-line-and-sinker the advice of his new AFP Chief of Staff , Lt. Gen. Ricardo David, who once again day dreams to wipe out the NPA in three years.
The revolutionary forces in Mindanao and the whole country have frustrated the 9 years brutal OBL of the US-Arroyo regime and the "counter-insurgency" campaigns of all the previous regimes. The supposed three-year target of the new regime to dismantle the NPA will surely be met by an ever intensifying resistance of the people's war nationwide. In fact the current AFP offensives in Mindanao are met with a number of NPA annihilative tactical offensives in combination with widespread attritive military actions in the island.
The NDF-Mindanao urges the Filipino people to remain critical of the Aquino government, to not be clouded by the continuing euphoria hogging the limelight and see the Aquino government for what it actually is: nothing more but another reactionary, fascist, and puppet regime, that is bent on taxing the people more, protecting the interest of the big landlords to which Mr. Aquino belongs and the interest of the big businesses of the compradors and his imperialist masters.

http://www.philippinerevolution.net/cgi-bin/statements/stmts.pl?date=100813;author=ndfm;lang=eng

[A Revolutionary Tool]

PRESS RELEASE
Information Bureau
Communist Party of the Philippines

Imposing VAT on toll exposes Aquino regime's callousness and complete contempt for the masses--CPPAugust 13, 2010



The Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) today strongly criticized the Aquino regime's plan to impose a 12% Value Added Tax (VAT) on expressway toll fees starting on Monday, saying this will "only further burden the Filipino people, especially the impoverished toiling masses."
The Aquino government has ordered the imposition of VAT on expressway toll fees to generate as much as P1 billion annually for its cash-strapped government. The 12% tax will cover the North Luzon Expressway (NLEx), Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (SCTEx), Coastal Road, the Skyway, South Luzon Expressway (SLEx) and Southern Tagalog Arterial Road (STAR). The new tax will be on top of the planned 270% increase in toll fees at the SLEx that will be implemented on the same day.
"The added tax on toll fees burdens the people all the more and exposes the US-Aquino regime's complete contempt for the people and callousness in the face of their misery," the CPP said further. "The assertion by revenue officials that VAT on toll fees is not a new tax is hogwash."
"The people now see more clearly that Aquino was lying when he campaigned with a promise that no new taxes will be imposed," the CPP said, pointing out that the imposition of a new tax on toll fees comes less than 50 days after Aquino assumed power.
"The US-Aquino regime has no qualms about shifting on the people the rotten government's burden of a mounting budget deficit and its ineptitude in the face of the defunct ruling system's economic crisis," the CPP said further. There are also plans to further increase taxes on cigarettes and other consumer items, as well as plans to increase train fares, electricity charges and payments for other public services.
Various sectors and personalities have stood up against the planned tax on tolls. People's organizations point out that increases in toll fees will cause a domino effect on fare and the prices of other commodities. Legislators have also pointed out that imposing VAT on toll fees is illegal as the latter are in fact already a form of tax.
"Public utilities and services should, in fact, be provided free or at government-subsidized prices," said the CPP.

http://www.philippinerevolution.net/cgi-bin/statements/releases.pl?date=100813;refer=cpp;lang=eng

[A Revolutionary Tool]

The NDF reaffirms its commitment to the MILF[lol] and the Bangsamoro struggle for genuine self-determination

Jorge "Ka Oris" Madlos (http://www.philippinerevolution.net/cgi-bin/statements/stmts.pl?author=ndfm)
Spokesperson
National Democratic Front of the Philippines-Mindanao
August 14, 2010


The National Democratic Front - Mindanao (NDF-Mindanao) shares with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) in raising concern with regard to the capability and sincerity of the Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP), presently under Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III, in undertaking peace negotiations as a venue to address the just demands of the Bangsamoro.
The GRP would have the Moro as well as the Filipino people believe that credible talks under a favorable atmosphere for peace with the MILF would promptly resume after the Holy Ramadan, but all indicators point otherwise.
First, while the MILF has categorically stated that it is prepared to resume peace talks with the GRP, the Aquino government has beefed up the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) in terms of budget, personnel, and armaments, including missiles courtesy of the US, aimed at intensifying military offensives against the Moro resistance movement and pressure it to accept the terms for the talks set by the new regime. In parallel, division-level AFP combat operations are on-going in NPA areas in the whole of Mindanao, belying Mr. Aquino's public pronouncement on pursuing "a negotiated resolution of conflict." It is grossly ironical that Mr. Aquino has stepped-up the strengthening of the AFP, the deployment of troops, and the escalation of military offensives in MILF and NPA areas in Mindanao, clearly showing that he is poised more for war than for peace.
Second, Noynoy Aquino kowtows to US imperialist interests in adopting and implementing the US counter-insurgency (COIN) manual, a strategy that, in fact, dismisses the need for "peace talks" in the plan to defeat militarily the New People's Army and the MILF, both considered threats to US economic and military basing interests as well as to the national security of the puppet state. Noynoy Aquino is no different with Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in defending and facilitating US economic interests as well as the basing of US troops in Mindanao.
And, third, Mr. Aquino and his warmongers in the cabinet, led by Deles in OPAPP and Gazmin in DND, cannot be seen agreeing to a lasting solution for the Bangsamoro problem because all they could offer are just public pronouncements of motherhood statements with no definitive program in the granting the Moro people genuine autonomy.
In lieu of these, the NDF-Mindanao reaffirms its commitment to fight for our Moro brothers' and sisters' struggle for the right to self-determination. We reaffirm our formal agreement signed on 24 July 1999 with the MILF in Camp Abubakar, which stipulates among others the NDF's support for the fight for self-determination of the Moro people and the common struggle against foreign intervention in Mindanao.
We call upon the MILF and the Bangsamoro to stand steadfast in their revolutionary struggle for their right to self-determination. Be on guard against the manipulation and deceptive concepts of peace and autonomy peddled by the puppet Aquino regime and its US imperialist master.
Long live the struggle of the Bangsamoro!


http://www.philippinerevolution.net/cgi-bin/statements/stmts.pl?date=100814;author=ndfm;lang=eng

[A Revolutionary Tool]

PRESS RELEASE
Information Bureau
Communist Party of the Philippines

Charter change necessary for success of peace talks--CPPAugust 17, 2010



The Communist Party of the Philippines expressed agreement with the newly appointed head of the government peace panel in talks with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, that for peace talks between the Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP) and the MILF to succeed, agreements should not be confined to the present reactionary constitution but may have to be incorporated in a new constitution. GRP panel chief Atty. Marvic Leonen issued the statement yesterday in a press conference with foreign journalists.
The CPP said that GRP-MILF peace negotiations cannot start again from scratch and the only way for it to actually resume is to start with the Memorandum of Agreement on Ancestral Domain (MoA-AD) which is where it left off. The MoA-AD requires a drastic revision of the present reactionary constitution to do away with token autonomy and allow real autonomy for the Bangsamoro, added the CPP.
The CPP berated the present Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao as "an insult to the Bangsamoro," pointing out that it has now turned out to be, "a collection of scattered Moro areas that has become a political base for rigged elections and uncontrolled source for large-scale thievery by feudal warlords like the Ampatuans."
"The Bangsamoro people need to reacquire their ancestral lands," the CPP said further, "and real autonomy requires a contiguous area, liberation from the abusive dictates and machinations of the puppet reactionary government, and freedom to implement their own national and revolutionary program, even as they remain part of the Philippines."
"Similarly," said the CPP, "if peace talks between the National Democratic Front of the Philippines and the GRP are also to proceed, the remaining substantive agenda, including fundamental socio-economic reforms, political and constitional reforms, have to be seriously taken up and agreed upon before the redisposition of forces and end of hostilities. As stated in the agenda itself, such agreements would also require doing away with the present reactionary constitution to make way for fundamental reforms."
"But, now, however, the prior problem is still whether the NDFP-GRP peace talks would take place at all and prosper, given the many preconditions and hurdles that the Aquino regime and its top defense, military and peace process officials are laying in the way, such as their demand for immediate ceasefire prior to the talks, substituting the so-called 'localized peace talks' for real peace talks at the national level, and lack of commitment to implement past agreements," the CPP added.


http://www.philippinerevolution.net/cgi-bin/statements/releases.pl?date=100817;refer=cpp;lang=eng

[The Vegan Marxist]

By continuing Oplan Bantay Laya, Aquino shows he is no different from Arroyo
August 18, 2010

The National Democratic Front-Eastern Visayas today assailed the announcement of the Armed Forces of the Philippines on extending its Oplan Bantay Laya campaign until January 2011 as proving that Benigno Aquino III is no different from his predecessor. "While the world commemorates International Humanitarian Law Month today, the AFP will be continuing its campaign that has led to many killings of social activists and other civilians," said NDF-EV spokesperson Fr. Santiago Salas. "The assertions of the Aquino government and its AFP about upholding human rights and international humanitarian law are utterly meaningless. The new Aquino government thus shows it is no different from the previous Arroyo administration, which despite a so-called truth commission is not being pursued for its many rights violations under Oplan Bantay Laya. More innocent blood will thus be spilled in unresolved extrajudicial killings such as that victimized Fr. Cecilio Lucero, Rev. Edison Lapuz, Dr. Bartolome Resuello, Atty. Felidito Dacut, Atty. Norman Bocar, Sammy Bandilla and many others."

Fr. Salas also criticized 8th Infantry Division spokesperson Lt. Col. Armand Rico for saying that the military does not practice extrajudicial killings and that human rights courses are carried out in their ranks. "Speaking and studying human rights do not amount to anything without deeds. Many human rights advocates including the United Nations have condemned the killings of activists in the Philippines. In fact, Benigno Aquino III was barely warming his seat as the new Philippine president when five activists were killed in succession. But Aquino is not doing enough to stop the killings, such as explicitly ordering the military as its commander-in-chief to stop targeting activists because they are noncombatants under international humanitarian law. Moreover, he should seriously pursue Gloria Arroyo and others who masterminded and implemented Oplan Bantay Laya to bring them to account for their bloody crimes."

On the other hand, the NDF-EV spokesperson also clarified that not only the New People's Army but the revolutionary mass organizations as well study human rights, especially the Comprehensive Agreement on Respect for Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law signed by the NDFP and the Philippine government. "Everyone in the revolutionary areas, whether a Red fighter or an ordinary peasant, knows and observes human rights more than a loudmouth like Col. Rico. They know the difference between combatants and noncombatants. They know that civilians and their communities should not be harmed in war. They know that enemy soldiers who are prisoners of war and hors d' combat also have rights that should be respected. That is why in the countryside, the NPA has the political advantage and prestige over the AFP, because the people can see the difference between those who really observe human rights and international humanitarian law and those who only pay lip service."

Fr. Salas called on the people to continue to fight the fascist state terrorism of Oplan Bantay Laya and to struggle for justice for its victims. "By continuing Oplan Bantay Laya, the Aquino government is thus going from its so-called "path of righteousness" to Gloria Arroyo's road to hell of fascism, puppetry and corruption. The people must develop and advance their anti-fascist, anti-feudal and anti-imperialist struggles to fight Oplan Bantay Laya as well as the increasingly anti-people and anti-national impositions of the Aquino government. If Oplan Bantay Laya and any other succeeding campaign will escalate extrajudicial killings and other human rights violations, this will only strengthen the revolutionary armed movement by convincing the people to take up arms. The NPA is ready to fight and reap more victories from the continuation of Oplan Bantay Laya, which the AFP admits has been losing and is therefore bound to lose even more. The NPA looks forward to advancing to the strategic stalemate in the people's war in the next five years."

http://www.philippinerevolution.net/cgi-bin/statements/releases.pl?date=100818;refer=ndfev;lang=eng

[A Revolutionary Tool]

10th ID-AFP's B/Gen. del Rosario resuscitates failed 'Alsa' Lumad in Davao City; sows terror among Davao villagers anew

Ka Parago (http://www.philippinerevolution.net/cgi-bin/statements/stmts.pl?author=pbc1)
1st Pulang Bagani Company
Merardo Arce Command
Southern Mindanao Regional Operations Command
New People's Army
August 18, 2010

B/Gen. Eduardo del Rosario of the 10th Infantry Division-AFP resuscitates the failed 'Alsa' Lumad campaign in its proxy war against the revolutionary movement, plans to sow terror among indigenous peoples and non-Lumad settlers in Davao hinterlands, and is bent in arming the Lumads through his trusted henchman, 'Datu' Ruben Labawan. The AFP-backed 'pangayaw' (tribal vendetta) launched anew has already killed civilian Julius Tamondes, the first victim of this savagery as the city prepares for the annual Kadayawan festival.
At around 10 am, August 12, two farmers were strafed in Saladiyoy, Monteflor, Barangay Colosas, Paquibato District by assailants armed with Garand rifles. Farmers Angelino Gentorales and Julius Tamondes were about to gather their farm animals in preparation for evacuation to the village center. They feared for their safety after Labawan's group announced the impending "pangayaw." Tamondes was killed on the spot while Gentorales was able to elude the Task Force Gantangan Bagani goons. The 1003rd Brigade-AFP troops which del Rosario heads who were at the area conducting combat operations did not respond to the shooting incident.
The livelihood of the people in Paquibato is vastly affected as they were forced to evacuate to the district center. Children were not able to attend their classes. This scenario is no different from the past when the AFP-backed Alamara and lumad bandits declared 'pangayaw' and killed civilians in cold-blood.
* On June 16, 2005, mother and son Elena and Boboy Balansag were killed by Kumander Dante Lumuyod, Erning Lumuyod and Datu Isaac Laydan in Sitio Quarry, Barangay Malinawon in Malabog;
* On February 24, 2007, Datu Nonoy Dagsil, Datu Camid Lapindoy and Datu Mongkay Matunda hacked to death couple Felimon and Trencia Quirante in Sitio Banban, Barangay Lumiad;
* On April 2007, Datu Intoy Baguio and Datu Camid Lapindoy massacred the Gonzaga family in Sitio Sled, Barangay Dalagdag in Calinan.
Under a bogus tribal ceremony in early 2000s, del Rosario was baptised Datu Limbuttong (defender). He then declared that Paquibato would be NPA-free by the year 2005 using the 'Alsa' lumad psywar concept -- pitting lumad against lumad and non-Lumad settlers in the AFP's counter revolutionary war. The proxy war has not only failed to decimate the revolutionary movement, it has also exposed Labawan and his cohorts, as well as the military and del Rosario's devious scheme, earning the ire of peasant folks in Paquibato and in other Davao hinterlands and boundary areas in adjacent provinces.
Now, del Rosario is rehashing the failed Alsa Lumad, in a patent attempt to again quell people's resistance, in this case, in Davao hinterlands. Labawan's 'pangayaw' is part of the AFP's Task Force Gantangan which aims to contain the people in their communities, organize them into the so-called Integrated Tribal Defense Force also known as the Cafgu/Alamara, an anti-Communist vigilante group, and to organize them as part of the Oplan Bantay Laya's Barangay Defense System.
Gen. del Rosario supplies high-powered rifles, logistics, military equipment and food supply, among others, to the AFP's 'Bagani' warriors and lumad liquidation squad led by Datu Labawan and Datu Arthur Ali. The military provides arms to the lumads, and has enlisted and trained even lumad minors to be Cafgus in sitio Damilag, Barangay Mapula from May to July this year. Last April, the military has launched a psywar 'information and education' drive for 'Alsa' Lumad in the districts of Paquibato, Calinan, Marilog and Baguio. It dispersed its 168-armed lumads in the 12 patrol bases within the district of Paquibato.
'Pangayaw' has been the convenient pretext to legitimize fascist repression among the people in Paquibato, Davao City. Datu Limbuttong, a.k.a. B/Gen. del Rosario has employed corrupted Lumad tribal dealers in order to divide the Lumad people and the Visayan settlers. Labawan's concept of tribal justice as inspired by his mentor Datu Limbuttong is a mockery of the genuine tradition of the Lumads. Labawan and the AFP have merely institutionalized a corrupt and twisted form of commercialized transaction bordering on outright extortion in the name of big capitalist plunderers in our soils. The Alsa Lumad campaign, indeed, is bound to fail, as history has already exposed its grossly anti-people and anti-Lumad character.

http://www.philippinerevolution.net/cgi-bin/statements/stmts.pl?author=pbc1;date=100818;lang=eng

[A Revolutionary Tool]

Confiscated military documents reveal Confidential Agent Labawan and AFP collusion -- NPA

Rigoberto F. Sanchez (http://www.philippinerevolution.net/cgi-bin/statements/stmts.pl?author=mac)
Spokesperson
Merardo Arce Command
Southern Mindanao Regional Operational Command
New People's Army
August 19, 2010
Other versions: Bisaya (http://www.philippinerevolution.net/cgi-bin/statements/stmts.pl?date=100819;author=mac;lang=bis)

It is expected for Col. Domingo Tutaan, deputy commander of the 1003rd Brigade-AFP, to quickly deny that a 'pangayaw' is being waged by AFP henchman Ruben Labawan in Paquibato, Davao City. Col. Tutaan tries vainly to shield B/Gen. Eduardo del Rosario and mitigate the 1003rd Brigade-AFP's criminal complicity in the latest armed violence against civilians attributed to AFP brainchild Task Force Gantangan and 'Bagani' Forces.
"Datu" Ruben Labawan is del Rosario's and the AFP's stooge. Labawan's 'pangayaw' was launched at the behest of B/Gen. del Rosario and the 1003rd Brigade-10th Infantry Division-AFP. Documents seized by the 1st Pulang Bagani Company-NPA during a military action reveals the criminal conspiracy of the 1003rd Brigade-10th ID-AFP under B/Gen. del Rosario and notorious military agents masquerading as tribal leaders like "Datu" Ruben Labawan. The documents, among others, reveal the following:
1) acknowledgement receipts in different dates since late last year to early this year issued by the 1003rd Bde-AFP and signed by B/Gen. del Rosario showed Confidential Agent Ruben Labawan were issued Garand and M14 rifles, ammunitions, Cammenga military compass and Motorola GP-68 radios "to be used in rendering official duties" under the 1003rd Bde-AFP;
2) a liquidation squad is being covertly funded by the 1003rd Brigade-AFP. This Special Operations Group is composed of 14 Lumad thugs handpicked by Labawan, and are to be provided, among others, complete combat uniforms, firearms, cellphones and UHF radios;
3) Labawan and his band of Lumad thugs formed a 168-strong armed group dubbed Bahani Long Range Platoons (BLRP). This AFP paramilitary unit is divided into 12 platoons coming from 12 sitios and Barangays in Paquibato District, Davao City.
The so-called 'Alsa Lumad' as well as indigenous bandit groups calling themselves Bagani Force are AFP-concocted, and stage-managed by the 1003rd Bde-AFP under the so-called Task Force Gantangan, a nation-wide "counter-insurgency" blueprint aimed against revolutionary forces. Clearly, these paramilitary forces were created not to defend the rights of indigenous peoples but to serve the AFP counter-revolutionary objectives as cheap and expendable cannon fodder.
Labawan is a bogus tribal leader. He is more of a tribal dealer capitalizing on the poor lumads to cut deals with the reactionary government and agri-corporations than a legitimate representative of the Ata-Manobos. His aggressive recruitment of Lumads as CAFGUs is not about peace and development but more on escalating armed violence and militarizing Lumad communities. Labawan sits as chair of the AFP-created Supreme Tribal Council for Peace and Development, a group of ATADI-ALAMARA bandits who have cashed in on their acquisition of CADTs to allow agri-corporations to establish plantations in their so-called Lumad ancestral domains.
Labawan has established a menacing reputation among the Lumad community not by traditional authority bestowed on him by the Ata-Manobo tribe but by his close association with the military and his active participation in combat operations against the revolutionary mass base. Labawan is a confidential agent of the 1003rd Bde-AFP, and has undergone three-month basic Cafgu training under the 73rd IB-AFP in 2001 when B/Gen. del Rosario was still the battalion commander.
Labawan's mandate did not come from the Lumad community which he claims to represent. Instead, he takes orders from his immediate superior, Datu Limbuttong, who is none other than B/Gen. del Rosario. Labawan is actively involved in AFP strategic "counter-insurgency" planning. His most recent participation was the Final Coordinating Conference OPORD (operation order) 02-10 "PANATINGON" held at the 1003rd Bde-AFP headquarters in Sto. Tomas, Davao del Norte, this April.
As an armed enemy combatant extremely hostile to the revolutionary mass base, Labawan is a legitimate object of NPA tactical offensives, contrary to his claim that he is being targetted by the NPA because of his 'peaceful' campaign to expose the 'excesses' of the revolutionary movement and bring development to the Lumad community. The only crusades that pre-occupy him are his frenzied brokering of ancestral lands for banana plantation expansion, soliciting rice and tinapa to be used in 'Alsa Lumad' pulong-pulong and his fanatical drive to enlist other Lumads into the AFP war machinery as CAFGU recruits.
This latest 'pangayaw' launched by Labawan's armed group aims to intimidate civilians -- both the Lumad and settlers to give up their farmlands so that his ATADI group could offer it to agri-corporations. Operating under a distorted sense of ancestral domain rights promoted by the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP), Labawan flaunts his right to usurp lands tilled by non-Lumads as an extension of his ancestral rights.
In the 1003rd Bde-AFP's so-called information and education campaigns to incite the Lumads to rise up against the NPA in Paquibato communities, del Rosario has personally instructed his minions to exact 'pangayaw' whenever an ALAMARA member, an ATADI-affiliated bandit, CAFGU member or AFP soldier gets killed in NPA actions within the area. Labawan has likewise declared that whenever an 'Alsa' Lumad Bagani or Cafgu or AFP soldier gets killed, it will be the civilian community who will have to pay for damages in the form of farm animals and blood money. If the people should fail to comply they will be threatened with 'pangayaw.' This is their version of 'gantangan sa hustisya.'
Shortly after his brother, PFC Kimpio Labawan of the 103rd Division Reconnaissance Company-10th ID-AFP, who also served as his bodyguard, was killed after figuring in a shootout at an NPA mobile checkpoint last August 6, Ruben Labawan then demanded blood money and farm animals as damage payment from civilians. Failing that, he declared 'pangayaw' against civilians in Paquibato. This is the system of 'gantangan sa hustisya' of Datu Limbuttong and Ruben Labawan.
The guns issued by Datu Limbuttong and the 1003rd Bde-AFP to Labawan's Lumad Special Operations Group-Bagani Force and his CAFGU recruits are being used to kill civilians. Guns issued by the bogus 'Datu Limbuttong' to the equally bogus 'Datu Labawan' were the same guns used to shoot civilian Julius Tamondes in Colosas, Paquibato. The many heinous crimes and bloodletting that has victimized civilians and non-combatants perpetrated by the erstwhile Alamara, ATADI's precursor, and now by the Bagani Force of the Task Force Gantangan can ultimately be attributed to Datu Limbuttong. The general has resuscitated the counterrevolutionary concept of the 'Alsa' Lumad which became his stepping stone to a higher rank. He has pitted Lumads against Lumads and Lumads against non-Lumad settlers and, blood is in his hands.
The NPA vows to fight for the Lumads and the people's right to genuine solidarity. In due time, the divide and rule tactic which has been used by foreign conquerors since time immemorial will be totally exposed and repudiated by the people. This crude recycling of an obsolete strategy by B/Gen. del Rosario shall miserably fail as the NPA and the people's revolutionary organs of political power gain further strength and greater influence in the countryside.


http://www.philippinerevolution.net/cgi-bin/statements/stmts.pl?date=100819;author=mac;lang=eng

[A Revolutionary Tool]

PRESS RELEASE
Information Bureau
Communist Party of the Philippines

In defense of the people against Oplan Bantay Laya: NPA offensive in Catarman victorious, more to comeAugust 22, 2010

The Efren Martires Command of the New People's Army in Eastern Visayas hailed today the NPA's successful tactical offensive against the Philippine National Police within the provincial capital of Catarman, Northern Samar on the morning of August 21. "Initial reports state that the NPA punished village councilor Rolando de Guia for espionage in Brgy. Imelda, Catarman, about a kilometer from the town proper," said Ka Karlos Manuel, EMC spokesperson. "Expected enemy reinforcements were then ambushed by the people's army, who used command-detonated explosives (which are manually set off) to disable their vehicle. At least eight police elements were killed in action, including Sr. Insp. Nicasio San Antonio, Catarman deputy police chief. The NPA also confiscated at least seven pistols and four M16 rifles." Manuel belied the claims by Sr. Supt. Vicente Loot, PNP deputy regional director for operations, that the policemen were not on combat operations and that the NPA captured and then executed them. "Regular forces of the police and military are clearly legitimate targets for NPA tactical offensives. As can also be seen from the weapons taken from them, the policemen were heavily-armed and battle-ready and were accordingly killed in action. Moreover, the NPA always gives enemy combatants the chance to surrender if they could no longer fight. The NPA abides by international humanitarian law in respecting the rights of captured enemy combatants as well the hors d' combat. Wounded enemy personnel are also taken care of by NPA medics. The PNP seems to be covering up its embarrassment because the NPA could carry out a tactical offensive within the provincial capital and close to the town proper at that."
The NPA-EV said that the Catarman tactical offensive and more to come are the NPA's answer to the Aquino regime's extension of Oplan Bantay Laya. "The people are suffering from economic hardships, but the Aquino regime remains indifferent to the peace talks that should be discussing socio-economic reforms. Instead, the Aquino regime is extending Oplan Bantay Laya, which has been widely condemned for political killings and other attacks on innocent civilians. Thus the NPA is defending the people and delivering the message to the Aquino regime that Oplan Bantay Laya and any other plan of fascist state terrorism will be defeated. The NPA will be launching even more tactical offensives in fighting to strategically raise the level of the people's war in the next five years."

http://www.philippinerevolution.net/cgi-bin/statements/releases.pl?date=100822;refer=emc;lang=eng

[The Vegan Marxist]

Catarman NPA offensive aboveboard, Aquino government allegations pure hogwash
August 23, 2010

The Efren Martires Command of the New People's Army in Eastern Visayas today dismissed allegations by the Aquino government that the NPA committed rights violations in the August 21 Catarman tactical offensive. "We want to address the accusations by presidential peace adviser Teresita Deles and other Aquino government officials that the NPA used landmines, and summarily executed the government casualties as well as stole their personal belongings," said Ka Karlos Manuel, EMC spokesperson. "As clearly explained in our earlier statement, the NPA uses command-detonated explosives, which are manually set off against a defined target such as in the Catarman ambush and thus allowed in war. The NPA did not and has never used anti-personnel land mines which automatically explode when triggered by the victim, and is thus banned under international humanitarian law for causing needless casualties. Moreover, the policemen in the Catarman ambush were killed in action and not captured alive and summarily executed as alleged by the Aquino government.

"The NPA also does not stoop to looting such as widely practiced by government troops against impoverished peasants. As a matter of standard operating procedure, the NPA confiscates all materials at the scene of any military action for intelligence and inventory purposes. Whatever personal belongings inadvertently taken are returned whenever possible to the concerned families."

Manuel also pointed out the Aquino government is falsely shifting the blame to NPA offensives for allegedly "derailing" the peace talks. "It is the Aquino government which has been arrogantly posturing and warmongering regarding the peace talks. It has been trying to force ceasefire and surrender terms on the revolutionary movement since Aquino's July 26 state of the nation address. The Aquino government also exposes its insincerity to the peace talks in pursuing Oplan Bantay Laya, which has been widely condemned for political killings and other attacks on innocent civilians. The chief of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, Gen. Ricardo David, has declared that Oplan Bantay Laya will be extended until January 2011, when a new operational plan will still pursue the avowed aim of crushing the revolutionary movement.

"Thus the Aquino government has the gall to pretend to be aggrieved when it is now getting its comeuppance from NPA tactical offensives. But the NPA will step up its offensives to defend the people from Oplan Bantay Laya and other Aquino government "oplans" inspired by the US Counter-insurgency Guide. The NPA will become even stronger and accumulate more weapons in advancing the people's war against the Aquino government's Oplan Bantay Laya and other operational plans of fascist state terrorism."

http://www.philippinerevolution.net/cgi-bin/statements/releases.pl?date=100823;refer=emc;lang=eng

[The Vegan Marxist]

Successful NPA ambush in Samar, a legitimate act of war--CPP
August 23, 2010

The Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) today hailed the successful tactical offensive launched by the New People's Army in Catarman, Northern Samar last August 21 and at the same time assailed Presidential Peace Adviser Teresita Deles for saying that the Samar ambush "will make the way forward (to peace) more difficult."

The CPP replied that "the Aquino government should stop making excuses not to resume formal peace negotiations."

"The Samar ambush, as well as other tactical offensives of the New People's Army (NPA), have all been carried out with the objective of advancing the struggle for national liberation and social justice, especially in the interest of the oppressed masses," said the CPP. "All these are being conducted in accordance with international humanitarian law and war conventions."

"Secretary Deles' claim that the police unit was just doing law enforcement work is pure hogwash," said the CPP. "The ambushed police unit was dispatched to a revolutionary base, heavily armed and fully aware of the presence there of the NPA and with the primary objective of attacking the revolutionary forces," the CPP pointed out.

"The police unit, however, proved to be of no match to their target NPA forces with their revolutionary dedication, full support of the masses, advantage of guerrilla tactics and mastery of terrain," said the CPP. According to reports issued by the Efren Martirez Command of the New People's Army (NPA-EMC), its unit in Catarman was able to wipe out the attacking eight-man police unit.

The CPP dismissed claims by the military and police officials that the police personnel were shot one by one "execution style." "The police unit was immediately crippled with the use of a legitimate command-detonated explosive. The police personnel were called upon to surrender. However, as they insisted on firing their weapons against the NPA fighters, a close quarter battle ensued."

The NPA unit seized at least seven pistols and four M16 rifles. Reports that personal effects of the police were also taken by the NPA unit are being looked into. "If there were any taken for safekeeping, these items will be accounted for, secured and properly returned to the concerned families," added the CPP.

The CPP disputed claims by military and security officials of the Aquino regime that the use of command-detonated explosives is prohibited under international rules of war. "Their use is perfectly legitimate under the Geneva Conventions, that serves as the frame for international rules on warfare."

"The sterling military victory in Samar shows how the people's war that is raging throughout the country is vibrant, advancing in strides with more and more victories, and bound to win in the end," The CPP declared.

The revolutionary forces under the leadership of the CPP are presently pursuing a program to achieve, in five years, a leap of the people's war it is waging, from the present stage of strategic defensive to the strategic stalemate.

http://www.philippinerevolution.net/cgi-bin/statements/releases.pl?date=100823;refer=cpp;lang=eng

[The Vegan Marxist]

CPP scores "colossal stupidity and incompetence" in hostage incident
August 24, 2010

The Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) today expressed sympathy with the victims of yesterday's hostage-taking in Manila, and joined nationwide and international indignation at the "colossal stupidity and incompetence" of police and government officials in the handling of the incident that led to unnecessary bloodshed.

At least nine people were killed, including the hostage-taker, former police captain Reynaldo Mendoza. The eight others were Chinese nationals on a vacation tour in Manila. Reports that some of the hostages were killed or wounded by police fire during the assault are being looked into.

Mendoza commandeered the bus used for the tour early morning yesterday in a desperate attempt to draw attention to his demand to be reinstated in the Philippine National Police (PNP). He was dismissed from the police force in February 2009 after charges of extortion were filed against him. He claimed that due process was denied him in the case.

"Colossal police incompetence was highlighted in almost every aspect of the hostage crisis," pointed out the CPP.

"Government and police officials failed to draw out the hostage-taker through negotiations. Police actions, including the arrest of his brother and nephew later in the day, only drew the ire of the hostage-taker and made worse the situation," said the CPP. "The fumbled police assault resulted in unnecessary bloodshed."

"The Filipino people are dismayed at the monumental foul-ups and deplore the incompetence and stupidities of government and police in handling the hostage crisis."

http://www.philippinerevolution.net/cgi-bin/statements/releases.pl?date=100824;refer=cpp;lang=eng

[The Vegan Marxist]

A Statement on the Current Military Operations in FarSouth Mindanao: PERPETUATING A LEGACY OF STATE TERROR; FURTHER ENTRENCHING FEUDAL AND FOREIGN DOMINATION

Ka Efren
Spokesperson
NDF-Far South Mindanao
August 18, 2010

Gloria Arroyo may no longer be in Malacañang but the same policy of relentless state terror continue to hound the Filipino masses and especially those who dare to resist and defy the most abusive and exploitative foreign multinational companies operating in the Philippine countryside.

In FarSouth Mindanao where lies one of the biggest mining firms side by side with the vast Dole-Stanfilco plantations, a full brigade under the 10th Infantry Division – AFP is currently on operation. Specific targets are the gold-rich areas of Sultan Kudarat, South Cotabato, Davao del Sur and Sarangani Province particularly the towns of Kiblawan, Tampakan and Colombio which are the current mining sites of the multinational Xstrata-SMI. This military operation has been extremely harsh and merciless on the people especially on the poor peasant masses and the lumads living in the area.

Under the bloody banner of Oplan Bantay Laya (OBL) 2, troops of the 27th IB, the 39th IB and the 72nd Cadre Battalion have been plundering the countryside, intimidating and harassing the residents, imposing food blockades, and terrorizing civilians who are forced to leave their ancestral lands to escape the wrath of the military operation. This is very fine for the MNCs who want full control of the area.

Having miserably failed to stem the tide of opposition to the mines, the 39th IB has taken it out on the people by committing a long list of abuses and atrocities. Barrios in the peripheries of the mining areas such as those in Matanao town have been subjected to indiscriminate aerial bombardment, food blockade and harassment. In Sitio Datalfitak, Brgy Colonsabak, Matanao, Davao del Sur, many peasant homes were ransacked and dismantled because the residents were accused of being NPA supporters. A peasant leader was mauled and hit with a rifle butt.

The 27th IB, on the other hand has continued its rampage in the mining towns of Tampakan and Columbio, sowing intrigues and creating a climate of fear and mistrust among those who have consistently opposed large scale mining. In the B’laan community of Bong Mal, Sultan Kudarat, two camps of Task Force KITACO have been set up to ensure the continued operations of the gold mine. Recruitment of civilians into the paramilitary units such as the SCAA has also been intensified. If outright fascism is a mark of achievement for the reactionary AFP, full honor goes to the 1002nd Brigade of Col. Rainier Cruz. He may be awarded by his imperialist masters but his atrocities will never be forgotten by the people.

Simultaneous with the brigade operation, the 57th IB under the 6th ID – AFP has also conducted a military campaign in the plantation areas of Dole-Stanfilco in the towns of Makilala, Tulunan and Mlang, all in North Cotabato including the peace zone areas which former Pres. Corazon Aquino had previously imposed as part of the AFP’s base denial operations and total war policy. In a blatant display of arrogance and in total disregard for the basic rights of civilians, peace zone residents are systematically interrogated, intimidated and harassed by the AFP. As in the mining sites, the people have suffered the full brunt of the mercenary armed forces’ state terrorism– all for the sake of the uninterrupted operations of foreign multinational companies such as Dolefil.

Aquino III is so beholden to his imperialist master he has in fact ordered the extension of the most hated OBL 2, demanded the surrender of the revolutionary movement as a precondition for peace talks and, as in Hacienda Lusita, has had no qualms about perpetuating and strengthening the rule of the feudal oligarchy in Philippine society. Like his predecessors, Aquino III has allowed the multinational Dolefil to landgrab thousands of hectares of peasant lands. He has put on sale Philippine patrimony by giving full authority to the giant foreign mining companies to lord it over the gold and copper resources in Mindanao.

The Aquino III administration is grossly mistaken into thinking that brute military force and subservience to the imperialists will silence the people into submission. On the contrary, it shall fan the flames of the Filipino masses’ continuing resistance and revolution.

http://www.philippinerevolution.net/cgi-bin/statements/stmts.pl?author=ndffsm;date=100818;lang=eng

[The Vegan Marxist]

NDF-EV in solidarity with the Catholic Church against large-scale foreign mining in Region 8
August 26, 2010

The National Democratic Front-Eastern Visayas today said it is one with the Catholic Church in fighting large-scale foreign mining in Region 8. "We agree with the stand of the Palo Archdiocese that large-scale mining today will not benefit the people but only foreign capitalists, as well as seriously damage the environment,"said Fr. Santiago Salas, NDF-EV spokesperson. "Indeed, foreign mining seeks the quickest way to make profits from simple raw materials extraction and export, without contributing to our industrial development and without regard for safeguarding the environment. Thus, the Aquino government's fast-tracking of foreign mining projects in Samar and Leyte is immoral and unjust for betraying the people and the national patrimony, as well as being anti-development and anti-environment."

Fr. Salas added that the foreign mining issue also opens up other related issues of the people regarding genuine economic development. "An economic issue like foreign mining brings up the dire socio-economic conditions of the masses of the people who suffer from landlessness and joblessness. Meanwhile, the minority made up of the landlords, big business and big bureaucrats control and plunder the economy together with foreign monopoly capital. The Aquino government's push for large-scale foreign mining is therefore plain highway robbery in the interests of the few. On the other hand, any plan for national development should have agrarian reform and national industrialization to benefit the majority who are the peasants and workers. Genuine land reform will liberate the peasantry from poverty and contribute to the production of raw materials for industrial production. National industrialization will create jobs and manufacture the country's needs."

The NDF-EV spokesperson called for broad unity against large-scale foreign mining in the region. "The various sectors can unite and carry out mass actions and other activities in demanding a stop to foreign mining in the region and for the scrapping of the Mining Act which makes it possible. They must furthermore continue the struggle against the the Aquino regime's economic policies that are anti-people, anti-national and subordinate to imperialist globalization. They must assert genuine agrarian reform and national industrialization as essential for economic development. In the future, the struggle for economic emancipation and sovereignty will find fruition when the people's democratic government has been built to serve the interests of the majority."

http://www.philippinerevolution.net/cgi-bin/statements/releases.pl?date=100826;refer=ndfev;lang=eng

[The Vegan Marxist]

26th IB-AFP Punished for Violations of Human Rights in Agusan del Sur

Ka Aris Francisco
Alejandro Lanaja Command
Front 3 Operations Command
New Peoples Army-Southern Mindanao
August 26, 2010

The August 24 tactical offensive by the Alejandro Lanaja Command Guerilla Front 3 Operations Command-NPA in Barangay La Fortuna, Veruela, Agusan del Sur is a punitive action against the 26th Infantry Battalion-AFP for its abuses and violations of human rights.

The daring early dawn attack wiped out a team of the 26th IB-AFP with five killed and one wounded. One Minimi machine gun, two M16 rifles, about 1,800 rounds of ammunition and 10 M203 grenades were confiscated. No Red fighter was wounded.

In Veruela town alone, the 26th IB-AFP committed serious violations of human rights and international humanitarian law directed against civilians. After the February 24, 2010 harassment operations that resulted in the killing of a 26th IB-AFP lieutenant and four enlisted personnel, the 26th IB-AFP and other units of the 402nd Brigade-4th Infantry Division-AFP threatened entire peasant villages, mauled civilians on suspicions of being NPA members, ransacked houses and made illegal arrests and other abusive acts. And being an apologist of the AFP, the Commission on Human Rights-Caraga regional office did not lift even a finger to address these clear violations of the Comprehensive Agreement on Respect for Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law and the Geneva Convention.

Being armed combatants of the GRP and legitimate military targets, the NPA launched a tactical offensive to punish the enemy fascists. And yesterday, the 26th IB-AFP suffered new casualties as a column of their operating troops were surprised and hit by NPA gunfire. Two enlisted personnel and a Cafgu were wounded.

Political and military victories in the armed struggle and the revolutionary mass movement are accumulated as the people's war continues its forward march towards a strategic advance.

http://www.philippinerevolution.net/cgi-bin/statements/stmts.pl?author=alc;date=100826;lang=eng

[A Revolutionary Tool]

PRESS RELEASE
Information Bureau
Communist Party of the Philippines

Alleged "rebel returnees" are torture victims of the 34th IBAugust 28, 2010


The National Democratic Front-Eastern Visayas said today that the two alleged "rebel returnees" in the custody of the 34th Infantry Battalion are not members of the New People's Army but ordinary civilian peasants who were abducted, tortured and are being held under duress. "The brothers Cesar and Juanito Gabac were presented as "rebel returnees" by the 8th Infantry Division to the media and the local government of Paranas, Western Samar last Aug. 16," said Fr. Santiago Salas, NDF-EV spokesperson. "But reports reaching NDF-EV indicate the Gabac brothers were abducted along with their mother Lucia last July 25 by 34th IB troops in Brgy. Anagasi, Paranas. Furthermore, the guns they allegedly "surrendered" were in fact not in their possession but found elsewhere by the military after the NPA left these in temporary storage. The brothers are believed to have been tortured and forced to guide the soldiers during their military operations."
Fr. Salas also slammed the 34th IB led by Lt. Col. William Penafiel for making up the psywar story that the Gabac brothers were NPA members who were "tired" of the armed struggle and "surrendered" and "cooperated" with the government. "The military is resorting to hoodwinking the media and the public to obscure the failure of the Oplan Bantay Laya campaign. It is also clear from the case of the Gabac brothers that it is civilians who in the main continue to suffer from the government offensive. The brothers' rights were violated several times: they were abducted, tortured, forced to guide soldiers in dangerous military operations, and falsely presented as NPA members without the chance to defend themselves or the benefit of legal counsel. Meanwhile, like in other cases of fake "rebel returnees", the military will surely pocket the Paranas local government's P20,000 "cash incentive" for the brothers who are being held against their will."
The NDF-EV demanded the immediate release of the Gabac brothers and their mother, as well as justice and redress for their ordeal. "We are concerned for the safety and well-being of the Gabac family. There is the fresh torture scandal video by the police in Manila of a detainee, who remains missing and is feared to have been summarily executed. Thus the ordeal of the Gabac brothers shows they are vulnerable to the impunity of the military and police for gross human rights violations such as illegal detention, torture and summary executions. As Amnesty International and other human rights organizations have said, President Benigno Aquino III has failed to fulfill his campaign promise of human rights protection as well as to investigate political killings. The extension of Oplan Bantay Laya till January 2011 is thus bound to leave in its trail many more human rights violations. The people must stand up for their rights, demand justice for the victims, and press for the punishment of the perpetrators under Oplan Bantay Laya, including the previous Arroyo administration."

http://www.philippinerevolution.net/cgi-bin/statements/releases.pl?date=100828;refer=ndfev;lang=eng

[A Revolutionary Tool]

Letter to the Editor, PDI

Karlos Manuel (http://www.philippinerevolution.net/cgi-bin/statements/stmts.pl?author=emkm)
Spokesperson
Efren Martires Command
NPA-Eastern Visayas
August 29, 2010


Letty Jimenez-Magsanoc
Editor-in-Chief
Philippine Daily Inquirer
Dear Editor:
This is in reaction to the news article "A town mourns for its slain lawmen" in your August 28 web edition, regarding the August 21 tactical offensive of the New People's Army in Catarman, Northern Samar.
It is mentioned that the NPA remained silent about the accusation it committed coup de grace executions of the casualties from the Philippine National Police. Nothing could be farther from the truth. We bring your attention to the fact the revolutionary movement has issued four statements about the Catarman tactical offensive: specifically, from the NPA's Efren Martires Command, the Information Bureau of the Communist Party of the Philippines, and the Human Rights Committee of the National Democratic Front of the Philippines. All these firmly state the Catarman ambush was a legitimate act of war and that the PNP casualties were killed in action after refusing to surrender. Furthermore, the statements were emailed to the media, including the Inquirer. If the emails were somehow lost, the statements are still accessible at the websites of NDF-Eastern Visayas and the Communist Party of the Philippines.
Given the seriousness of the allegation, the news report should have been carefully researched and all sides considered. Yet the NPA's side was never quoted.
We hope the Inquirer isn't being casually dismissive of statements from the revolutionary movement. Otherwise, there could be unwanted consequences to the parties involved in the hostilities as well as the people. The Inquirer is widely read and generally trusted. Now, for example, if government forces are being told they would be executed when captured, needless casualties could ensue because they would choose death over surrender during an NPA offensive. That is precisely why the revolutionary movement takes pains to explain its side, such as affirming the lenient treatment of prisoners of war and the hors de combat.
Another point in the news article brought out the result when the people are misinformed. The residents of Brgy. Imelda where the Catarman offensive occurred became panic-stricken and started to flee a day later, due to false reports the NPA had planted landmines all over the area. Yet as the NPA has asserted time and again, including this one, it has never used the landmines banned under international humanitarian law, but command-detonated explosives permissible in war. As the Brgy. Imelda incident shows, if the media neglects to report the NPA's assurances, it would unwittingly be helping to sow disinfomation and fear among the people.
We all do not want that to happen, thus we challenge the Inquirer to be more circumspect and responsible, not prone to "unbalanced news, fearful views."[I am totally stealing that for next time I'm talking about FOX News. Epic.]

http://www.philippinerevolution.net/cgi-bin/statements/stmts.pl?author=emkm;date=100829;lang=eng

[The Vegan Marxist]

NDF-Mindanao scores AFP's latest publicity stunt
September 1, 2010

The National Democratic Front of the Philippines-Mindanao scores both the AFP's Eastern and Western Mindanao Commands gimmickry saying its "shedding off warrior image" and "war without bullets" mantra under the Aquino administration are nothing but among its latest publicity stunt in its vain attempt to win the hearts and minds of the people.

NDF- Mindanao made its lashing in the light of EastMinCom chief Lt. General Reymundo Ferrer's pronouncement during the Eastmincom's fourth anniversary last Monday that the AFP will focus on "peace-building" and "conflict resolution efforts". Lieutenant Gen. Ben Dolorfino, head of the Western Mindanao Command, likewise, said recently, that the AFP will wage a war "war without firing a shot" in dealing with the members of the New People's Army and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front.

Ka Oris, spokesperson of NDF-Mindanao, said that while the AFP's bigwigs mouth more than a handful of words, the extension of the Oplan Bantay Laya campaign itself proves otherwise the true calling of the AFP now under its new commander-in-chief, which is intensified offensive against the NPA and the MILF and more vicious attacks against progressive groups and individuals.

"OBL 1 and 2 already snuffed out the lives of more than a thousand individuals, what made them think that the extension will not be as murderous and as bloody than its original counterpart?," Ka Oris said.

Ka Oris said that both Ferrer and Dolorfino have acquired the style of their new commander-in-chief Aquino who continues to regale the public with his rhetoric but actually is sinister in his war policies.

"The AFP, like Aquino, says one thing but does another," Ka Oris said.

The NDF Mindanao said that the public should be wary that in less than 100 days in power, six activists and one journalist were killed under the Aquino administration.

The NDF-Mindanao pointed out further that in the island alone, incidents of human rights abuses continue to recur. Some of these included parading of minors as NPA child warriors by the 39th Infantry Battalion in Davao del Sur; the intensified recruitment of civilians into paramilitary units in Davao del Sur and the arming of Lumads through the Alsa Lumad campaign in Davao City; indiscriminate aerial bombing, food blockade and harassment such as those in Matanao town, Davao del Sur and massive military operations that lead to civilian evacuations, particularly in the towns of Surigao del Sur, and in Butuan City.

"Aquino's and the AFP's words are in stark contrast with what's happening in the different parts of Mindanao," Ka Oris quipped. "That the AFP will cooperate with investigating agencies to clear its image as human rights violators, Ferrer only deliberately admitted what its forces have been doing all along."

Ka Oris also lambasted Ferrer's words that the military will be "transparent" and "free of corruption". "True to its mercenary tradition, the AFP in actual, are acting as private guards evident in some foreign multinational mining firms in Compostela Valley Province, Davao del Norte, Sultan Kudarat, South Cotabato, Sarangani Provice and in big plantation areas such as of Dole- Stanfilco in North Cotabato and in the towns of Tago and Barobo in Surigao del Sur and in New Bataan and Maragusan in Compostela Valley Province.

Ka Oris said, "In the same manner, they acted quick in the execution of martial law in Maguindanao to exonerate the Ampatuans and clear the evidences that will persecute further the Ampatuans and their former commander-in-chief Arroyo.

"The people know too well to be deceived in what is another publicity stunt of the AFP's notorious command", Ka Oris ended.

http://www.philippinerevolution.net/cgi-bin/statements/releases.pl?date=100901;refer=ndfm;lang=eng

[The Vegan Marxist]

NPA launches tactical offensive in Bukidnon, 3 enemy forces killed
September 1, 2010

Red fighters of the New People's Army (NPA) under the Boyboy Roa Command launched a tactical offensive last August 26 against operating troops of the 4th ID Division Reconnaisance Company (DRC) in Sitio Gamit, Baranggay Sta. Filomena, Quezon, Bukidnon. The early morning tactical offensive resulted in three enemy forces killed, including an army corporal.

The tactical offensive was launched within the area of operations of Front 6 under the NPA's North Central Regional Command. From April to August this year, at least 24 AFP soldiers have been killed in several NPA-initiated tactical offensives and encounters.

http://www.philippinerevolution.net/cgi-bin/statements/releases.pl?date=100901a;refer=ndfncm;lang=eng

[The Vegan Marxist]

People's water system in Misamis Oriental destroyed by Army troops
September 1, 2010

The National Democratic Front-North Central Mindanao (NDF-NCM) today denounced the Philippine Army's 8th IB and the 4th ID's Division Reconnaisance Company (DRC) for the destruction of the local water system in Sitio Salahon, Barangay Alipuaton, Salay, Misamis Oriental last August 13.

According to Cesar Renerio, NDF-NCMR spokesperson, the people of Salahon are outraged at the destruction of the water system by the fascist troops of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP). The water system was built by the people on their own initiative after the local government consistently ignored the appeal of the residents. Sourced from a source two kilometers from their sitio, the people labored to bring water to their households using bamboo trunks as pipes.

The destruction of the water system has caused great difficulty and disruption in the lives of the people of Sitio Salahon. The people demand the Army to pay for the damages they have caused and the punishment of the responsible officers, Renerio added.

http://www.philippinerevolution.net/cgi-bin/statements/releases.pl?date=100901;refer=ndfncm;lang=eng

[scarletghoul]

http://bit.ly/mdb042

NPA trounces AFP operations in Davao Oriental; 18 fascist troops wiped out in back-to-back Red Army ambuscades

Roel Agustin II (http://www.philippinerevolution.net/cgi-bin/statements/stmts.pl?author=chc)
Conrado Heredia Command
Spokesman
Front 20 Operations Command
New People's Army-Southern Mindanao
August 30, 2010

Eighteen enemy soldiers were killed and more than 10 others were severely wounded following the back-to-back tactical offensives launched by the Red fighters of the Conrado Heredia Command-Front 20 Operations Command-New People's Army August 27 and 28 in Cateel and Boston towns in Davao Oriental. An AFP brigade-sized combat operation involving the 25th IB, 67th IB of the 1001st Brigade and a formation of the Scout Rangers Company were engaged by Red fighters in two separate ambushes resulting to enemy casualties amounting to an undersized platoon.

Last August 27, a platoon of the 25th IB-AFP that scoured the interior of Boston was squarely hit by Red fighters at 3 am in Barangay Sumilao. The dawn ambush felled 10 enemy soldiers and wounded many others. About 36 hours later, a composite formation of the 67th IB-AFP and the Scout Rangers Company that forayed deep into guerilla territory in Sto. Buko-Buko Abehod, Cateel took a fatal beating at around 3:10 pm, August 28. Confirmed killed were eight enemy soldiers and five others wounded after the 45-minute gunbattle.

The brigade-sized AFP operation's main aim is to clear the grounds for the unbridled economic plunder of big logging concessions and large-scale mining companies that span Cateel, Boston and the gold-rich Mt. Diwata range in Diwalwal, Monkayo. The mercenary AFP are the soldiers of big business plunderers out to destroy lives and the livelihood of the masses in the base areas. Unfortunately for them, the Red Army was fully prepared to meet their fascist incursions with tactical offensives.

Contrary to face-saving reports fed earlier by the AFP to the media, the Red Army safely withdrew from their positions with no casualty after the engagements. In the wake of the AFP battlefield losses, the fascists vented their ire on civilians. AFP soldiers illegally apprehended and detained seven civilians in Boston and two others in Cateel. Civilians were forcibly taken as guides while others were subjected to psychological torture and made to sign surrender papers as NPA members. They were only released three days later after families and residents took to the Tactical Command Post of the operating AFP troops at Barangay Sta Fe, Cateel.

The success of the back-to-back NPA tactical offensives is due to the popular mass support being enjoyed by the Red Army. The breadth and depth of the revolutionary mass base and the NPA's creative application of guerilla warfare forces the AFP to spread thin its combat troops into smaller, isolated formations making them vulnerable targets to annihilative and attritive actions by the Red Army.

As expected, the swivel-chaired bigwigs of the 10th ID-AFP in Camp Panacan, Davao City have commenced their all-too familiar media blitz of half-truths and outright lies. But none of their pathetic and rehashed stories can deny the reality of the steady advance of the people's democratic revolution as the enemy's fascist intrusions into guerilla territories serving big business plunderers are actively confronted by the armed and unarmed resistance of the people and its revolutionary army.

[The Vegan Marxist]

CHR insults the victims of Oplan Bantay Laya
September 1, 2010

The National Democratic Front-Eastern Visayas today expressed outrage at the Commission on Human Rights in Region 8 for calling for, among others, the intensification of Oplan Bantay Laya. "Shortly after the extension of Oplan Bantay Laya, Casiano Abing, a Bayan Muna member and court sheriff in Balangiga, Eastern Samar, was killed by suspected military elements on August 25," said Fr. Santiago Salas, NDF-EV spokesperson. "Abing is the sixth activist killed since the inauguration of the Aquino government, and the 121st activist killed in Eastern Visayas since 2001 when Oplan Bantay Laya began. The statements of CHR regional director Paquito Nacino are therefore extremely stupid, obnoxious and unbefitting that of a human rights official."

Fr. Salas also said the CHR regional director reflects the fascist views of his principals in the Aquino government. "Despite the findings of UN special rapporteur Philip Alston putting the blame for political killings squarely on Oplan Bantay Laya, justice remains elusive for the victims under the new government. Worse, Oplan Bantay Laya has been extended until January 2011 and may be replaced with a similar government campaign."

The NDF-EV spokesperson added the CHR has to prove it is still relevant to human rights advocacy, rather than an appendage of the Aquino government's "counterinsurgency" campaign. "The victims of Oplan Bantay Laya have long lost respect for the CHR and regard it as the "commission of human rights for the military and police only." Instead of attending to the 121 unsolved political killings in the region now, the CHR today is trying to pin baseless human rights violations on the New People's Army. Such allegations will get nowhere because the NPA is fighting a just and legitimate war, subscribes to international humanitarian law, and is led by a revolutionary government advancing the interests of the people.

"Conversely, we challenge the CHR: Is Oplan Bantay Laya just and legitimate in attacking noncombatants in more than 1,000 political killings and more than 200 forced disappearances? By pursuing Oplan Bantay Laya despite international criticism, is the Philippine government honoring its state obligations to international humanitarian law, much less protecting the people and enforcing its own laws against torture and summary killings?"

Fr. Salas concluded that, "The CHR's near uselessness and the rising fascism of the Aquino government compel the people to stand up and fight for their rights, demand the end of Oplan Bantay Laya and the punishment of its human rights violators, and struggle for genuine change."

http://www.philippinerevolution.net/cgi-bin/statements/releases.pl?date=100901;refer=ndfev;lang=eng

[The Vegan Marxist]

NPA trounces AFP operations in Davao Oriental; 18 fascist troops wiped out in back-to-back Red Army ambuscades

Roel Agustin II
Conrado Heredia Command
Spokesman
Front 20 Operations Command
New People's Army-Southern Mindanao
August 30, 2010

Eighteen enemy soldiers were killed and more than 10 others were severely wounded following the back-to-back tactical offensives launched by the Red fighters of the Conrado Heredia Command-Front 20 Operations Command-New People's Army August 27 and 28 in Cateel and Boston towns in Davao Oriental. An AFP brigade-sized combat operation involving the 25th IB, 67th IB of the 1001st Brigade and a formation of the Scout Rangers Company were engaged by Red fighters in two separate ambushes resulting to enemy casualties amounting to an undersized platoon.

Last August 27, a platoon of the 25th IB-AFP that scoured the interior of Boston was squarely hit by Red fighters at 3 am in Barangay Sumilao. The dawn ambush felled 10 enemy soldiers and wounded many others. About 36 hours later, a composite formation of the 67th IB-AFP and the Scout Rangers Company that forayed deep into guerilla territory in Sto. Buko-Buko Abehod, Cateel took a fatal beating at around 3:10 pm, August 28. Confirmed killed were eight enemy soldiers and five others wounded after the 45-minute gunbattle.

The brigade-sized AFP operation's main aim is to clear the grounds for the unbridled economic plunder of big logging concessions and large-scale mining companies that span Cateel, Boston and the gold-rich Mt. Diwata range in Diwalwal, Monkayo. The mercenary AFP are the soldiers of big business plunderers out to destroy lives and the livelihood of the masses in the base areas. Unfortunately for them, the Red Army was fully prepared to meet their fascist incursions with tactical offensives.

Contrary to face-saving reports fed earlier by the AFP to the media, the Red Army safely withdrew from their positions with no casualty after the engagements. In the wake of the AFP battlefield losses, the fascists vented their ire on civilians. AFP soldiers illegally apprehended and detained seven civilians in Boston and two others in Cateel. Civilians were forcibly taken as guides while others were subjected to psychological torture and made to sign surrender papers as NPA members. They were only released three days later after families and residents took to the Tactical Command Post of the operating AFP troops at Barangay Sta Fe, Cateel.

The success of the back-to-back NPA tactical offensives is due to the popular mass support being enjoyed by the Red Army. The breadth and depth of the revolutionary mass base and the NPA's creative application of guerilla warfare forces the AFP to spread thin its combat troops into smaller, isolated formations making them vulnerable targets to annihilative and attritive actions by the Red Army.

As expected, the swivel-chaired bigwigs of the 10th ID-AFP in Camp Panacan, Davao City have commenced their all-too familiar media blitz of half-truths and outright lies. But none of their pathetic and rehashed stories can deny the reality of the steady advance of the people's democratic revolution as the enemy's fascist intrusions into guerilla territories serving big business plunderers are actively confronted by the armed and unarmed resistance of the people and its revolutionary army.

http://www.philippinerevolution.net/cgi-bin/statements/stmts.pl?author=chc;date=100830;lang=eng

[scarletghoul]

Beat you to it :p

[The Vegan Marxist]

OBL EXTENSION EXPOSES AQUINO’S REAL “PEACE” PLAN; NDF-MINDANAO CALLS ON ALL REVOLUTIONARY FORCES TO FRUSTRATE OBL COMPLETELY

Jorge "Ka Oris" Madlos
NDF-Mindanao
August 31, 2010

The extension of the Arroyo regime’s brutal nine-year anti-insurgency campaign Oplan Bantay Laya exposes Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III’s real “peace” plan: to step up military offensives against the New People’s Army (NPA) and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) - daydreaming of inducing revolutionary forces to capitulate and to impose its demands on the peace talks consistent with the US Counter Insurgency (COIN) strategy.

AFP Chief of Staff Gen. Ricardo David Jr., in his declaration of a new counter-insurgency plan by Jan 1, 2011, bragged that the new strategy would focus on the respect for human rights, admitting in effect that nine years of OBL were replete with human rights violations. The declaration, however, is betrayed with the extension of OBL for 6 months, the same OBL that spawned the extrajudicial killings of more than a thousand ordinary civilians, peasants and worker leaders, activists, religious and journalists, and committed countless other human rights abuses, including the dislocation of the socio-economic well-being of the people in the countryside.

OBL supposedly ended last June, but Noynoy Aquino, being the new commander-in-chief who fantasizes of ending the people’s democratic revolution in three years, ordered the fascist AFP to deploy its troops all over the country and intensify the AFP military campaigns and operations against the NPA beyond the OBL June deadline. Since Mr. Aquino’s inauguration on June 30, these nationwide combat operations have been met, with intensified and widespread tactical offensives of the New People’s Army (NPA) in Mindanao and in other parts of the country.

In the Southern Mindanao Region, Red fighters have launched about 20 attritive and annihilative tactical offensives, highlighted by the daring August 24 punitive attack in Brgy. La Fortuna, Veruela, Agusan del Sur against the abusive 26th Infantry Battalion. In this incident an army lieutenant and four enlisted personnel were killed, and resulted in the confiscation of one K3 light machine gun, 2 M-16 rifles, and ammunitions. Also in August, the NPA ambushed the Deep Reconnaissance Company (DRC) and the hooligans of Bagani Force leader and military agent Ruben Labawan, where 2 elements of the DRC died. Two M-16 rifles were confiscated. Similar NPA tactical offensives in the region were also launched in the hinterland areas of Davao City, in the municipalities of Maragusan, New Bataan and Monkayo, all in the Compostela Valley Province, in Mati, Bagganga and Cateel towns in Davao Oriental, in New Corella in Davao del Norte, and in the hinterlands of Davao del Sur and North Cotabato.

Since Noynoy Aquino assumed office, the NPA in North Eastern Mindanao has launched 27 tactical offensives to defend revolutionary forces and the masses against intensified military offensive operations in almost all the municipalities of the four provinces of the Caraga region. On August 13 alone, two consecutive NPA ambushes were launched: one against a Scout Ranger Company in Purok 5, Brgy. Pianing in Butuan City, and another against the 30th IB in Lusong, Brgy. Puting Bato, Cabadbaran City, which resulted in the death of 4 and the wounding of 6 enemy troops. Then, on August 28 alone, 3 NPA teams initiated 3 punitive actions against the five columns of the combined forces of the 14th SRC, 75th IB and SWAG unit whose forced occupation of the adjoining communities of Palonpon and Boringon, Brgy. Mahaba, all of Marihatag, Surigao del Sur led to the evacuation of peasants in said communities. These resulted in the death of 5 as well as wounding 3 other army personnel. A woman comrade heroically offered her life in the course of these battles.

In the Far Southern Mindanao Region, Red Fighters have, in August alone, launched 3 military actions: on August 3, harassed troops from the 39th Infantry Battalion at Dungan Pekong, Matan-ao, Davao del Sur, and on August 8, operating troops from the 27th Infantry Battalion were ambushed at Datal Blao, Colombio, Sultan Kudarat; and, on August 4, the death penalty was meted out against a combat intelligence personnel of the AFP.

NPA tactical offensives have also been carried out against AFP mercenary forces, specifically operating units under the 4th Infantry Division in North Central Mindanao region and against the operating battalions of the 1st Tabak Division of the Western Mindanao Command.

Frustrated over their miserable defeats in Mindanao, fascist AFP troops lashed out instead against helpless civilians, committing numerous brazen human rights abuses such as threatening entire peasant and Lumad communities, strafing, mauling civilians suspected of being NPA members, illegal arrests and detention, enforced disappearances, looting of houses and other acts of shameless disregard for human rights and the International Humanitarian Law. Incessant indiscriminate aerial bombings and cannon fire have led to the evacuation of civilians. In NEMR alone, there have been six incidents of civilian evacuation, particularly in Zapanta and Ansili of Kitcharao town, Surigao del Norte, Lusong in Brgy. Puting Bato, Cabadbaran, Agusan del Norte, Palompon and Boringon in Brgy. Mahaba, Marihatag and Purok 3, 4, and 5, Brgy. San Isidro, Lianga, all in Surigao del Sur, and in Brgy. Pianing, Butuan City.

Clearly, military incidents in Mindanao have escalated as a direct consequence of OBL’s extension. Revolutionary forces only justly, and valiantly, fought back to defend the gains of the revolutionary movement, the masses and the revolutionary forces. Noynoy Aquino cannot play Pontius Pilate and excuse himself from culpability in the abuses and destruction wrought by the escalation of OBL’s bloodbath, because, as the new commander-in-chief of the reactionary state’s armed forces, it is he alone who can authorize these nationwide AFP massive offensives. Mr. Aquino is poised more for war than in creating the favorable atmosphere for just peace.

This is the first time in recent history for a new government to have deliberately opted to wage war nearly as soon as it was installed, denying the people of a more propitious condition for peace while deliberately stifling the countrysides with the stench of gunpowder. Previous regimes such as those of Gen. Ramos’s, Estrada’s, Noynoy’s mother Cory, and even of Arroyo’s, had some sense to allow military offensives to ebb in their first months in office, but not so in Noynoy Aquino’s case. He appears to be in a hurry to please his US imperialist masters, especially in laying the ground for the entry and the increase in profitability of mining companies and foreign-owned plantations such as Xtrata in South Cotabato and Dole Phils. in Surigao del Sur and Compostela Valley, and a host of other foreign monopoly capitalist investments.

Now that the OBL extension and the series of AFP combat operations have compelled the NPA to fight back in defense of its forces and the masses, Mr. Aquino should not whine about recent defeats and losses of the AFP particularly in Samar, Mindanao and in other parts of the country, where it lost numerous firearms to the NPA and cost the lives of scores of its troops.

With this, the National Democratic Front of the Philippines in Mindanao (NDF-Mindanao) fears that peace talks are once again in danger of being derailed because of OBL’s extension, which has already led to the escalation of a new cycle of fascist attacks that may even surpass the Arroyo regime’s bloody campaign.

We call on the Filipino people to demand for the Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP) to pursue the peace process and, if it is at all sincere, remove all obstructions that hinder its fruition.

We call on all the revolutionary forces to expose and oppose the deceptive scheme of the new regime! We call on all the units of the New People’s Army to intensify tactical offensives against legitimate military targets, defend the revolutionary forces and the Filipino masses, and completely frustrate the daydreaming of the US-backed Aquino regime to crush the revolutionary movement in three years.

http://theprwcblogs.blogspot.com/2010/09/obl-extension-exposes-aquinos-real.html

[The Vegan Marxist]

Beat you to it :p

hahahaha :laugh:

WTF??!! I had to read all these before bringing them here! lol

[The Vegan Marxist]

Letter to Mountain Province Provincial Peace and Order Council

Simon "Ka Filiw" Naogsan
Spokesperson
Cordillera Peoples' Democratic Front
September 1, 2010
Gov. Leonard Mayaen
Chairman, Provincial Peace and Order Council
Mountain Province

S i r:

Warm greetings!

I have not received any formal invitation from the Mountain Province Provincial Peace and Order Council to attend your next meeting. I think that I need not wait for it. I understand that where to address the invitation would be a practical dilemma for you. However, allow me to respond to what I have read in the local weeklies. I am sending this reply through available channels that can reach you.

I am pleased to be invited in the next PPOC meeting, even if the invitation is least expected. I am amused that the suggestion to invite me came from former Gov. Jaime K. Gomez, father of BGen. Rommel A. Gomez, commanding general of the 5th ID. It amuses me more to think how on earth would I stand there amidst military hawks with no interest for serious peace talks according to The Hague Joint Declarations and whose primary purpose is to co-opt and reduce the revolutionary forces to irrelevance? On a personal note, I recall that it was former Gov. Gomez who encouraged me to enter government service right after college, and acted as a good mentor during my frustrating stint in the reactionary government.

The former governor and the rest of the members of the PPOC may have the best of intentions to seek a respite from armed conflict and pursue an earnest quest for a just and lasting peace that we all want. However, it is sad to note that this intention may not be heeded by the GRP and AFP as they are hell-bent to utilize elders and local leaders as pawns in counterinsurgency program. This is very clear from their espousal of their so-called Convergence Approach, a variant of the failed "Oplan Bantay Laya" counter-insurgency plan.

We all want peace. Not just the empty rhetoric, but genuine and lasting peace based on justice. I believe the revolutionary movement alongside the oppressed majority of the Filipino people are open for a political settlement of the armed conflict, that is why since the fall of the Marcos dictatorship the National Democratic Front (NDFP) has been holding peace talks with the Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP).

There have been zealous attempts by militarists in the GRP to derail the peace process. But it is worthy to note that both negotiating panels have arrived at agreements that include The Hague Joint Declarations which defines the principles, framework and sequence of the peace agenda; the Joint Agreement for Security and Immunity Guarantees (JASIG); and the Comprehensive Agreement on Respect for Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law (CARHRIHL). Sadly, the past administration chose to disrupt the peace process by lobbying the United States and the European Union to include the NPA and NDFP Chief Political Consultant Prof. Jose Maria Sison in the list of international terrorist organizations. Suffice it to say that a recent ruling by the European Union Supreme Court cleared the NDFP and Prof. Sison and declared the accusations against them baseless.

The NDFP has informed the new Aquino administration that it is ready to resume peace talks based on The Hague Joint Declaration and other previous binding agreements. Until now, the Aquino administration has made no decision regarding the peace talks.

Under these circumstances, I would prefer to solicit your support for the resumption of the peace talks at the national level. The local peace talks being pushed by the AFP is an old divide and rule tactic intended to give them time to consolidate their offensives and rest their troops. The crucial and broad issues of socio-economic and political reforms to address the root cause of the armed conflict is best discussed at a national level where comprehensive policies are made.

The GRP and the AFP have called for the surrender of arms and the cessation of hostilities as preconditions for the resumption of peace talks. This is unreasonable. Even tribal elders involved in the settlement of tribal conflicts do not demand the surrender of arms before the start of a peace pact.

Every peace pact holder knows that the involvement of a third party is crucial to the success of the pagta. Historically, peace pacts were resolved in neutral territories that encouraged the building of mutual trust and respect. This is also true to the current national peace talks. Third parties have helped a lot in achieving substantial results, and neutral venues for the talks ensured the security of both negotiating panels.

My appearance before the PPOC at this time will be premature and out of place. For one, the PPOC is not a neutral body, it is afterall a creation of the GRP for its counter-insurgency program and cannot provide neutrality and security. I believe that when formal peace talks resume between the NDFP and the GRP, a credible body can be created to provide a venue for information dissemination and public opinion. I am willing to appear in any forum where we can openly discuss and exchange ideas once the GRP stands by its commitment to honor the JASIG. The JASIG, being a formal binding agreement between the GRP and the NDFP, is a relatively better guarantee than a "safe conduct pass" to be issued by the 5th ID.

To end, we iterate our desire for peace. But the cessation of hostilities can only come about if there is an end to the exploitation and oppression of the basic masses. It is sad to note that the AFP's call for peace talks is cloaked with deceit, and by their ongoing massive militarization of the Cordillera, they negotiate with a gun held ready under the table.

We look forward to further fruitful dialogue and exchange with you and your office. Salamat! Matagu-tago taku am-in!

Simon "Ka Filiw" Naogsan
Spokesperson,
Cordillera People's Democratic Front

CC: Atty. Jaime K. Gomez
Ex-Governor, Mt. Province

http://www.philippinerevolution.net/cgi-bin/statements/stmts.pl?author=cpdf;date=100901;lang=eng

[The Vegan Marxist]

Another great look at how the Filipino State is resorting to erroneous statements & outright lies in order to try & demonize the militant wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP), the NPA.

AFP psywar resorting to spinning outright lies against NPA--CPP
September 2, 2010

The Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) today denounced the psywar machinery of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) for feeding the media with lies against the New People's Army (NPA) the past several days.

The CPP cited three lies that the AFP's psywar production groups have successively churned out in the past several days:

LIE: That the ambushed personnel of the Philippine National Police (PNP) were executed one by one by the Red fighters in the tactical offensive launched by the NPA in Barangay Imelda, Catarman, Northern Samar last August 21. TRUTH: The PNP personnel were fully armed combatants deployed to engage the NPA in combat, refused to surrender after being pinned down by the Red fighters and were annihilated in an ensuing close quarter battle.

LIE: That, the NPA scattered pressure-triggered land mines all over the same barangay in Catarman, causing undue fear and panic among the residents, some of whom fled the area. TRUTH: The NPA does not use pressure-triggered land mines that are dangerous even to innocent civilians. Against specific enemy military targets and limited to specific areas of battle, the NPA uses only command-detonated land mines allowed under the Geneva protocols on international rules of warfare. It used command-detonated landmines and only in the particular ambush area to battle the attacking PNP forces.

LIE: That the NPA was responsible for the ambush and killing of five civilians in Sitio Landing, Barangay Bolod, San Pascual, Masbate last August 28. TRUTH: The NPA had nothing to do with the incident. From its initial investigations, the Masbate NPA's Jose Rapsing Command found out that the dastardly act was carried out by rival politicos.

"The psywar tactics of the AFP are obviously meant to downplay the resounding victories of the NPA in its recent tactical offensives," said the CPP. "The AFP wants to portray the NPA as a criminal gang in order to obscure its revolutionary cause, respect for human rights and strict adherence to international rules of warfare."

The CPP urged the mass media to be more critical of the statements being issued by the AFP. "Especially in the face of the AFP's outright distortions of the truth, the mass media will do a great service to the people if they carry out independent verification of statements issued by the mouthpieces of the AFP."

http://www.philippinerevolution.net/cgi-bin/statements/releases.pl?date=100902;refer=cpp;lang=eng

[The Vegan Marxist]

Additional clarifications on the Aug. 21 Catarman tactical offensive

Ka Amado Pesante
Spokesperson
Rodante Urtal Command
NPA-Northern Samar
September 3, 2010

This is the official statement of the Rodante Urtal Command, New People's Army-Northern Samar, regarding its Aug. 21 tactical offensive in Brgy. Imelda, Catarman.

We successfully carried out the tactical offensive that targeted first T/Sgt. Rolando de Guia, an active military element of the 63rd Infantry Battalion, and second, the reinforcements sent by the Philippine National Police-Catarman.

T/Sgt. Rolando de Guia took on the cover of a civilian as a village councilor of Brgy. Imelda. But he was in reality a military intelligence handler on active duty under the 63rd IB. It was confirmed by the NPA that De Guia handled intelligence agents and barangay intelligence networks in Catarman. Before transferring to the 63rd IB, De Guia used to be with the 19th IB from the 1980s to the 1990s, where he gained notoriety as a brutal trainor-instructor of the paramilitary CAFGU. De Guia therefore was a legitimate target as an active enemy soldier, and was furthermore sentenced to death by the people's court for espionage.

The NPA also ambushed the enemy reinforcements sent by the PNP-Catarman, which was anticipated and thus also proved De Guia's significance was known to the PNP, hence their attempt to secure him. After their vehicle was disabled by command-detonated explosives, the eight PNP elements were all killed in action. Allegations they were summarily executed are all false. The NPA primarily aims to seize weapons from enemy forces, not physically eliminate them for the sake of some body counting record as is the standard practice of the military and police. Enemy forces who surrender or are no longer able to fight are treated well, in accordance with NPA Point for Attention No. 8 ("Do not maltreat captives") and the laws of war.

Seized from the PNP casualties were five M16 rifles, three pistols, a hand-held radio, and other equipment. A .45-caliber pistol was also confiscated from T/Sgt. Rolando de Guia. Because the RUC forces are still on maneuvers to counter enemy pursuit operations, other materials deemed to be personal belongings cannot be returned at the moment but will be later.

The aforementioned facts show the Aug. 21 Catarman offensive was legitimate in all respects. The RUC believes the military and police are hurling fabrications of abuses against the NPA to cover up their losses, and to justify their continuing rights violations under the extended Oplan Bantay Laya. We are concerned government forces may retaliate through political killings and other attacks on innocent civilians in violation of international humanitarian law. We have heard and condemn the fact that Casiano Abing, a court sheriff and Bayan Muna member in Eastern Samar, was murdered by suspected military elements four days after the Catarman tactical offensive.

Lastly, we reject the accusations by the military, police and reactionary local politicians that NPA offensives imperil the peace talks between the Philippine government and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines. We believe such statements are arrogant, self-serving and dodging the issue of a just and lasting peace. On the other hand, never did the NPA in Northern Samar demand a stop to peace talks. Even though our own beloved Red commanders and fighters have also been killed in the course of the war. Even though there is far more compelling reason for us to slam the door on peace talks, because of the decade-long political killings and other rights violations under Oplan Bantay Laya in Northern Samar.

Why? Because the NPA in Northern Samar considers the peace talks to be far more important for the general good than its own losses and objections. We are willing to give chance to a venue that will air the people's grievances and strives to benefit the many. Unlike the military, police and reactionary politicians in Northern Samar who jump at any excuse to claim NPA offensives are "obstacles" to peace talks. The offensives of the NPA have nothing to do with the resumption or not of the peace talks. If the Aquino government is serious about the peace talks, it should face the NDFP which has long been prepared.

http://www.philippinerevolution.net/cgi-bin/statements/stmts.pl?author=ruc;date=100903;lang=eng

[The Vegan Marxist]

CPP denounces docking of US navy nuclear warship in Manila
September 3, 2010

The Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) today assailed the docking of the US nuclear-powered USS George Washington at the Manila Bay tomorrow as "a grave insult and affront on Philippine sovereignty." This signals intensified US military intervention in local counter-insurgency operations and emphasizes the use of the country as a base for the asserting of US might in the region, said the CPP.

The USS George Washington had earlier docked in Manila just over three weeks ago, ostensibly for a goodwill visit. It has a 6,000-strong force and is part of the US Navy's 7th Fleet based in Japan. The CPP anticipates the docking of more US warships in the Philippines as was discussed by US State Department officials and Philippine President Benigno Aquino last June.

The CPP said US military advisers are to "feel out the new security and defense officials of the Aquino regime, consult and advise the Philippine government on the conduct and progress of its 'counter-insurgency' operations. The US advisers are focused on helping design the next internal security operational plan of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) under the new puppet regime to succeed the Oplan Bantay Laya (OBL) that has been extended from its original deadline last June, pending the issance of a new plan by the start of 2011."

"US military officials are also in the Philippines to get assurances from the new puppet government that it will not cause the abrogation of the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA)," said the CPP, pointing out that the Filipino people demand the junking of the VFA and all other unequal military treaties between the US and Philippines. Long-standing calls from several quarters, including a few senators, seeking the review or outright repudiation of the VFA have been reiterated recently.

"The docking of nuclear-powered and -capable US warships also violates a provision of the reactionary constitution," the CPP said further.

"Behind all their 'goodwill visits' and participation in 'socio-civic activities,' US forces are insiduously carrying out military intervention, including satellite and electronic surveillance against the revolutionary forces, advising and participating in counter-guerrilla operations in the field, provision of military war materiél and training of puppet military forces," The CPP added.

The CPP called on patriotic and freedom-loving Filipino people to take the Aquino regime to task for allowing US interventionism in the Philippines.

http://www.philippinerevolution.net/cgi-bin/statements/releases.pl?date=100903;refer=cpp;lang=eng

[The Vegan Marxist]

1st PBC-NPA punishes 'combat-heavy' 1003rd Brigade-10th ID-AFP troops in Paquibato, Davao City

Ka Parago
1st Pulang Bagani Company
Merardo Arce Command
Southern Mindanao Regional Operations Command
New People's Army
September 3, 2010

The 1st Pulang Bagani Company-New People's Army launched a series of attritive actions against operating troops of the 1003rd Brigade-10th Infantry Division-AFP in Paquibato District, Davao City. These NPA harassment operations are punitive actions for the destruction and grave abuse of authority the enemy has inflicted on the people's lives and livelihood.

On August 31, a demolition team of the 1st PBC-NPA detonated a command-detonated explosive against 69th IB-AFP troops under Lt. Ryan Belis in sitio Nursery, Malabog. The following day, another 1st PBC-NPA demolition team harassed a column of the 1003rd Brigade-AFP composed of 60th IB-AFP troops and Bahani Long Range Platoon-Alamara members in Sitio Quiambao, Lower Mapula. Initial reports reveal that the fascist troops sustained several casualties. Right after the Sept. 1 harassment operation, two enemy helicopter gunships launched indiscriminate air strikes while another two medevac choppers retrieved the dead and wounded. At around 9 pm, the enemies who were killed-in-action were brought to the Villa Funeral Parlor in Crossing Gamao, Panabo City by two 6x6 AFP trucks.

Paquibato is under intense AFP combat operations for two months now contrary to B/Gen. Eduardo del Rosario's psywar claims to the public (and to appease Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte) that the 1003rd-AFP has ceased to be combat-heavy. On top of the troop imports from Luzon -- the 84th IB-AFP and the 69th IB-AFP operating in the Davao City hinterlands, Del Rosario has brought in troops under the 60th IB-AFP in Paquibato along with the vigilante Alamara from the nearby Talaingod, Davao del Norte. In his desperate bid to resuscitate the failed 'Alsa' Lumad strategy in its proxy war, Del Rosario organized, armed and financed anew vigilante Alamara/Bahani Long Range Platoon to pit Lumads against Lumads and settlers in Paquibato and Davao areas, and establish AFP liquidation squads among the ranks of the vigilante Lumad armed groups.

10th ID-AFP spokesperson Lt. Col. Medel Aguilar's claim that the people in Paquibato wants AFP presence in the area is an old worn-out psywar tactic meant to sweep under the rug AFP violations to international humanitarian law. In Paquibato, the AFP has enlisted Lumad minors to AFP paramilitary/vigilante groups, residents as intelligence assets through the so-called Barangay Defense System and as their convenient shields from NPA attacks. The AFP is engaged in systematic distortion of lumad tradition in exacting justice for the AFP's counter-revolutionary ends.

Lt. Col. Aguilar's claim that anxious residents tipped them of the NPA presence in Paquibato areas is absurd. The public could easily discern the fake claims of Lt. Col. Aguilar. For one, the fascist AFP troops are deaf and blind when they are in guerilla territories, and do not know when and where they would be hit with tactical offensives launched by the people's army. Since July, the 1st PBC-NPA has successfully launched at least seven tactical offensives versus the abusive AFP troops in Paquibato, Davao City. But it is enough to say that Lt. Col. Aguilar cannot give any plausible reason how a vastly outnumbered guerilla force can outlast and inflict damage to a heavily-numbered and superior AFP force yet much hated enemy of the people.

http://www.philippinerevolution.net/cgi-bin/statements/stmts.pl?author=pbc1;date=100903;lang=eng

[The Vegan Marxist]

Pathetic excuses, denials of 67th IB-AFP's Capt. Mai only underscore defeat of AFP troops in NPA's back-to-back ambush in Davao Oriental

Roel Agustin II
Conrado Heredia Command
Spokesman
Front 20 Operations Command
New People's Army-Southern Mindanao
September 3, 2010

Capt. Esnani Mai, spokesperson of the 67th IB-AFP yesterday had only denials and excuses, and preposterous claims, regarding the recent back-to-back ambushes launched successfully by the Conrado Heredia Command-NPA last August 27 and 28 in Boston and Cateel towns in Davao Oriental. The annihilative NPA tactical offensives hit two columns of a brigade-sized combat operation involving the 67th IB, 25th IB and Scout Rangers Company of the AFP.

It should make Capt. Mai's superiors wonder how his explanation of an "engagement" fit with the fact that the Red Army was still able to muster its troops for an ambush in a favorable terrain and mount command-detonated explosives during both ambuscades. Capt. Mai must be in a fix at the moment in trying to explain to the wives and families of their casualties how he can put on a show to the media and claim their troops sustained only one fatality. Such is the laughable audacity of the AFP; in order not to lose face in public opinion, they would rather deny their foot soldiers. It is your rank-and-file and not the victorious Red fighters, Capt. Mai, who are coming to terms with the endemic rottenness of your organization, and realize their worthless job.

Equally disturbing is Capt. Mai's haughty insistence that his troops were able to apprehend "many NPA members" who were later released because "they had no firearms with them." What myopic thinking does Capt. Mai have to insist that the seven civilians in Boston were members of the NPA when all they had were bolos and farm tools when AFP troops took them from their farms and used them as guides and human shields? What fantastic logic did his troops employ when they dragged a farmer and a driver from their homes in Cateel, charge them as NPA members and have them sign surrender papers?

The masses are witness to two facts the AFP desperately tries to smokescreen: one, that the 18 bodies they saw being carted away are proof of the AFP troops' casualties; and two, that the farmers whom the fascist enemy took and branded as NPA members were in fact civilians like them.

The lies of Capt. Mai cannot even deny the real intent of their clearing operation. The brigade-sized combat operation was clearly meant to prepare the grounds for unmitigated logging activities and the entry of large-scale mining and agri-plantations being actively promoted by the provincial governments of Davao Oriental and Compostela Valley. It is not merely a pursuit operation as the AFP troops were already poised to strike in Boston, Cateel and Monkayo long before the tactical offensives were launched by the Red Army. Capt. Mai's "open offensive attack" is a sugar-coated euphemism for the exploitative Investment Defense Force.

Behind the rehearsed lines and lame excuses of Capt. Mai is the mounting apprehension of the AFP troops as they are confronted with the growing strength and extent of guerilla warfare, especially in the region. The 10th ID-AFP can no longer shrug off their mounting battlefield defeats as the body and head blows delivered by the Red Army against its fascist troops are now coming in torrents. This development is something they are well-advised to prepare for as the people's war march towards nationwide victory.

http://www.philippinerevolution.net/cgi-bin/statements/stmts.pl?author=chc;date=100903;lang=eng

[A Revolutionary Tool]

Scripted denial of rights violations by 34th IB linked to intensifying Oplan Bantay Laya (http://theprwcblogs.blogspot.com/2010/09/scripted-denial-of-rights-violations-by.html)

Fr. Santiago "Sanny" Salas
NDF - Eastern Visayas
September 6, 2010

The National Democratic Front-Eastern Visayas today assailed the 34th
Infantry Battalion for denying its violation of the rights of Cesar
and Juanito Gabac, who are being illegally detained and misrepresented
as "rebel returnees". "The 34th IB made one of the Gabac brothers
speak publicly on radio last Sept. 5 to disclaim any human rights
violation," said Fr. Santiago Salas, NDF-EV spokesperson. "But this
was surrounded by dubious circumstances: under military guard, in the
intimidating presence of battalion commander Lt. Col. William
Penafiel, and in a blocktime radio program paid for by the 8th
Infantry Division and handled by hacks under military spokesperson Lt.
Col. Armand Rico. Such a scripted psywar gimmick does not adequately
resolve the question of human rights violations, and invites further
scrutiny into the military's attempts to manipulate the media and the
public."

Fr. Salas reiterated the Gabac brothers are not members of the New
People's Army. "They are not in the NPA's roster of Red fighters. If
they had been, the NDF-EV would have otherwise still demanded respect
for their rights but as prisoners of war, not as the civilians we know
them to be. As it is, the military is violating the Comprehensive
Agreement on Respect for Human Rights and International Humanitarian
Law signed by the Philippine government and the NDFP. The CARHRIHL
upholds the rights of civilians as well as those involved in the armed
conflict. Even the laws of the reactionary state nominally forbid
torture and illegal detention. But the 34th IB insists on
misrepresenting the Gabac brothers as Red fighters. The military wants
to justify their continued illegal detention, where they are being
forced to guide dangerous military operations, and are also used in
psywar gimmicks such as in the corruption-ridden Social Integration
Program, a cash cow of its military and civilian implementors."

The NDF-EV spokesperson concluded the military's scripted denial of
the Gabac brothers' rights is connected with intensifying Oplan Bantay
Laya and thus a challenge to the media and the people. "The military
is escalating psywar to dress up the dismally unsuccessful and forced
to extend Oplan Bantay Laya, as well as brazen out its continuing
human rights violations. We believe the 8th ID's broadcast about the
Gabac brothers to be clearly unethical and unjust, when they are still
under custody and unable to speak out of their own free will. Yet in
using a respectable radio station to justify the violations of the
Gabac brothers' rights, the 8th ID also wants to drag the media
community of Eastern Visayas down to its level of psywar manipulation
of the people. Impunity is in the air because the military is trying
not just to get away with, but to continue, a decade of human rights
violations with a new lease on life under the Aquino regime. Thus the
media and the people have to confront this impunity, demand
acccountability, and assert justice for the Gabac brothers and other
victims of human rights violations under Oplan Bantay Laya."

http://theprwcblogs.blogspot.com/2010/09/scripted-denial-of-rights-violations-by.html

[The Vegan Marxist]

I couldn't get every word translated right, so I did what I could. Salutes to our fellow deceased comrade!

Height-kamaong salute Ka Roda

Communist Party of the Philippines
September 6, 2010

Giving tribute to all members of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) and Philippine revolutionary movement Comrade Medardo Roda (Roda Ka) who passed away yesterday, September 5, due to a heart attack. Ipinaaabot the CPP its sincere condolences to the relatives, friends and fellow Ka Roda. We are sympathetic to your affliction.

Ka Roda is habampanahon to remember his contribution was vital in the struggle of drivers, workers and malamanggagawa and promoting national-democratic movement of our nation.

Ka Roda was born October 27, 1934 in Libmanan, Camarines Sur. He came from the peasant class. Castaway Manila where he continued his studies. Work as he was a cab driver and later as a driver of a jeep to Cubao-V.Luna routes.

Ka Roda became head of their local association of the driver. He led the struggle of the driver and immediately tumampok his name. Soon, he was elected as one of the vice-president of the piston (the Association of Unity of Drivers and Operators Nationwide) founded it in 1981. After a few months, Ka Roda elected as president of the piston.

Because he led the protest actions in the streets, arrested and detained Ka Roda of US-Marcos dictatorship in 1983, along with other leaders masses. Pagkalaya him, he continued in front of the massive strike by drivers and masses. He led the protest actions against increasing oil prices. He was imprisoned again in 1988 and 1990 under the US-Aquino regime.

Loved Ka Roda of his fellow drivers, the working masses and our nation wide. Fancied his simple way of explaining complex issues, including his pagtatalumpating unaccompanied by singing a love song on the jeep in protest actions. His commitment and fight gave inspiration to thousands who cross the path of national-democratic struggle.

Long live the memory of Ka Roda!

Long live the democratic movement of the driver!

Mabuhayang working class, the toiling masses and our nation!

Advance the democratic revolution of the people!

http://www.philippinerevolution.net/cgi-bin/statements/stmts.pl?author=cpp;date=100906;lang=pil

[The Vegan Marxist]

NPA slams 26th IB-AFP's doublespeak; condemns AFP practice of using civilians as shields

Ka Aris Francisco
Alejandro Lanaja Command
Front 3 Operations Command
New Peoples Army-Southern Mindanao
September 6, 2010

The NPA's Alejandro Lanaja Command-Front 3 Operations Command issues this statement to clarify another half-truth the AFP has fed to the media regarding a civilian who was wounded in an encounter between the joint forces of the 26th IB-AFP/Division Reconnaissance Company and the Front 3 Operations Command-NPA, August 25 at the boundary of Barangay Zion, Sta. Josefa town and Barangay Sampaguita, Veruela town in Agusan del Sur.

The NPA investigation conducted showed that the wounded civilian Zosimo Tapia, a resident of Sitio Tugpan, Barangay Sampaguita, Veruela, was used as 'guide' along with another civilian, Boy Devosura in the AFP combat-raid operation. The 26th IB-AFP used the two civilians as expendable pawns in its attempt to raid NPA fighters; putting them in the line of fire as pointmen in the August 25 AFP combat-raid operation against the NPA. The AFP raiding column was repulsed by the Red fighters. Two enlisted personnel and a Cafgu were wounded-in-action in that engagement.

The AFP has deliberately put civilians like Tapia and Devosura in harm's way especially in combat operations. The AFP should be made to account for what befell civilian Tapia.

As shown in the incident, the AFP has yet again demonstrated its blatant disregard for civilian welfare. It has grossly violated human rights and international humanitarian law particularly the following provisions in war protocols:

Part IV Article 3 of the Comprehensive Agreement on the Respect for Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law (CAR-HR-IHL): allowing the participation of civilian or civilian officials in military field operations and campaigns is and shall remain prohibited at any time and in any place; and the Geneva Conventions that seeks to protect civilians at all times.

Time and again, the AFP issues misleading statements to wash its hands of any culpability as highlighted in the August 25 incident. It has also accused the NPA of recruiting minors when in fact, it is the one recruiting and arming minors for AFP combat operations as exposed in the July capture of a Cafgu minor in Monkayo, ComVal. The AFP is also conscripting Lumad minors to its paramilitary Task Force Gantangan-Bahani Long Range Platoons-Alamara in Paquibato, Davao City.

The NPA slams the AFP's patent doublespeak related to the August 25 incident, and strongly condemns the AFP's standard practice of using civilians as shields in their operations.

http://www.philippinerevolution.net/cgi-bin/statements/stmts.pl?author=alc;date=100906;lang=eng

[A Revolutionary Tool]

I love how they totally embarrass the government by laying out the numbers of all that they've done and then what they've done: Kill 1 NPA fighter.

Two armies killed in the Barangay Hall of Magkayangkang, Bayugan, Agusan del Sur

Maria Malaya (http://www.philippinerevolution.net/cgi-bin/statements/stmts.pl?author=ndfnm)
Spokesperson
NDF-North-Eastern Mindanao Region
September 6, 2010

Two armies staying in the barangay hall of Magkayangkang, Bayugan, Agusan del Sur were killed when they were sniped by a group from a guerrilla platoon of NPA-Front 8 under the Pulang Diwata Command-NPA (New People's Army) of NEMR-North Eastern Mindanao Region. This occurred at around 1 o'clock dawn in September 6, 2010. The Red Fighters crawled and were able to get near and determined 2 dead. The team of the 2nd DRC Philippine Army of the 402nd brigade were staying at the barangay hall of said barrio for 3 days in the course of their military operations.
This military operation being launched by the 26th IBPA in Bayugan, Agusan del Sur is but part of the widespread, continuous military operations in Caraga at the start of the Noynoy Aquino III presidency. Four Philippine presidents in the past, Cory Aquino, Fidel Ramos, Erap Estrada and Gloria Arroyo, upon assuming office, stopped military operations in the mountain communities. A few months passed before military operations against the revolutionary movement started.
The peasantry in the countrysides were greatly disappointed when upon Aquino III's assuming of office came military operations, inspite of his declaration that he does not want the "smell of gunpowder" on his first SONA (State of the Nation Address). He is the only president who has done this. It was better during the time when a general became president of the country because the countrysides experienced a let up from military operations. Does this mean that Aquino III is more a militarist than Gen. Ramos? Especially with the extension of Arroyo's OBL-Oplan Bantay Laya inspite of its defeat in the recent past.
Aquino's Oplan bantay Laya II is the basis for the uninterrupted, widespread military operations since June up to the present that resulted in the following:


45 military actions within 3 months during Aquino III time

33 snipe-harassment by the NPA units against the army, CAA and PNP
5 NPA tactical offensives
7 punitive actions against DOLE Phils, SUDECOR logging and other destructive businesses


37 armies, PNP and CAA were killed while 13 were wounded
A woman NPA fighter was killed.

This also resulted to widespread human rights violations and economic sabotage in the country sides. At present there are more than 168 families from barangay Mahaba, Marihatag, Surigao del Sur who have been forced to evacuate because of harassment from army troops launching military operations in their areas. There are also farmers and lumads in 4 other barrios who temporarily evacuated from their farmlands to a safer place. 12 farmers including a 14 year old minor, were illegally arrested, threatened and physically assaulted. A house of a lumad family was strafed, which resulted in the leaving behind of a small child inside the house for one night, good thing the child was not hit. Another farmer was shot by troops from the 75th IBPA, he was wounded and was not provided treatment. But the spokesperson of the army declared that they treated the wounded and that there was no need to worry.
Aquino III's OBL-Oplan Bantay Laya, resulted to 37 killed from the Army, CAA and PNP in Caraga.
Aquino's OBL violated the human rights of the farmers.
Aquino's OBL destroyed the economy of Mahaba, Marihatag, Surigao del Sur and other barrios affected by military operations.
AQUINO IS MILITARIST!


http://www.philippinerevolution.net/cgi-bin/statements/stmts.pl?date=100906;author=ndfnm;lang=eng

[The Vegan Marxist]

US largest nuclear warships are here in the Philippines to join counter-insurgency operations

Jorge "Ka Oris" Madlos
Spokesperson
National Democratic Front of the Philippines-Mindanao
September 8, 2010

The docking of the US's largest nuclear warships on Philippine shores on September 4 portends the accelerated US military intervention in the country that will take part in counter-insurgency operations, camouflaged as "community relations projects and professional exchanges between the US and Philippine navies."

US military troops masquerading as actors in humanitarian missions have been repeatedly exposed as having overtly participated in AFP combat operations against the New People's Army (NPA) in different areas in the country as well as the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) in Mindanao. The US Counter-Insurgency Guide confirms military assistance to "affected governments" like the Philippines in defeating the CPP-NPA-NDF, which it calls "terrorist." It is also a reassertion of US imperialism's containment and engagement policy against its economic rivals in East Asia and the Pacific, to secure its geo-political interest in the region.

This unmasks the US-Aquino regime of its total disregard for the national sovereignty and its subservience to US imperialism remarkably within the first 100 days of office. The arrival of 6,000 crew member-strong USS George Washington, accompanied by three missile-guided destroyers, is one of the most blatant in a string of recent incursions into Philippine territory, which deserves no less than the people's outright condemnation. It is not surprising for Aquino government, however, to have allowed this latest travesty committed by US Armed Forces against the people's sovereign right since Noynoy Aquino's recent pre-programmed electoral victory was made possible by US imperialist machinations.

US imperialism, being on the brink of a deep economic crisis, is insistent on securing new territories to siphon out natural resources like gas reserves and to open new markets for consumers for its surplus products. Having failed to acquire gas reserves in Iraq and is now sucked in deep in the quagmire of a costly war there, the US imperial power simply turns its eyes to the Philippines as its "Second Front," where rich oil reserves just narrowly lie below the soils in Sulu and Palawan, in Liguasan Marsh and in the Agusan-Compostela Valley basin.

US imperialism is foisting its military power on Southeast Asia, particularly in the Philippines, and flagrantly declares its flat out support for the Aquino regime's counter-insurgency war against the revolutionary movement to secure its economic interest and maintain its politico-military hegemony in the region. This latest incursion is nothing short of the re-imposition of the US imperialist's war against the Filipino people's movement for democracy and national liberation.

In Mindanao, in particular, this signals the escalation of a more aggressive military intervention aimed at 'reducing to inconsequentiality' both the New People's Army (NPA) and the Moro people's armed resistance. It will no less embolden US soldiers, especially those who are already based in Mindanao, to involve themselves more directly in intensified military operations and espionage against the people's revolutionary movement in the island and the rest of the country. As a result, more and more US servicemen, together with their local fascist counterparts, will figure in committing wanton abuses against human rights such as torture, enforced disappearances, threatening entire peasant and Lumad communities, indiscriminate firing, burning down of villages, psy-war tactics, the rape of our women, and, of course, extra-judicial killings.

The NDFP in Mindanao enjoins the Filipino people to bring it to the attention of the Aquino government that in allowing US nuclear warships to impose itself on Philippine shores in complete disregard of the Filipino nation's sovereignty is a step close to betraying the people's trust. If the Aquino government is at all for the defense of the nation's best interest, it must protect the integrity and security of the people first before pandering to the interests of a foreign imperialist power.

We call on all those who, in the past, have boldly fought hard against the continued basing of US military forces in the country – nationalist statesmen, church people and others who have been moved by genuine love of country – to break the silence and step up to assert true nationalism by defending the Filipino nation's sovereign right.

http://www.philippinerevolution.net/cgi-bin/statements/stmts.pl?author=ndfm;date=100908;lang=eng

[The Vegan Marxist]

The US-Aquino regime's rottenness is rapidly unfolding

Editorial
Ang Bayan
September 9, 2010

Benigno Aquino III is rapidly shedding his mask as an agent of “change” and “clean government.” This early, there already are striking indications of his regime's corrupt, puppet and reactionary character, as his fast disappearing popularity increasingly fails to blind and deceive.

Hardly had he taken the reins of power when Aquino showed proof of his puppetry to US imperialism. Like a mendicant begging for alms and crumbs from his master's table, he sent a grovelling letter to US Pres. Barack Obama, asking him to provide his bankrupt regime with an MCC Millennium Challenge Account. The US acceded, granting the puppet regime $434 million in exchange for more economic, military and political concessions that will further trample on Philippine sovereignty.

In another sign of his cringing puppetry, Aquino has been pushing his Private-Public Partnership scheme which has obviously been molded in the imperialist globalization framework and its attendant policies of denationalization, privatization, deregulation and liberalization. Still not satisfied, the American Chamber of Commerce has been prodding the puppet regime to further liberalize the Philippine economy by opening up parts reserved only for Filipinos, like the retail trade, telecommunications and real estate ownership.

Aquino had early on showed the hollowness of his “I will not steal” and “I am not corrupt” slogans. He received the biggest campaign contributions in the history of Philippine elections, but he has yet to make a full disclosure.

He is now paying back such massive outpouring of financial support, all to the people's detriment. Obsequiously acceding to his imperialist overlords, he is obediently implementing orders from the International Monetary Fund to add to the people's tax burden, hike fees for public services and slash subsidies in an attempt to stave off the government's bankruptcy. Plans to raise toll fees on expressways were put on reprieve only through the people's strong protests and timely actions. But the regime remains deadset on raising fares at the LRT and MRT despite all the brickbats thrown its way. Also adding to the people's suffering is a policy to greatly reduce the NFA's palay subsidies to farmers and subsequently pass on the burden of higher prices to consumers.

Aquino's appointment to powerful positions of representatives of imperialists and of fellow big compradors and big landlords who supported his candidacy is likewise payback for huge debts of gratitude. With many of these appointees already having blemished records, it did not take long for the stench to reek. Past anomalies were soon bared and new acts of corruption exposed in a number of his key officials. Also becoming evident are the factional conflicts within the regime due to infighting to advance various economic, factional ang selfish interests. The new regime's ranking officials have likewise been selling highly placed national and regional positions for up to millions of pesos.

Aquino was unable to conceal his class standpoint as a big landlord in the issue of Hacienda Luisita. He feigned a hands-off policy on what he claimed to be an internal matter among shareholders. In fact, his presidency is an instrument of his landlord-comprador clan to prevent the implementation of genuine land reform in the hacienda, tighten its monopoly control over the estate and continue earning billions through land-use conversion. He is likewise an instrument of the entire landlord class to maintain their land monopoly. He is thus an instrument in maintaining the backwardness of the countryside and keeping the peasantry oppressed and exploited.

Aquino's hypocritical stance of advocating reforms and good governance as a means of stamping out the people's revolutionary struggles has all but vanished. He relies mainly on military might to suppress the growing revolutionary movement and people's struggles. His regime has extended Oplan Bantay Laya (OBL) up to January 31, 2011 while in the process of framing a new operational plan patterned after the US Counterinsurgency Guide. With OBL's extension automatically comes the extended campaign of targeting open mass leaders and activists and suspected supporters of the armed revolution. Aquino had just taken his seat in Malacañang when seven activists became victims of extrajudicial killing. The use of torture as a policy of government has been bared. Military abuses go on unabated, especially in the countryside. The Morong 43 are still in detention, and not a single political prisoner has been released.

The Aquino regime is no different from its predecessor in its low regard for peace negotiations. It has merely reprised the deceptive and divisive localized peace talks. Worse, it has been insisting on an immediate ceasefire as a precondition for the talks, which constitutes another violation of previous agreements and protocols.

Long before the end of his first 100 days in office, the shallow and symbolic changes Aquino has enforced, such as his “no sirens” policy have lost steam in the face of the new government's gargantuan problems and anti-people tendencies. To boot, the Aquino regime has demonstrated an unprecedented level of incompetence in its handling of the August 23 Luneta hostage crisis.

In the face of all this, Aquino has taken an even more dependent and supplicating stance with respect to the US on which he relies for deliverance and continued support for his rule. In his US trip this September, Aquino hopes to arrange for bigger military and economic aid in exchange for more basing rights for US military troops, intensified intervention and bigger concessions to enable US enterprises in the country to rake in even more superprofits. By then, the Aquino regime will have been caught completely in the snares of its imperialist master.

The rottenness, puppetry and reactionary character now being manifested by the Aquino regime are relentlessly bringing it to ruin and causing its isolation from the people. They pave the way for the further advance of revolution and the people's struggles.

http://theprwcblogs.blogspot.com/2010/09/us-aquino-regimes-rottenness-is-rapidly.html

[A Revolutionary Tool]

PRESS RELEASE
Information Bureau
Communist Party of the Philippines

Continuing facist repression of civilians under Aquino's OBL extensionSeptember 13, 2010


The Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) today denounced the Aquino regime and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) for 'successive gross violations of human rights of unarmed civilians by fascist state agents' in the course of military operations being carried out nationwide in the continuation of the Oplan Bantay Laya (OBL).
The CPP said that OBL has caused intensified human rights violations throughout the last decade. "Aquino's soldiers are exhibiting utter impunity in attacking civilians who are considered combatants in the OBL's 'counter-insurgency' doctrine."
"The attacks against civilians violate the Geneva Conventions and the Comprehensive Agreement on Respect for Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law (CAHRIHL), which give primacy to the protection of the rights and welfare of unarmed civilians in the course of the war," said the CPP.
"The increasing number of cases of AFP abuses against civilians point out to the hypocrisy of Benigno Aquino III and his military officials who claim that protection of human rights are among the priorities of the AFP," added the CPP. "These statements have been proven to be nothing but lies and fascist psywar that parallel their 'silent war' against suspected supporters of the New People's Army and the revolutionary movement."
The CPP cited, for one, the massacre of four farmers last September 7 in Brgy. Sta. Maria, Mobo, Masbate. The victims were Vicente Flores, 41, Richard Oliva, 44, Melecio Monacelio, 45 and his son Jonathan Monacelio, 21, a student of Sta. Maria High School. The four civilians who were resting after hunting were suddenly fired upon by troops of the 9th Infantry Battalion. Officials of the 9th IB later claimed that the farmers were NPA members killed in an armed encounter with their men.
Two days earlier, 10 armed men believed to be soldiers roughed up Warren Morilla, a barangay official in his own home in Brgy. Florista in Libon town, Albay, as they tried to force him to identify the houses of NPA rebels allegedly living in the barangay. After denying knowledge of supposed NPA presence in their community, the armed men then dragged him out of his house, covered his head with a plastic bag and hit different parts of his body with the butts of their rifles. His wallet, two bolos and a pair of slippers were taken by the armed men before he was forced to sign a document stating no items were taken and no one was hurt during the search.
The CPP also cited the illegal arrest, torture and continuing detention of brothers Cesar and Juanito Gabac of Brgy. Anagasi, Paranas town in Samar province. Last July 25, 34th IB troops the Gabac brothers, together with their mother Lucia, from their home. The CPP said the Gabac brothers who were made to appear as NPA surrenderees were coerced into guiding the soldiers in their military operations in the surrounding areas. They were also forced to deny on radio that they suffered human rights violations. The Gabac brothers continue to be under illegal military detention.
In Southern Mindanao, the CPP disclosed that civilians Zosimo Tapia and Boy Devasura of So. Tugpan, Brgy. Sampagita, Veruela, Agusan del Sur were forced to guide military operations of the 26th Infantry Battalion against the NPA last August 25. The soldiers endangered their lives by putting them in the line of fire. Tapia was wounded in the AFP raid.
These are just the most recent cases of violations of the rights of unarmed civilians by the AFP, said the CPP. "There have been numerous other cases reported since the onset of the US-Aquino regime."

http://www.philippinerevolution.net/cgi-bin/statements/releases.pl?date=100913;refer=cpp;lang=eng

[A Revolutionary Tool]

The NDFP - Mindanao challenges the Aquino government to heed mounting calls for the junking of the VFA

Jorge "Ka Oris" Madlos (http://www.philippinerevolution.net/cgi-bin/statements/stmts.pl?author=ndfm)
Spokesperson
National Democratic Front of the Philippines-Mindanao
September 13, 2010

Following the visit of the US nuclear warships which posed greater danger for the country, the National Democratic Front of the Philippines in Mindanao reiterates the mounting call from various sectors to junk the US-RP Visiting Forces Agreement and challenges the Aquino government to heed it.
The NDF - Mindanao urges individual legislators in the Philippine Congress who still maintain a deep sense of nationalism to make that bold step and push for the immediate abrogation of the Visiting Forces Agreement, heeding strong calls for its rejection in the light of the Joint Resolution 3 filed by Senator Miriam Santiago that Congress can abolish this lopsided and anti-people US-RP relation.
We likewise challenge members of the "civil society" who have professed nationalism to take action, now more than ever, in defense of the Filipino people's sovereign right against intensifying US imperialist interventionism. Nationalist political, religious, and progressive leaders must place themselves at variance with the Aquino government's open policy of allowing the operation in the country of US troops as well as the entry of nuclear vessels, which, even under the scrutiny of the GRP's own laws, is treasonous.
In no time, the unequal treaty will further afflict Philippine soil with its much lopsided provisions, especially now that Mr. Noynoy Aquino is rapidly being unmasked as another puppet of US imperialism, appearing to be no different from his predecessor. After spinning victory and strategically placing him to be their stalwart, Aquino's US imperialist master is now dead set to waylay Philippine sovereignty, and do so with impunity, to protect and preserve their political and economic interests in the Asia-Pacific.
Because of the VFA, presence of US troops in Philippine soil come and go at will, like the 6,000-strong US soldiers recently ferried to the country. The VFA gives consent to stationing more troops in the country, thus advancing further US intervention here and in other neighboring countries. It is public knowledge how these US troops have inflicted damage to hundreds of thousand lives of the Filipino people during the Philippine-American War, and recently creating controversial cases including the rape of a 22-year old Filipina girl, the mysterious death of Filipino interpreter Gregan Cardeno inside a U.S barracks in Marawi City, the murder of Boyongboyong Isnijal in Basilan, and inflicting damage to many civilians as a result of their direct participation in local combat operations, which was recently witnessed in Bukidnon, Compostela Valley and the Bicol Region, and wanton military exercises of U.S soldiers in different parts of Mindanao.
The VFA is an outright affront to our national sovereignty and a violation of the GRP's own Constitution. The VFA is no less than combat intelligence and surveillance in the local populace vital to the military and economic objectives of US. The humanitarian missions conducted, including the ones which are facilitated by USAID, are merely façade which are actually part of the military and 'communications strategy' of the US to infiltrate deeper.
Despite mounting calls and strong ground for the abrogation of this one-sided and anti-people policy since it came into effect more than a decade ago, VFA has remained, mocking our national sovereignty and patrimony. Rather than heeding these calls, Aquino has further said that the US troops are here to stay. That Aquino is heading towards the United States for his first diplomatic trip there, Aquino is well-advised to take VFA with him and serve it back to his US imperialist masters.
VFA has undermined the previous victories of the Filipino people in removing foreign bases in the country. The NDF-Mindanao calls on all freedom-loving Filipinos, especially those who were once staunch anti-US military bases like Sen. Joker Arroyo, Sen. Miriam Santiago, former Sen. Jovito Salonga, and other political and religious leaders and groups, to oppose policies that promote further US intervention such as the VFA. The Filipino people should fight and defend national sovereignty and patrimony.
The NDF-Mindanao also calls on the NPA to ready themselves to give combat against US soldiers and spies who directly participate in combat operations and espionage in NPA areas in defense of revolutionary forces and of the masses. We likewise call on all the Moro freedom fighters to persevere in their armed struggle for their right to self-determination, and to unite more fervently in the fight against continuing and intensifying US military intervention.
Finally, we call on all American citizens residing in the Philippines and in the United States to manifest their adherence to the respect for the sovereignty of the Filipino nation by helping create a strong lobby for the immediate abrogation of the VFA and for the United States government to pull out its troops from the country. We fear that if the US imperialist power continues to impinge on the Filipino people, this will create the way for open war that will force the revolutionary movement and the Filipino masses to fight back, and its escalation may result in the needless death of more American soldiers, similar to what happened in the Vietnam War and to the current strife in Iraq and Afghanistan.

http://www.philippinerevolution.net/cgi-bin/statements/stmts.pl?author=ndfm;date=100913;lang=eng

[A Revolutionary Tool]

Letter to Leyte Samar Daily Express in response to editorial on peace

Fr. Santiago "Sanny" Salas (http://www.philippinerevolution.net/cgi-bin/statements/stmts.pl?author=ndfev)
Spokesperson
NDF-Eastern Visayas
September 15, 2010

Sept. 15, 2010
Ven Labro
Editor-in-Chief
Leyte Samar Daily Express
Dear Editor:
The NDF-Eastern Visayas welcomes your editorial on the question of peace posted last Sept. 13 on the internet.
We understand those who disagree with the violence of the Catarman ambush by the New People's Army. There are differing political views, not everyone espouses revolutionary violence to change the system. Nor can everyone be convinced the NPA's recent offensive was a legitimate act of war.
We disagree, however, when the revolutionary violence of the NPA is taken to task, but the reactionary violence of the government's Oplan Bantay Laya is not. If violence per se should be criticized, the NPA is not even the one committing the greatest violence; it is the armed services of the state that do. With over 1,200 political killings and over 200 enforced disappearances since 2001, Oplan Bantay Laya is still claiming victims while nearing its end in January 2011. Of the political killings, 121 are in Eastern Visayas, the latest to die only this Aug. 25: Casiano Abing, Bayan Muna activist and court sheriff in Balangiga, Eastern Samar. There are also the aerial and artillery bombardments of civilian communities, mass evacuations, economic disruptions, and other atrocities suffered by civilians under Oplan Bantay Laya.
If there be wringing of hands over those who fall to violence, then all the more so for those who are civilians persecuted by Oplan Bantay Laya: an armed campaign against the unarmed. Otherwise, what is even the point of condemning a part of the violence and missing the big picture? Does not silence on that point only help the armed services of the state in their impunity in attacking civilians who are not involved in the armed conflict?
Yet despite the bloody decade of Oplan Bantay Laya, the NDFP has remained open to peace negotiations, even as political killings raged and the revolutionary forces also suffered casualties. The NDFP rose above the fighting in desiring the discussion and achievement of a just and lasting peace. Sadly, the Philippine government never reciprocated, but has tried time and again to impose ceasefire and surrender terms on the revolutionary movement before any peace negotiations. Such would have made the peace talks no better than a "counterinsurgency" tool complementary to the Oplan Bantay Laya campaign.
Even today, the new Aquino government still has to come up with a peace panel to face the NDFP. Meanwhile, we assume LSDE is aware that upon Oplan Bantay Laya's end in January 2011, the Armed Forces of the Philippines will be implementing yet another "counterinsurgency" campaign. This will aim to crush the revolutionary movement in three to five years. Who is now advocating only violence and avoiding the discussion of a just and lasting peace? Ultimately, the people must struggle for peace and prevent the fascists and militarists in the Aquino regime from wreaking greater state violence.
Fr. Santiago Salas
Spokesperson
National Democratic Front of the Philippines
Eastern Visayas


http://www.philippinerevolution.net/cgi-bin/statements/stmts.pl?date=100915;author=ndfev;lang=eng

[A Revolutionary Tool]

PRESS RELEASE
Information Bureau
Communist Party of the Philippines

CPP criticizes Aquino's proposed 2011 "counter-insurgency" budgetSeptember 15, 2010


The Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) today sternly criticized the P1.64 trillion budget proposal of the Aquino government for 2011 calling it "a counterinsurgency budget." The CPP pointed out its "counterinsurgency" framework and priority, especially as it gives first place to beefing up the military and other state security agencies alongside debt servicing.
The CPP pointed to the "unprecedented 81% increase" in the budget for the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), "a clear endorsement of the fascist terror being sown by the military in its counter-revolutionary war of suppression."
"Aquino is doubling the budget of the AFP in complete disregard of its gross violations of human rights, notably the ten year bloody Oplan Bantay Laya military campaign," said the CPP. "Aquino's proposed 2011 budget is principally a 'counter-insurgency' budget framed in accordance with the US Counterinsurgency Guide," said the CPP. "He has only shown utter contempt for the plight of hundreds of thousands of victims of military abuses, including those who have been extrajudicially killed, forcibly abducted and disappeared, illegally detained, tortured, harassed, forcibly evacuated from their homes and terrorized by military and other armed agents of the state."
The CPP also berated the Malacañang's 2011 budget proposal for "giving highest priority for debt servicing, its privatization and 'market liberalization' program, and more venues for corruption, but giving low priority for much-needed social subsidies and other essential public services."
"Aquino's budget promotes privatization and market liberalization," said the CPP. "It adheres to the imperialist International Monetary Fund-imposed rule to allocate at least a third of the national government's budget to foreign debt payments, giving P823.27 billion which represents a 29.2% increase from 2010. It has also allocated P27.1 billion to support its Public-Private Partnership program."
"In order to afford increasing budgetary allocations for its antipeople priorities, the US-Aquino government has chosen to cut the budget of vital social services," said the CPP. It noted the slashing of the education budget to P172 billion from P174 billion this year which is at least P100 billion short of the required budget to address shortages in teachers, classrooms and other facilities. The CPP also pointed to the 20% cut from the budget of the University of the Philippines and the 24% cut from the budget of the Philippine Normal University.
The proposed budget for health services has also been slashed from P40 billion to P38.6 billion. Contrary to his promises, the budget of Philhealth has been cut by a third from this year's from P5.17 billion to only P3.5B for 2011. Half a billion pesos is also be taken away from the government's family planning program.
Justices and other court personnel are decrying and even threatening a "judicial revolt" in the face of Malacañang's snub of their proposal for a P27.7 billion budget. Instead, the Aquino government reduced the judiciary's budget by P1 billion--from this year's P14.3 billion to next year's P13.3 billion. The budget of the Commission on Human Rights was also slashed from P285 million this year to P266 million.
"The US-Aquino government has also cut budgetary allocations for agriculture and agrarian reform by 26%, water resources development and flood control by 21.4%, power and energy by 65.5% and communications and transportation by 5.2%," pointed out the CPP. "All this will redound to the further deterioration of economic support and services, and further subjecting the people to the whims of private corporate interests."
"Following imperialist neoliberal dictates to do away with public subsidies and instead promote privatization and 'market libelization,' the puppet regime has also chosen to completely do away with P8 billion in rice subsidies allocated to the National Food Authority in support of local farm production and affordability for consumers," said the CPP.
"The 123% increase in the budget of the Department of Social Work and Development (DSWD) is being done to make the puppet regime appear generous to the 'poorest of the poor'." Of the DSWD's P34.146 billion 2011 budget, 85.50% will go to cash and other doleouts under the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (PPPP) and its Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) program.
The CPP said that "The DSWD's dole-out program aims to make the government appear concerned for the poor with the aim of drawing them away from the path of resistance and revolution. Not only will this cash doleout program fail to address the real problems of the people, it is actually another big venue for corruption as there is no strict auditing in the disbursement of cash."


http://www.philippinerevolution.net/cgi-bin/statements/releases.pl?date=100915;refer=cpp;lang=eng

[A Revolutionary Tool]

Aquino's counter-revolutionary policy in Southern Mindanao murders 3 civilians in less than a month

Rubi Del Mundo (http://www.philippinerevolution.net/cgi-bin/statements/stmts.pl?author=ndfsm)
Spokesperson
National Democratic Front-Southern Mindanao
September 14, 2010

All in less than one month, three civilians -- Reynaldo Labrador and Julius Tamondes in Paquibato, Davao City, and Vicente Felisilda in Mawab, Compostela Valley Province -- were murdered by military and paramilitary forces in Southern Mindanao; belying GRP Pres. Benigno Aquino III's human rights thrust in the AFP.
The National Democratic Front of the Philippines-Southern Mindanao strongly condemns the continuing policy of extra-judicial killing of civilians by the new Aquino regime. Aquino has only contradicted himself when he vouched for his armed forces' commitment to champion human rights parallel to the extension of the US-sponsored and dictated 'counter-insurgency' Oplan Bantay Laya II. The latest body count proves one fact: unleashing the OBL is an explicit endorsement to the contemptible acts of Berdugo Palparan and other OBL II models. Aquino has only unmasked himself as no different from his predecessor, the criminal Gloria Arroyo, for destroying civilian lives and livelihood in the guise of the regime's counter-revolutionary policy.
1. August 12, Tamondes was murdered in his farm during a 'pangayaw' in Paquibato staged-managed by the 1003rd Brigade-AFP under Brig. Gen. Eduardo del Rosario, and his stooge Confidential Agent Ruben Labawan;
2. September 3, Labrador was murdered violently in front of his family inside his home in Paquibato by two unidentified AFP men and 69th Infantry Battalion-AFP paramilitary member Roberto "Kulot" Repe. Repe is in the roster of Lumad paramilitary vigilante that Labawan endorsed for training to the 10th ID-AFP last June 14;
3. September 9, Felisilda was murdered in Barangay Malinawon, Mawab, Compostela Valley Province, following the numerous death threats he received from the AFP deployed in the area.
All these murders happened amid the intense fascist operations in Southern Mindanao which is considered a priority region for Oplan Bantay Laya. Similar to other extra-judicial killings, all the victims are civilians; and have been threatened earlier, and arbitrarily tagged by the military as "supporters" of the revolutionary movement -- or like Tamondes, killed in an indiscriminate AFP-supported tribal vendetta to sow terror in the Davao City hinterlands.
In Paquibato, Labawan's 'pangayaw' killed Tamondes while another farmer and church leader, Angelino Gentorales was able to escape last August 12. Days after, Labawan's pangayaw attempted the life of lay worker and farmer Dodo Cabatuan. The 'pangayaw' prompted many residents to evacuate in the district's center. The militarization in Paquibato victimized passenger motorcycle drivers who were either interrogated or mauled while some businessmen were accused of being NPA supporters. With the murder of Labrador, the military wanted to instill fear among Paquibato residents.
CA Labawan's documents confiscated August 6 have further exposed del Rosario's design in Paquibato and in creating liquidation squads among the vigilante Lumads in line with Palparan's "shock and terror" campaign -- so much more so that del Rosario's minions included the Palparan-trained 69th IB and the 84th IB-AFP now based in Davao City.
Aquino's Oplan Bantay Laya emboldened B/Gen. del Rosario to resurrect the failed 'Alsa' Lumad -- an AFP psywar scheme that del Rosario used at the onset of the detested Arroyo regime. Similar in 2001, del Rosario recruited, armed and financed Lumad vigilante and fanatical groups to pit lumads and lumads, and against settlers in Davao hinterlands; and deliberately distorted the lumad tradition on avenging justice. He used the vigilante Alamara as surrogate AFP force in its proxy war against the New People's Army. Like in 2001, del Rosario's design failed to decimate the revolutionary forces, instead, it has only earned the people's ire with the string of human rights violations it brought about, among others, the barbaric murders in Paquibato and the bloody 2002 Pangyan Massacre in Davao City.
Since 2006, the 10th ID-AFP's deployment in Southern Mindanao has resulted to an average of 100 persons daily whose rights have been violated, among others, mauled, tortured, illegally detained and interrogated, threatened, communities conscripted, evacuations, homes being ransacked. Victims of extrajudicial killings in the region already totalled more than a hundred including the despicable rape-slay of Rebelyn Pitao. In Paquibato as in Compostela Valley, and other Southern Mindanao hinterlands, the heavy militarization only served one purpose under Oplan Bantay Laya: alienate the people from their lands and livelihood and protect the corporate local and foreign plunderers.
Aquino's Oplan Bantay Laya now has only worsened the already sorry condition of the Filipino masses; and has already violently snuff out the lives of civilians Labrador, Tamondes, and Felisilda in Southern Mindanao. We call on the people to be vigilant and throughly frustrate Aquino's Oplan Bantay Laya. Genuine justice can only be achieved through the intensification of the people's democratic revolution.

http://www.philippinerevolution.net/cgi-bin/statements/stmts.pl?date=100914;author=ndfsm;lang=eng

[A Revolutionary Tool]

Children are fair game to 10th ID-AFP's psywar theatrics

Ka Sandawa (http://www.philippinerevolution.net/cgi-bin/statements/stmts.pl?author=zbc)
Zenaida Beron Command
Spokesperson
Front 54 Operations Command
NPA-Southern Mindanao
September 17, 2010

On local TV Tuesday, September 14, Lt. Col. Medel Aguilar of the 10th Infantry Division-AFP presented to the GRP's social welfare department a 17-year old so-called would-be NPA recruit claiming that the minor escaped from the people's army.
Aguilar's latest trick is his idea of getting back at the NPA for the whipping the 84th Infantry Battalion-AFP under Lt. Col. Gabriel Viray took following their disastrous offensive operations in the Davao hinterlands against the people's army. Last September 10, Lt. Col. Viray's troops suffered nine casualties (4 killed, 5 wounded) in a supposed AFP combat operation against the New People's Army in the boundary between Davao City and Davao del Sur. Reeling from the NPA's lethal counter-attack, Aguilar and Viray then concocted a story out of a beaten script about NPA children recruits and presented the minor "Rose" as living proof of the preposterous accusation.
The NPA has no minor combatants in its ranks. It strictly adheres to the principles and instruments of the international humanitarian and human rights law, and as reiterated in the CPP Executive Committee's 1999 document "Memorandum on the Minimum Age Recruitment for NPA fighters."
Expect 10th ID-AFP Lt. Col. Aguilar to use every psywar gimmick from his bagful of fascist tricks. Having failed miserably to extinguish the revolutionary forces, the 10th ID-AFP is now engaged in a full-scale psywar and publicity stunt, among others, one that capitalizes on minors as NPA surrenderees.
The AFP's grandstanding of turning over the 17-year old to GRP civilian agencies is hypocritical in the light of the continuing violation of the military against minors. The AFP is notorious in killing children and misrepresenting them as armed fighters of the NPA (like the case of Grecil Buya in New Bataan, Compostela Valley), the AFP recruitment of minors to the paramilitary as further exposed in the capture of a Cafgu minor in Monkayo, Compostela Valley and using Lumad minors to beef up its detachments as in the AFP detachments in Paquibato, Davao City.


http://www.philippinerevolution.net/cgi-bin/statements/stmts.pl?author=zbc;date=100917;lang=eng

[A Revolutionary Tool]

This is a pretty messed up report, especially ones like number 3 and 8. I mean seriously they would do that to a mentally challenged kid?





PRESS RELEASE
Information Bureau
Communist Party of the Philippines

AFP violations hurting children's rights under Aquino's OBL extension--CPPSeptember 18, 2010


The Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) denounced the Aquino regime and its Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) for the current spate of violations of children's rights as the AFP continues to implement Oplan Bantay Laya, which has been extended by the Aquino government up to the end of the year.
The CPP said that children continue to be subjected to widespread abuse and violence under Oplan Bantay Laya.
"The AFP has been utilizing minors in its dirty war against the New People's Army (NPA) and the revolutionary masses. AFP units have been recruiting minors into their paramilitary units, forcing children to serve as guides in military operations."
"In their effort to hype their counterrevolutionary psywar, these children's rights are further abused by the military as they are paraded in front of the media while made to appear as 'child warriors' of the NPA."
"The entire revolutionary movement and the Filipino people hold Pres. Benigno Aquino responsible for such violations of children's rights committed by the AFP under his command," the CPP added.
The CPP cited the following recent cases:
1) "Rose" (not her real name), 17, was paraded before the media last September 14 by the 84th IB of the Philippine Army. The 84th IB-PA falsely claimed that she was a "would-be recruit" of the NPA who escaped. The Philippine Army unit violated her rights in its desperate effort to taint the NPA's reputation after suffering a big loss in the battlefield last September 10.
2) "Boy" (not his real name), 17, of Brgy. Tagaytay, Magsaysay, Davao del Sur was forced to join a special operation of the 39th IB-PA last July to penetrate an NPA camp and steal weapons.
3) "Jerry" (not his real name), 17, of Brgy. Malawanit, Magsaysay, Davao del Sur was abducted and tortured to force him to admit to being an "NPA child warrior." Fortunately, Jerry was able to escape his captors and reveal his ordeal to the public.
4) Another minor, "Donna" (not her real name) of Dungan Pekong, Matanao, Davao del Sur, was misrepresented before the media as an "NPA child warrior," in violation of her rights.
5) "Jomar" (not his real name) was not even 16 years old when he and his friends were recruited and made by the 1001st Infantry Brigade of the Philippine Army to undergo a 45-day military training in October 2008 by the 1001st Bde in its headquarters then located at Brgy. Tuburan, Mawab, Compostela Valley. He was formally admitted as a member of the CAFGU in December 2008. As a CAFGU element, Jomar was accosted by the NPA last June but was promptly released after determining his age.
6) a 17-year old boy from Brgy. Old Bulatucan, Makilala, North Cotabato was accosted and tortured by elements of the 57th IB-PA last March following an NPA harassment operation against the soldiers. He was presented to the media as a "child warrior" of the NPA before being turned over to the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).
7) "Michelle" (not her real name), 17, was abducted by elements of the 34th IB-PA from her home in San Juan de Buan, Western Samar last February. She was taken by government soldiers as part of their dirty tactic to force her parents (both members of the NPA) to surrender to the AFP. Michelle continues to be detained by the DWSD under the authority of the AFP.
8) "Jose" (not his real name), 13, a mentally challenged child from Montalban, Matuguinao, Western Samar continues to be detained by the DSWD. Elements of the Philippine Army's 8th Infantry Division accosted Jose in June 2009, provided him with a firearm and forced him to join military operations. He was subsequently paraded before the media as a "child warrior" of the NPA.
"These and many other cases of violations of children's rights are being committed by the AFP with impunity in its desperation to suppress the people's revolutionary resistance with utter brutality, terror and psywar," said the CPP.
The CPP reiterated its policy of upholding the rights of children as stipulated in the Comprehensive Agreement on Respect for Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law (CAHRIHL) as well as in the United Nation's Convention on the Rights of the Child. The CPP has a standing policy prohibiting the recruitment into the NPA of anyone below 18 years old.
"We urge all advocates of children's rights in the country and the world, including the Office of the Special Representative of the UN Secretary General for Children and Armed Conflict to look into these cases involving the ruling reactionary state and its army's violations of children's rights," said the CPP.


http://www.philippinerevolution.net/cgi-bin/statements/releases.pl?date=100918;refer=cpp;lang=eng

[A Revolutionary Tool]

On The Commemoration Of September 21

Prof. Jose Ma. Sison (http://www.philippinerevolution.net/cgi-bin/statements/stmts.pl?author=jms)
National Democratic Front of the Philippines
Chief Political Consultant
September 21, 2010

Ferdinand Marcos himself designated September 21, 1972 as the date for Presidential Proclamation 1081, declaring martial law. In previous days, he had set in motion the imposition of fascist dictatorship on the people, including the mobilization of his armed minions, the murder of a whistle blower in his own intelligence agency, the fake ambush on his defense secretary and the mass arrest of his opponents and critics.
More than a year ago, he had staged the dress rehearsal for the declaration of martial law by proclaiming the suspension of the writ of habeas corpus on August 21, 1971 when without evidence he blamed the Communist Party of the Philippines and Benigno S. Aquino for the Plaza Miranda bombing immediately after it happened.
It is important to commemorate the declaration of martial law today in order to recall the 14-year long fascist dictatorship, the gross and systematic infliction of violence and suffering on the broad masses of the people and the steady growth of the resistance of the people and the revolutionary forces until there was a convergence of contradictory forces that effected the overthrow of the fascist dictator on February 25, 1986.
It is useful for the people to remember the fascist dictatorship not only because there is a need to draw up consciousness and courage to prevent the rise to power of the junior of Ferdinand Marcos and his other political heirs but also more urgently to struggle against the manifest plan of the son of Benigno Aquino to beef up the military, use his power to enlarge the wealth of his family and cronies and seek to destroy the revolutionary movement of the people.
Irony of ironies! The son of the underdog and outstanding murder victim of the Marcos fascist regime is practically aping the fascist dictator. Mr. Benigno S. Aquino III has declared that the Philippine population has doubled since the last time that Marcos beefed up the military and that by implication he must double the strength of the military.
Unmindful of the severe economic economic and bankruptcy of the reactionary government, he has begun to increase the budget of the military by 81 per cent. He has also increased the budget of the DWSD by 123 per cent only because it is going to be the chief partner of the military in so-called base-denial operations and forcing the evacuation of the people from their homes and land. A huge part of the national budget is for debt service. The budgets for education, health and other necessary social services have been reduced.
The Aquino regime is hell-bent on following the US Counterinsurgency Guide and intends to use the USD 430 windfall from the Millenium Challenge Corporation as complement of the peso budget for the military. It has continued Oplan Bantay Laya and the gross and systematic violations of human rights under the Arroyo regime. It has made its own five-year operational plan for one more futile scheme of atrocities to destroy the revolutionary movement. It has condoned the bloody crimes of the Arroyo regime and has kept hundreds of political prisoners, including Morong 43.
It looks like there is no end to the chain of rulers who serve US imperialism and the local exploiting classes of big compradors and landlords and who are exceedingly corrupt, brutal and mendacious. But let us remember that the New People's Army had only 300 automatic rifles when Marcos falsely claimed that it had 10,000 rifles in justifying the declaration of martial law in 1972. At the fall of Marcos in 1986, the NPA had grown to 6000 automatic rifles and had gained a rural base of millions in all regions of the country, except the predominantly Moro provinces.
The armed revolutionary movement was a major force that caused the downfall of Marcos but it did not have enough armed strength yet in 1986 to overpower the reactionary state of big compradors and landlords. It is not true that it had 25,000 highpowered weapons. Moreover, certain ultra-Left and Rightist opportunist currents were already undermining the armed revolutionary movement in most of the 1980s and up to 1991, resulting mainly in the loss of substantial parts of the revolutionary mass base in the rural areas.
But the Communist Party of the Philippines launched the Second Great Rectification Movement in 1992. Since then, according to publications of the CPP, the armed revolutionary movement has been revitalized and grown in strength in an all-round way. However, it has not yet gained sufficient strength to overthrow the reactionary state or to compel the formation of a coalition government of national unity, democracy, social justice, development and peace against US imperialism and the worst forms of reaction.
The CPP and the NPA have publicly announced that in the next years they will strive to advance from the stage of strategic defensive to that of strategic stalemate in the people's war. This course of probability is well-founded because of the growing strength of the subjective forces of the revolution and the rapid deterioration of the long rotten ruling system of big compradors and landlords. As demonstrated in the 14-year long fascist dictatorship, the rule of open terror and unbridled greed can only drive the broad masses of the people to the road of armed revolution.
The revolutionary forces and the people can be expected to grow in strength through people's war if Benigno Aquino III chooses to rule like Marcos or even like his mother, trying in vain to use military force to defeat the revolutionary forces and the people, instead of availing of the peace negotiations with the National Democratic Front of the Philippines in order to address the roots of the civil war and lay the ground for a just and lasting peace through basic social, economic and political reforms.

http://www.philippinerevolution.net/cgi-bin/statements/stmts.pl?author=jms;date=100921;lang=eng

[A Revolutionary Tool]

Noynoy Aquino's 'undeclared Martial Law' would aggravate human rights violations

Jorge "Ka Oris" Madlos (http://www.philippinerevolution.net/cgi-bin/statements/stmts.pl?author=ndfm)
Spokesperson
National Democratic Front of the Philippines-Mindanao
September 21, 2010

Today, September the 21st, the National Democratic Front of the Philippines -- Mindanao (NDFP-Mindanao) joins the Filipino people in recollecting the tens of thousands of victims of grave human rights abuses upon the declaration of Martial Law. It was the Dictator Marcos's virulent edict that plunged the nation into the darkest period of its history -- 14 years of brutality when the people's national democratic aspiration was single-handedly snuffed out through unrivalled and widespread repression.
Today, 23 years since the ouster of the fascist Marcos, and after the rule of four almost equally brutal regimes from Corazon Aquino to Gloria Arroyo, the symptoms of those dark years remain with us as summary executions, enforced disappearances, barefaced militarism and other appalling forms of human rights violations continue to persist.
On account of the newly installed Aquino government, it has carried on the infamous militarist legacy of the vile period of Martial Law despite the euphoria created by Mr. Aquino's pre-programmed victory in the recent presidential elections and its hard sell campaign for 'change.'
Point of fact: During the election period, human rights violations seemed to have ebbed as the AFP neared its OBL 2 deadline. But, when it became obvious that Mr. Aquino would be the next president of the GRP, his assumption into power led to the extension of Oplan Bantay Laya 2, the resumption of which escalated to a more vicious nationwide military campaign.
Human rights abuse cases in Mindanao have risen as a direct result of this more brazen and intensive military campaign. In three regions in the island alone, Noynoy Aquino demonstrated in his 80 days in office a staggering record of 90 cases of human rights abuses, victimizing close to a thousand families and more than 8,000 individuals.
In the Southern Mindanao Region (SMR), where more than a dozen AFP battalions have been mobilized to counter revolutionary forces, 42 human rights violations cases, affecting 640 families and 7,721 individuals, have been documented. In the North Eastern Mindanao Region (NEMR), 41 cases of 14 various types of human rights abuses that affected 286 families, 1,252 individuals, 3 communities and 1 school have been recorded. The recent evacuation of nearly 300 families from communities in Surigao del Sur, Agusan del Norte and Surigao del Norte as a result of heightened AFP combat operations marked the height of barefaced militarism in the region. In the Far Southern Region of Mindanao (FSMR), 7 cases of human rights abuses committed by government troops, including rape, looting and illegal arrests, were initially documented in the months of July and August.
The New People's Army have resolutely fought back by means of launching tactical offensives to defend the well-being of the people and to preserve the gains of the revolutionary movement. There have been 59 tactical offensives thus far launched since Noynoy Aquino took his oath of office. This shows how the NPA defended revolutionary areas and the people's welfare, and how determined Red fighters are to frustrate the exacerbating militarist salvo of the new puppet regime.
Since July, the NPA in SMR was able to launch more than 20 military actions that resulted in the death of 11 enemy soldiers and CAFGU elements, and the wounding of 13. These NPA tactical offensives also led to the confiscation of a number of firearms. Similarly, with the entire Caraga Region saturated with 4 AFP battalions almost simultaneously undergoing offensive military operations, the New People's Army in NEMR has, in defense of the masses, launched 32 military actions that lent stinging blows against advancing enemy forces in the countryside. A series of 4 tactical offensives were initiated in FSMR since June 30, highlighted most recently by Red fighters launching punitive action against the most notorious land-grabber in North Cotabato in the person of Manny Piñol, which disabled his banana plantation machineries and confiscated 7 HPRs of its security personnel in Brgy. Blaas, Tulunan, North Cotabato on September 16.
Similar attacks against human rights have also been committed with impunity by the AFP, the PNP, the Cafgu and other paramilitary groups in the North Central and Western regions of Mindanao. These have been promptly responded to with NPA military action, particularly in the North Central Mindanao Region (NCMR) where 3 tactical offensives were launched.
The killing of media practitioners and workers and other vile forms of repression against them continue to worsen and do so with utter impunity. Barely a hundred days after Aquino's inauguration, three media persons have been murdered in the country. In Mindanao, other media workers face harassment with no let up. The most vicious of these harassments is the outright termination of three media practitioners and the threat of suspension aimed at other personnel of dxDC RMN Davao for their progressive stance in public opinion.
These brazen manifestations of militarist treachery clearly show what the Filipino people could expect under Benigno Aquino III's 6-year term of 'undeclared Martial Law': more human rights violations and suppression campaigns in order to protect the interest of US imperialism and the ruling landlord and big bourgeois comprador classes.
The intensity of violence of Mr. Aquino's 'martial rule' is expected to escalate because the only way for it to prevail is to silence the people's growing clamor for genuine land reform and nationalist industrialization, while it desperately attempts to please US imperial power by agreeing to the basing rights US military forces in the country and falling subservient to its geo-political interests in the Asia-Pacific.
The attacks against revolutionary forces and the people are seen to intensify even further mainly because the New People's Army and the revolutionary masses ever more becoming the major threat to the ever decaying ruling system of the Philippine society. Also because it is a revolutionary movement that continues to stand firm in defending people's rights and is doubly steadfast in its stance against the reactionary government's militarist policies.
It is most disturbing to know that Noynoy Aquino, the son of one of the most celebrated victims of Martial Law - Ninoy Aquino, is now the one on the warpath implementing the Marcos weapon that ultimately killed his father and crushed the entire nation. But he would be mistaken to think that this fascism would go on without reckoning because Noynoy Aquino's dawn of 'undeclared Martial Law' would only usher in the further advance of the people's democratic revolution towards a new and higher level, towards the strategic stalemate phase of the people's war.
In light of these, the NDFP -- Mindanao strongly calls upon the Filipino people to unite and firmly stand against the US-backed Aquino regime's 'undeclared Martial Law' and much more against what it intends to achieve, which is the further exploitation and oppression of the nation.
We call on the NPA to totally frustrate the extension of OBL and further intensify the level of tactical offensives to defend the masses and the revolutionary forces, especially now that it is clearer that Benigno Aquino III is far from being interested in solving the root causes of the armed conflict by way of the peace process.
We also reiterate our challenge to Noynoy Aquino to give justice to the victims of human rights violation during the Martial Law years, of the Mendiola massacre during the term of his mother Corazon Aquino, and of the Hacienda Luisita massacre and other victims of extra-judicial killings during the US-Arroyo regime.


http://www.philippinerevolution.net/cgi-bin/statements/stmts.pl?author=ndfm;date=100921;lang=eng

[A Revolutionary Tool]

5th ID out to sabotage peace talks

Simon "Ka Filiw" Naogsan (http://www.philippinerevolution.net/cgi-bin/statements/stmts.pl?author=cpdf)
Spokesperson
Cordillera Peoples' Democratic Front
September 19, 2010

The Cordillera People's Democratic Front (CPDF) takes exception to the press statement of 501st Bde spokesperson Capt. Adonis Banez that the AFP troops now rampaging in the Cordillera are deployed for peacekeeping purposes! The more the captain talks, the less sense he makes! What he peddles as localized peace talks are actually summary surrender procedures of the revolutionary forces. Capt. Banez does not comprehend what he is saying. Here are some points to consider. One, can the Provincial Peace and Order Council (PPOC), a creation of the GRP for its counter-insurgency campaign, be the proper forum for peace talks? Two, there are no stalled local peace talks simply because no previous local negotiations ever took place. The "stalled local peace negotiations" are only in the imagination of the 5th ID. The peace talks that only took place were between the GRP and the NDFP at the national level. Three, while Capt. Banez praises the value of peace talks, he simultaneously keeps repeating his absurd call for the revolutionary forces to lay down arms even without resolving the root causes of the armed conflict. The purpose of peace talks is to thresh out social issues that drove the exploited Filipino masses and their New People's Army to persevere in revolutionary struggle. So any call for surrender is really comical and an insult to the intelligence of the revolutionary forces and the people. Does Capt. Banez now realize why he makes no sense at all? His name-calling won't do him any good and only shows how good he is at parroting the lines of his superiors.
How can Capt. Banez claim that the soldiers' role in the Cordillera is keeping the peace? Military units turn villages into garrisons by sleeping under or inside houses, or by arrogantly occupying barangay halls, public school buildings and dap-ays. They do this to protect themselves from imagined attacks from the NPA. Residents have written and sent text messages to local newspapers complaining that the operating troops, while staying inside barrio, have even dared to court married women.
The military is being illogical when it insists that localized peace talks can solve current social problems. Can Capt. Banez or even 5th ID commander MGen. Rommel Gomez solve the basic problems of land reform and national industrialization, or the features of the national oppression of the people of the Cordillera? The military's insistence on localized peace talks are meant to sabotage the previous achievements of national peace talks between the GRP and the NDFP, such as the Comprehensive Agreement on the Respect of Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law (CARHRIHL), the Hague Joint Declaration, and the Joint Agreement on Security and Immunity Guarantees (JASIG).
Adhering to the dictum that a lie repeated a thousand times becomes the truth, Capt. Banez parrots the lie that the troops of the 52nd Division Recon Coy ambushed last July 9 were on a medical-dental mission. The truth is those troops came from a barrio where they were forcing local officials to sign an agreement to take part in the counter-insurgency campaign, and they were on their way to a conference with top military officers on how to force more local executives to become part of the counter-insurgency campaign.
Capt. Banez said the NPA violated international humanitarian law, but it is the military that has repeatedly violated human rights. Capt. Banez accused the NPA of recruiting minors, and to prove this absurd allegation, the military has produced alleged rebel returnees who are way beyond 18 years of age, if ever they were recruited at all.
The falsehoods peddled by Capt. Banez are not worth the paper they were printed on. They are part and parcel of an information campaign to demonize the revolutionary forces, and is one of the requisites for launching more military operations in the Mountain Province and the rest of the Cordillera. There are now more troops in the Mountain Province from the newly organized 86th IB, 54th IB, 50th IB, 77th IB, 52nd DRC, Special Forces, and the Scout Rangers. Why is Capt. Banez calling for peace talks when his superiors are pouring more troops into the Mountain Province and the rest of Cordillera? Greater militarization will result in a greater number of abuses committed by the military. It is clear that the peace talks the military offers is just meant to camouflage their offensive operations and cover up the dismal failure of Oplan Bantay Laya2.
The people of the Cordillera and the CPDF will vigilantly face the divide-and-rule tactics of the AFP and GRP. The 5th ID is encouraging more Igorot youths to join the AFP and is reviving the CPLA bandit group in Eastern Mountain Province, sure signs that it desperately needs more men. The lies and deceptive tactics of the 5th ID have failed in the past and will surely fail again. These deserve to be thrown into the dustbin of history.


http://www.philippinerevolution.net/cgi-bin/statements/stmts.pl?author=cpdf;date=100919;lang=eng

[A Revolutionary Tool]

PRESS RELEASE
Information Bureau
Communist Party of the Philippines

CPP denounces QC demolition as payment for Aquino debt to Ayala oligarchsSeptember 24, 2010


The Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) denounced the harsh demolition of urban poor homes yesterday by the National Housing Authority (NHA) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) in Sitio San Roque, Barangay Bagong Pag-asa, Quezon City, calling it "bloody payment for Aquino's political debts to the big business oligarchs of Makati."
Scores were hurt when police-escorted NHA demolition teams started wrecking housing structures and applying force as long-time residents of the area fought to defend their homes. "The demolition operations were carried out by the NHA and the PNP in complete disregard of the legal and human rights of the residents and despite their pleadings for renegotiations first," said the CPP.
"The demolition of urban poor homes yesterday in Sitio San Roque was ferociously and pitilessly carried out by the NHA and PNP, showing the Aquino government's determination to pay its political debts to the Ayalas of Makati at all cost," said the CPP. The Ayalas were among the biggest contributors to Aquino's election campaign fund.
The CPP said the demolition of urban poor communities and the takeover by private businesses of land and other assets in the area are being carried out by the US-Aquino regime in accordance with its Private-Public Partnership central thrust that is being promoted by the imperialist International Monetary Fund and World Bank (IMF-WB).
The CPP pointed out that the Ayalas are the principal private investor in the P22-billion Quezon City Central Business District (QCCBD) project to build a new prime commercial and business center on the 30-hectare Sitio San Roque. Under the QCCBD, Ayala Land Inc. (ALI) plans to set up new giant commercial and business establishments in the area. The NHA expects to earn P12 billion from the sale of the property.
"The utter disregard for the rights and interests of the residents of Sitio San Roque in yesterday's demolition gives the lie to Aquino's 'Kayo ang Boss Ko!' bombast," said the CPP.
There are up to 25,000 families living in the area, many of whom have been residents for at least 20 years, and are totally dependent on some jobs and other sources of livelihood in the area. They will all be without any source of income in Montalban, Rizal where the NHA wants to relocate them. Daily fare back and forth to the area, where the residents have jobs and other livelihood, amounts to more than P100 a day. "The residents have all the legal and moral right to defend their homes and lives. They are fully justified to resist the demolition through collective action," said the CPP.
Residents were granted a temporary reprieve when a Quezon City court issued yesterday afternoon a 24-hour restraining order to stop the demolition. However, the NHA insists on pushing through with the demolition in the coming days.
"We can expect more of these forcible evictions of entire communities to be carried out by the US-Aquino regime in the next six years as it seeks to pave the way for the operations of big foreign and comprador businesses in total disregard of the aggrieved people's interests."
"Urban poor and peasant communities must brace for bigger struggles in the coming months and years to defend their land, homes, lives and interests," said the CPP.


http://www.philippinerevolution.net/cgi-bin/statements/releases.pl?date=100924;refer=cpp;lang=eng

[A Revolutionary Tool]

STATEMENT ON THE CAPTURE OF ELISEO (Ka BIMBO) TADA: Sick NPA Comrade on the Way to Hospital Capitalized by the 10th ID as 'Surenderee'

Dencio Madrigal (http://www.philippinerevolution.net/cgi-bin/statements/stmts.pl?author=vpc)
Commander
Valentin Palamine Command
Regional Operational Command
NPA-Far South Mindanao Region
September 26, 2010


Eliseo (Ka Bimbo) Tada is a very sick man who has been ill for some time and had to have immediate medical treatment in a hospital. NPA medics who attended to him decided he should have a more specialized and extensive treatment, which at that particular time, could not be provided by the guerilla front. For this reason, the comrades decided to brave the odds and bring him to the nearest medical facility in order to save his life. Unfortunately, he was accosted by enemy patrols along the way, interrogated and brought to 39th IB's headquarters in Davao del Sur. During the interrogation he must have been physically and psychologically forced to admit to certain activities of which he had no knowledge about.
It is not true that Ka Bimbo was part of the team that attacked the AFP contingents at Sitio Akboal, Upper Suyan, Sarangani Province. This is physically impossible as Datu Danwata (where he was accosted) and Akboal, Malapatan (where the attack took place on September 21) are separated by a very mountainous terrain which cannot possibly be reached in a period of three days. We suggest that Major Medel Aguilar of the 10th ID and the AFP's spin doctors review their geography to make themselves more credible.
Besides, how could Ka Bimbo participate in the attritive action when he was very sick and has been on treatment by the NPA medics for some time now. He was neither in any of the two other tactical offensives launched by the Red fighters on September 18 and 20 in Malita, Davao del Sur and in Malapatan, Sarangani, respectively, which are within Front 71 territories.
Major Aguilar was very quick to claim for himself and the AFP the honor of capturing this very sick man, Ka Bimbo, and parading him to the world as a 'surenderee.' He has no qualms at all about making up tall stories and demonstrating to the entire world the pathetic liar that he is. For instance, the AFP's so-called "anti dengue fever advocacy" is nothing but a ploy for the government troopers to militarize the mineral-rich areas of Malapatan and Alabel in Sarangani Province and Little Baguio in Davao del Sur to pave way for the immediate entry of Looc Mining of Eduardo Cojuangco, President Aquino's uncle.
While Major Aguilar and Col. Edgardo de Leon of the 73rd IB have fabricated so many recycled and rehashed 'surrenderees' in the Malapatan-Alabel area and have pompously announced there are no more NPAs in Sarangani, they should be reminded that lies and deceit will never win the war for the AFP. In fact, these will isolate them more from the people and towards the AFP's eventual downfall.
More importantly, it is but proper that the AFP abide by the international humanitarian laws as they have so continually boasted about. As such we demand that the AFP treat Ka Bimbo as hors de combat and accord him the proper treatment as stipulated in the Rules of War of the Geneva Convention and the Comprehensive Agreement on Respect of Human Rights and the International Humanitarian Law (CARHRIHL).


http://www.philippinerevolution.net/cgi-bin/statements/stmts.pl?author=vpc;date=100926;lang=eng

[A Revolutionary Tool]

1003rd Bde-10th ID-AFP Brig. Gen. del Rosario's media stunt: a grand cover-up

Ka Parago (http://www.philippinerevolution.net/cgi-bin/statements/stmts.pl?author=pbc1)
1st Pulang Bagani Company
Merardo Arce Command
Southern Mindanao Regional Operations Command
New People's Army
September 27, 2010
Other versions: Bisaya (http://www.philippinerevolution.net/cgi-bin/statements/stmts.pl?date=100927;author=pbc1;lang=bis)
The GRP's local City Council and the public could not be fooled into believing the malicious and downright fictitious tales spewed by 1003rd AFP Brigade commander Brig. Gen. Eduardo del Rosario. His demand for the Davao City Council to investigate the "lumad killings" and his tirade against local human rights activist Kelly Delgado -- as a supposed mastermind of a so-called NPA assassination plot against EastMinCom-AFP's Lt. Col. Randolph Cabangbang -- are entirely divertionary.
Del Rosario's recent publicity stunt desperately wanting to pass off as his own quest for justice comes cheap in the light of investigations to the mounting human rights violation cases and Alamara murders that victimized civilians in Paquibato, Davao City. Del Rosario aims for a grand cover-up for his war crimes he unleashed in the Davao hinterlands.
First, del Rosario's exhibition is to deflect attention away from the current 1003rd Bde-AFP's operations that already took its toll on the lives and livelihood of lumads and settlers in Paquibato. In less than two months, almost a thousand civilian victims suffered from various human rights violations in Paquibato villages including the extra-judicial killing of civilians Julius Tamondes and Reynaldo Labrador. Del Rosario wants to bury in silence the outcome of his offensive AFP operations.
Second, del Rosario's pathetic script implicating Delgado to the armed NPA has only further exposed the General and the regime's continuing policy of extra-judicial killing of civilians -- now under the extended anti-people Oplan Bantay Laya of the newly-installed GRP Pres. Benigno Aquino III.
Delgado's case is no different to the more than a thousand activists killed under Oplan Bantay Laya since 2001 who were all civilians, unjustly accused with trumped up charges; and connecting them to the armed NPA. The case of the brutal death of Rebelyn, a young teacher and a civilian, done by the 10th Infantry Division-AFP's intelligence group is what del Rosario wants to continue in Southern Mindanao. Much as Del Rosario tries to deceive the public, his bad script only puts to light his wanton disregard for international humanitarian law.
As the Davao City Council moves to probe the militarized Paquibato, del Rosario wanted to sway public opinion away from his serious criminal culpability against the Paquibato masses for sowing terror, fan divisiveness among the lumads and settlers; and instigate the recent Paquibato cold-blooded murders.
Under del Rosario's revival of the failed Alsa Lumad AFP strategy, he uses the divide-and-rule tactic among civilians, and uses the vigilante Alamara as expendable pawns to carry-out Oplan Bantay Laya to fight against the revolutionary movement. He has armed and regrouped the Alamara into the 168-strong Long Range Bahani platoons and established liquidation squads among Lumad thugs using as point guard his confidential agent Ruben Labawan.
It is not surpising that one of Labrador's killers, a Cafgu identified as Roberto "alias Kulot" Repe, remains scot-free, and is regularly seen in Paquibato and Paradise detachments and in the 69th Infantry Battalion-AFP command post in Barangay Dalisay, Panabo City.
Numerous initial reports have also reached our guerrila office that the 69th IB-AFP, the so-called "peace and development" troops, are forcing village officials to issue certifications that would clear the fascists of any wrong doing in Paquibato.
Del Rosario's delusions to wipe out the revolutionary movement in the Davao hinterlands have only resulted to grave abuses to civilians. His delusions have all the more contributed to the revolutionary courage among the masses in the Davao base areas. Thus, del Rosario's fascist minions in Paquibato are always vulnerable to the NPA tactical offensives. In the latest Sept. 1 NPA demolition team operation in Mapula, Paquibato, eight Alamara vigilantes and two regular 60th IB-AFP troops were killed in the NPA tactical offensive -- a punishment to the grave crimes the 1003rd Bde-AFP have unleashed against the people.


http://www.philippinerevolution.net/cgi-bin/statements/stmts.pl?author=pbc1;date=100927;lang=eng

[A Revolutionary Tool]

PRESS RELEASE
Information Bureau
Communist Party of the Philippines

MCC grant for Samar is funding for war in line with the US Counter-insurgency GuideSeptember 29, 2010



The National Democratic Front-Eastern Visayas today described the $434 million granted by the US to the Aquino government as "war funds" in line with the US Counter-insurgency Guide. Of the grant facilitated by the Millenium Challenge Corporation headed by US State Secretary Hillary Clinton, $214.4 million will go to the rehabilitation of the Samar Road while the rest are earmarked for other construction projects and improvement of tax collection. But according to NDF-EV spokesperson Fr. Santiago Salas, "The MCC grant is another addition to the long history of US aggression and intervention in Samar, dating back to the 1901 Balangiga Uprising we commemorated last Sept. 28. It is really US assistance for the Aquino government's counter-insurgency program in lieu of Oplan Bantay Laya, where the whole island of Samar remains a priority area. Such a program is copied from the 2009 US Counter-insurgency Guide, which comprehensively pushes "counter-insurgency" by emphasizing massive psywar propaganda in tandem with brute military force."
Fr. Salas noted that no fundamental changes are being undertaken by the Aquino government, while it actively hews to US political and economic interests. "President Benigno Aquino III is no different from Arroyo and other predecessors in being a puppet of US imperialism. It is even laughable for the MCC to give the grant as a gesture of support for Aquino's supposed anti-corruption. But not even a hundred days into his office, the people can see through Aquino's emperor's new clothes into his own corruption, puppetry and fascism. He has neglected bringing Gloria Arroyo to account for massive corruption and human rights violations. His government is riddled with cronyism through the Kamag-anak Inc. and Kaklase Inc. He is beholden to the interests of big landlords, big business, and US imperialism. He has not resumed peace talks with the NDFP but seems inclined to all-out war coupled with cosmetic reforms."
The NDF-EV spokesperson also said that the MCC grant comes on the heels of the Aquino government's 2011 increased military budget and superficial projects to woo the people. "The 2011 military budget of P104.7 billion is 81% bigger than in 2010, while the military is also expanding into untraditional roles like participating in socio-economic projects, such as Kalahi-CIDSS, to deodorize its reputation. The Aquino government is also pushing for superficial economic projects that in the main are infrastucture-building to support foreign investments, such as the MCC's Samar Road rehabilitation that could spur massive foreign logging and mining. Meanwhile, fundamental changes are ignored, such as land reform and national industrialization, job creation and wage increases, the assurance of basic social services, and protecting and defending the national sovereignty."
Fr. Salas concluded that the MCC grant for Samar foreshadows massive government deception and military offensives against the people ahead. "The Aquino regime will strive to project that genuine change is happening, while intensifying the military solution against the revolutionary movement of the people. The line will be clearly drawn between superficial and fundamental changes, or between reformism and revolution. We call on the people to resist the US-backed "counter-insurgency" program of the Aquino regime. No manipulation and maneuvering inspired by the US Counter-insurgency Guide can disguise the rottenness of the reactionary ruling system and the need for revolution. The people can best fight back in using their strength of millions in the mass movement, and in supporting and joining the revolutionary armed struggle to bring the people's war to a new and higher level in the next five years."

http://www.philippinerevolution.net/cgi-bin/statements/releases.pl?date=100929;refer=ndfev;lang=eng

[A Revolutionary Tool]

PRESS RELEASE
Information Bureau
Communist Party of the Philippines

Aquino's promised jobs from US companies, "consuelo de bobo"--CPPSeptember 29, 2010


The Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) today dismissed as "consuelo de bobo" Benigno Aquino's promise of 40,000 new jobs in the next three years with $2.4 billion in projected new US investments from his week-long US trip.
Said the CPP, "This is a drop in the ocean of unemployment drowning the Philippine economy. Consider that just last March, some 30% of more than half a million new college graduates, a bigger number of high school graduates and as many dropouts have ended up unemployed."
"Close to half of the Philippine labor force of 39 million are either unemployed or seeking additional employment," the CPP added.
"Aquino enticed US companies to invest in the Philippines promising them higher returns due to cheap Filipino labor," said the CPP. "As it is, the current minimum wage rates are hardly one-fourth of what is needed for a family to live decently. Philippine labor is already one of the cheapest in Asia. With its thrust to keep wages low in order to attract more foreign investments, the puppet Aquino regime will surely just keep rejecting the workers' just demands for wage hikes."
"In giving highest premium to US and other foreign investments in the Philippines and offering more tax and other incentives under the banner of its Private-Public Partnership Program, the US-Aquino regime is exposing its bankrupt pro-imperialist neoliberal economic policies that only keeps worsening the economic backwardness and massive unemployment in the Philippines," said the CPP.
"The Aquino regime is showing itself to be no different from the past puppet regimes in terms of addressing the economic crisis and unemployment problem," added the CPP. "Succeeding puppet regimes have all failed in addressing the unemployment problem through the export of labor and opening up the economy all the more to foreign investors."
"Like the past puppet regimes, the Aquino regime shows no interest in building national industry, implementing land reform and raising agricultural production which are key measures to generate much-needed employment," said the CPP.


http://www.philippinerevolution.net/cgi-bin/statements/releases.pl?date=100929;refer=cpp;lang=eng

[A Revolutionary Tool]

Open Letter by NDF-EV to the People on the Diatribes of the Northern Samar Peace and Development Forum

Fr. Santiago "Sanny" Salas (http://www.philippinerevolution.net/cgi-bin/statements/stmts.pl?author=ndfev)
Spokesperson
NDF-Eastern Visayas
September 30, 2010

The National Democratic Front-Eastern Visayas would like to answer the "Statement of condemnation of the inhuman killing of the eight police officers and barangay councilman" by the Northern Samar Peace and Development Forum dated August 21. The statement was allegedly issued on the day of the tactical offensive by the New People's Army in Catarman, but came to light suspiciously only recently.
The NSPDF statement maliciously makes it appear that human rights violations were committed by the New People's Army in its Aug. 21 tactical offensive against the Philippine National Police in Brgy. Imelda, Catarman, Northern Samar. As the NPA's Rodante Urtal Command has already clarified, T/Sgt. Rolando de Guia was punished for being a military intelligence handler of the 63rd Infantry Battalion, acting under cover as a village councilor of Brgy. Imelda. Moreover, the eight PNP elements who were killed in action were legitimate targets for the NPA. The entire operation against De Guia and the PNP was therefore a legitimate act of war. The NPA has also asserted its firm adherence to human rights and international humanitarian law.
It is thus sheer hypocrisy and manipulation for the NSPDF to pontificate about the NPA's taking away the right to life of the casualties. That is certainly ridiculous, because were not De Guia and the policemen clearly combatants in the armed services of the state, who themselves were ready and authorized to take away the right to life of enemies of the state such as the NPA? We also remind NSPDF that as far as respecting the right to life is concerned, the Philippine government remains a pariah in the international community for more than 1,200 unsolved political killings under Oplan Bantay Laya since 2001. The silence of the Aquino regime on bringing Gloria Arroyo to account for these crimes becomes all the more damning because these continue: at least 12 political killings have been committed by state security forces even before Aquino's one hundred days in office.
The NSPDF also grossly distorts the facts in misrepresenting that the heavily-armed policemen were not combat-ready but only on police investigation, as if even that would not make them legitimate targets as members of the armed services. Much more maliciously, the NSPDF claims the NPA finished off the policemen by shooting them in the head and burning their vehicle. But despite the serious allegation, no credible evidence, or even a formal complaint whether to reactionary or revolutionary authorities, have been presented more than a month after the incident.
The NSPDF statement feigns concern for human rights, but its contents reveal gross distortions, manipulations, and lies that all amount to similar fascist diatribes by the military against the revolutionary movement. It raises questions, such as what is NSPDF, and who benefits from this fascist statement pretending to avow human rights?
To the knowledge of NDF-EV, the NSPDF is a hollow organization but claims to represent, as per its statement, the Church, government, academe, civil society and youth in Northern Samar. In reality, the NSPDF is a puppet organization being manipulated behind the scenes by reactionary government officials and the military in the province to present a pro-fascist united front. They use the NSPDF for parallel political maneuvers in support of the "counter-insurgency" program Oplan Bantay Laya and other reactionary government projects. They have even duped the Church and other members of the community into supporting the NSPDF. The military in fact gave away its leading role in NSPDF in 2009, when it denied responsibility for the assassination of political activist Fr. Cecilio Lucero, and insisted Fr. Lucero supported the military because he participated in the NSPDF. But it is also known Fr. Lucero had distanced himself from NSPDF upon knowing its reactionary nature, refused to cooperate with the military, and was actually investigating human rights violations by the 63rd IB in Catubig, Northern Samar when he was killed.
The latest diatribes by the NSPDF are not for genuine peace and development and thus do not benefit the people. Such a statement intends to obscure the observance of human rights and international humanitarian law in the armed conflict, by disparaging the NPA while ignoring the decade-long impunity of Oplan Bantay Laya. By doing so, the NSPDF also helps to justify the government's escalation of human rights violations, as is being done by the Aquino regime in pursuing Oplan Bantay Laya until Junary 2011, and in planning to supplant it with a new scheme based on the 2009 US Counter-insurgency Guide. Thus, the NSPDF plays a part in sugarcoating "counter-insurgency": massive psywar deception going with brutal military suppression.
We appeal to the Catholic Church and other sectors in Northern Samar: Listen to the sufferings of the people under Oplan Bantay Laya and discern the preponderant influence of the reactionary politicians and the military in the NSPDF. Such an organization only deceives and isolates the Catholic Church and other sectors from the masses of the people. This can only lead to unwitting participation in spreading government-instigated fear and violence among the people because of Oplan Bantay Laya and whatever new "counter-insurgency" scheme of the Aquino regime.
Let us not be like sheep lying down with wolves; let us reject NSPDF now, and oppose Oplan Bantay Laya and the US Counter-insurgency Guide. Instead, let us support the people in genuine struggle for human rights, justice, peace, democracy and national sovereignty.


http://www.philippinerevolution.net/cgi-bin/statements/stmts.pl?author=ndfev;date=100930;lang=eng

[A Revolutionary Tool]

Filipino people fast becoming disillusioned over the same old rottenness under the US-Aquino regime

Communist Party of the Philippines (http://www.philippinerevolution.net/cgi-bin/statements/stmts.pl?author=cpp)
September 30, 2010

Hardly a week short of Benigno Aquino III's first 100 days as President, the Filipino people are fast growing disillusioned over the same old rottenness of the semicolonial and semifeudal state ruling system presided over and perpetrated by the new puppet reactionary regime. The mystique whipped up around Aquino is fast being blown away by the realities of the socio-economic and political crises of the ruling state and system.
Aquino's rhetoric of "change" has lost its edge in the eyes of the people. His regime has increasingly shown itself to be no different from past reactionary regimes in terms of kowtowing and mendicancy to US imperialism and preserving big landlord, comprador and bureaucrat capitalist puppet reactionary rule at the expense of the people.
By the people's reckoning, the following ten outstanding issues in Aquino's first 100 days in office underscore the already evident pro-imperialist, elitist, superficial, incompetent, militarist and rotten-to-the-core character of his regime:


Lack of drive in the criminal prosecution of Gloria Arroyo. Aquino has failed within his first 100 days in office to decisively pursue the criminal prosecution of Gloria Arroyo and her ilk for largescale plunder, gross violations of human rights, electoral fraud and other heinous crimes. The pre-election deal between Aquino and Arroyo is now becoming evident in the Aquino government's lack of drive to press on with the criminal cases against Arroyo. Aquino formed a Truth Commission hampered with a lot of legal and other defects. The deadline set for the completion of its work (the end of 2011) provides Arroyo enough time to undertake legal, political and other maneuvers to elude prosecution. Aquino, meanwhile, has been passive in the face of the Arroyo-loyalist Supreme Court's maneuvers to accommodate the dilatory tactics of Arroyo's protector, Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez, in the face of moves in Congress to impeach her.
No intent to implement agrarian reform. Aquino-Cojuangco scion Benigno Aquino III's rise as president has emboldened the haciendero-comprador clan to tighten its monopoly hold on Hacienda Luisita. They employed coercion, deception and bribery to push for a "compromise deal" gimmick with supposed peasant beneficiaries last August to project support for its Stock Distribution Option (SDO) in lieu of land distribution. Instead of immediately and outrightly deciding against the illegal SDO, the Supreme Court fiddled with the issue and even pushed for "mediation" between the Cojuangcos and the peasants demanding land distribution. Peasant representatives have walked out of the "mediation" which the Aquino-Cojuangcos tried to use to avoid a decisive resolution of the case against the SDO. As in the Hacienda Luisita case, the pro-landlord Aquino regime has no intention of implementing genuine agrarian reform in the country.
Unbridled US interventionism in exchange for US political, military, economic, financial and other support. The Aquino government is allowing unbridled US military intervention in the Philippines for counterinsurgency objectives as well as to serve as front for US military dominance in the Southeast Asia and Pacific regions. It favors permanent US military presence and involvement in combat and combat-related operations. The US Pacific Command's Joint Special Operations Task Force-Philippines (JSOTF-P) has now been beefed up from 600 to 700 troops. Aquino reneged on an earlier statement that he would take up the issue of the Visiting Forces Agreement in talks with US President Obama and other top US officials. Strings attached to the $464 million fund grant from the US Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) include the opening up of the country to more US military intervention as well as more concessions for US investments and superprofits in the country. The MCC grant will be used to bankroll counterinsurgency projects masquerading as good-governance and poverty-reduction palliatives under cue from the US's Counterinsurgency Guide. The US has also extended financial assistance to the AFP and Philippine National Police (PNP).
No serious interest in the peace process. Despite his "peace" pronouncements during his state of the nation address, Aquino has failed to carry out concrete steps and positive measures for the resumption of formal peace negotiations with the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP). Instead, he has imposed a "ceasefire" precondition in violation of The Hague Declaration and other agreements signed in the past. Security and military officials have recently been busy with their "local peace talks" gimmick that is nothing more than the reactionary government talking to its own shadow.
Extension of the OBL terror campaign. The US-Aquino regime has bloodied its hands by ordering the extension of Oplan Bantay Laya (OBL). It will be coming up with a new internal security operational plan under the guidance of US military advisers and the 2009 US Counterinsurgency Guide. In complete disregard of nationally and internationally widespread criticisms of gross violations of human rights, massive terrorist military operations continue to be conducted nationwide by the fascist AFP under the new puppet regime with the desperate hope of stemming the growth of the revolutionary armed movement. The US-Aquino regime remains indifferent to the continuing gross injustice and violations of human rights.At least seven activists have been summarily executed by armed agents of the state since Aquino was inaugurated into office. Aquino has even blocked substantial resolutions of these new cases, as well as those committed in the past, when he claimed that most of these killings were "due to personal feuds." The Morong 43 continue to be detained in Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig, Metro Manila, despite nationwide and worldwide appeal for their speedy release. At least 344 other political prisoners also continue to languish in jails and military camps across the country.
Counterinsurgency, neoliberal, mendicancy, anti-people budget. In his draft 2011 budget proposal, Aquino increased the budget of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) by a whopping 81%. The US-Aquino regime has also increased allocations for external debt payments by 29%. In complete disregard of the people's welfare, appropriations for education, health and other essential social needs have been reduced. The budget of the Department of Social Works and Development was most significantly padded to conform to US designs to perpetuate the people and country's dependency to doleouts as well as to play a key role in the government's US-designed COIN. The US-Aquino regime is principally supporting the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program to promote mendicancy and draw the people away from militant struggle. The US government also uses such doleouts as leverage in order to further its economic, political, military and other forms of intervention and clout.
Massive push for more denationalization and privatization. The US-Aquino regime is a Privatization Regime. More than ever, it is now giving a big push for the denationalization, privatization and liberalization of the Philippine economy. It is set to sell strategic industries, utilities and other businesses and resources to foreign big business, offering big imperialist and comprador firms P740 billion worth of privatization projects boosted with generous tax and other incentives for bigger superprofits. Aquino's drumbeaters made a big fuzz of the $2.4 billion in projected new US investments for the next three years, that he supposedly gained in his recent week-long visit to the US.
Increase in charges of public utilities and additional taxes. The privatization burden is being shifted onto the shoulders of the masses. Fare rates for the Metro Rail Transit (MRT) and Light Railway Transit (LRT) systems in Metro Manila and private water utility companies servicing Metro Manila will be hiked by October. Aquino wants to make them more attractive as he puts them up for sale to profit-hungry private investors. Aquino's Bureau of Internal Revenue was geared to collect 12% VAT on expressway toll fees, but was only prevented from doing so after vigorous public opposition that resulted in a restraining order from the Supreme Court.
Collossal incompetence in handling the hostage crisis. All throughout the August 23 hostage crisis, the Aquino regime exhibited colossal incompetence and disorganization resulting in the death of eight foreign tourists and the hostage-taker. The rottenness and malaise of the prevailing system and the ineptness of the government were thoroughly exposed. The committee headed by Justice Secretary Leila de Lima, which investigated and made a report on the incident, censured at least 10 police and government officials and recommended the filing of appropriate charges. It failed to touch, however, on Aquino's own principal incompetence and irresponsibility.
Rotten appointees and political factions. Aquino's cabinet has been largely filled with appointments made as payback for political debts, especially for their huge campaign contributions. Focus at present is on Enrico Puno, fellow gun enthusiast and close friend of Aquino and an endorsee of the Kamag-anak Inc., who was appointed Undersecretary of the Department of the Interior and Local Government to directly supervise the Philippine National Police. Despite his being one of those mainly responsible for the bungling of the hostage crisis and being named as a top recipient of jueteng payola, Puno continues to enjoy the "trust and confidence" of Aquino. Instead of acting in the interest of the people and the truth, Aquino washes his hands, defends the culprits and casts aspersion on the ones who have exposed them. In many controversies, the rift between the "Balai" and "Samar" factions of the Aquino government have spilled out in the open, underscoring disunity, dirty political manueverings, executive dysfunctions and Aquino's failure to govern.

There are scores of other issues which have contributed to the rapid decline of the Aquino government less than a hundred days since last June 30. It showed itself inutile as typhoon Basyang hit Metro Manila last July, and unjustly even made a scapegoat of the hapless weather bureau chief. It failed to act in the face of a severe water shortage that hit Metro Manila over several weeks last July. It failed to carry out any significant measure to address the severe shortage of beds in public hospitals in the face of a major dengue epidemic in the past several months. The violent demolition of urban poor shanties in Barangay Bagong Pag-Asa, Quezon City, last September 23 revealed Aquino's disregard for the welfare of the downtrodden and exposed the emptiness of his "Kayo ang boss ko" slogan.
These outstanding issues serve as a yardstick in projecting the further sufferings of the mass of the Filipino people in the next six years under the Aquino regime. With the emptiness of Aquino's promises and the shallowness of his political gimmicks exposed one after the other, the people are faced with no other option but to wage revolutionary and militant struggle in order to defend and advance their interests. In the next six years, the people are bound to rise up in resistance against the policies of the Aquino regime and the entire ruling system.


http://www.philippinerevolution.net/cgi-bin/statements/stmts.pl?author=cpp;date=100930;lang=eng

[A Revolutionary Tool]

PRESS RELEASE
Information Bureau
Communist Party of the Philippines

NDF-EV hits governors for supporting "counterinsurgency" with infrastructure projectsOctober 2, 2010

The National Democratic Front-Eastern Visayas today assailed the statements of three governors in the region supporting infrastructure projects as part of "counterinsurgency." Fr. Santiago Salas, NDF-EV spokesperson, said,"Who are these governors really serving: the military or the people? Supporting "counterinsurgency" with infrastructure projects shows that these projects are essentially hypocritical rather than genuinely serving the people. The delivery of basic social services, such as farm-to-market roads, is a responsibility of the government and should not be tied to the military's goals. The people should also question Northern Samar Gov. Raul Daza, Samar Gov. Sharee Ann Tan and Leyte Gov. Jericho Petilla whether or not they are asserting civilian supremacy over the military."
Fr. Salas also said the 8th Infantry Division was following the US Counterinsurgency Guide -- the US formula for imperialist intervention and aggression and counterrevolutionary war -- in striving to participate in non-military roles and in working closely with the local government. "The military wants to win back the support of the people, who loathe its human rights violations, corruption and mercenary service to US imperialism. The military is also working with the local government to restore the people's slipping trust in the reactionary ruling system. These are steps outlined in the US COIN Guide: the less it seems like "counterinsurgency", the better. However, such new tasks by the military -- in construction, education, health and others -- of course usurp civilian authority, and sideline the civilian institutions that should be doing these duties for the people. Moreover, these political maneuvers as part of psywar still go simultaneously with violent armed repression of government critics and perceived supporters of the revolutionary movement."
The NDF-EV spokesperson called on the local government officials, Church, media and other sectors to support civilian supremacy over the military and to oppose the militarization of civilian government functions. "While pretending to change its image, the military still strikes fear in the hearts of the people. This is because the military has not been brought to account for its numerous human rights violations, and likewise remains rotten to the core as the staunch defender of the reactionary ruling system and US imperialism. Thus it is important for the local government, Church, media and other sectors to join hands in curbing the grave abuse of authority by the military in the region. We must also all unite in patriotic resistance against the US-backed "counterinsurgency" campaign of the Aquino regime, and struggle for peace based on justice, national sovereignty and democracy."

http://www.philippinerevolution.net/cgi-bin/statements/releases.pl?date=101002;refer=ndfev;lang=eng

[A Revolutionary Tool]

10th ID-AFP's 'peace and development:' a smokescreen for AFP combat operations and grave rights violations, all for corporate greed

Rigoberto F. Sanchez (http://www.philippinerevolution.net/cgi-bin/statements/stmts.pl?author=mac)
Spokesperson
Merardo Arce Command
Southern Mindanao Regional Operational Command
New People's Army
October 5, 2010

Commando teams of the 1st Pulang Bagani Company-NPA (PBC-NPA) have staged a series of harassment actions against the Army Patrol Bases of the 1003rd Brigade-10th Infantry Division-AFP (1003rd Bde-AFP) in Paquibato Proper and Paradise Embac at 6 am, today, October 5, and another last September 30 in Barangay Fatima, all in Paquibato District. Since July, a total of ten 1st PBC-NPA tactical offensives have been launched against the 1003rd-AFP troops in Paquibato, Davao City.
The NPA actions were carried out as punitive measures against the abusive 1003rd Brigade-AFP troops in the Davao base areas. The 1003rd Bde-AFP has been specifically deployed to ensure the unhampered exploration of corporate mining entities. Since last year, the regime's Mines and Geosciences Bureau has been processing at least 11 applications to mine 95,569.369 hectares under the 1003rd Bde-AFP's area of operations in the mineral-rich mountains of Davao City, Davao del Norte and as far as Bukidnon. More than half of these applications are in Paquibato, Davao City.
The current unrelenting AFP combat operations are part of the 10th ID-AFP's 'peace and development' buzzword designed to sow terror among the communities, silence the dissenters and pave the way for the entry of corporate mining. These AFP operations have resulted to grave crimes against the masses whose rights were violated one after the other with impunity. In less than three months, almost a thousand individuals in Paquibato were victims of state fascism that included the murders of civilians Julius Tamondes and Reynaldo Labrador.
10th ID-AFP spokesman Lt. Col. Medel Aguilar's babble that the AFP combat troops were engaged in conducting "dialogues with the people" when fired upon last September 30 is pure hogwash. The so-called dialogue is the AFP-initiated compulsory pulong-pulong in every barangay where people are subjected to psychological warfare to force them to renounce the revolutionary movement, and organize the so-called Barangay Defense System that turn civilians into pawns and convenient AFP shields against NPA attacks. There is no hint of democracy in these coercive 'dialogues.' Lt. Col. Aguilar's perversion of the truth holds no water for the poor peasants who have been at the receiving end of the 10th ID-AFP's brutality. His fabrications on the abused 'peace and development' hype are easily uncovered by the masses who have long suffered from widespread poverty.
Lt. Col. Aguilar has called the NPA actions as attacks against 'development efforts' of the regime but expediently glosses over whose idea of 'development' the Lt. Colonel refers to. In Paquibato District, the Alberto Mining Corp. plans to mine 16,200 hectares in Paquibato and Malabog; another company named Superfield is set to open 6,874 hectares in Lumiad and Mapula, Paquibato and Mambusao Mining of Ramon Taningco 15,660 hectares also in Davao City. It is the interests of these corporate entities that AFP confidential agent and tribal dealer Ruben Labawan's ATADI has promoted. These corporate encroachments protected by the 10th ID-AFP's heavy-combat operations have endangered peasant lives and livelihood. It will eventually devastate the environment and plunder our national patrimony.
The 10th ID-AFP's 'peace and development' mantra is a smokescreen for the intense AFP combat operations and violations to international humanitarian law -- all at the service of big business. Lt. Col. Aguilar's zealous discourse on 'humanitarian work' is to protect corporate greed. Aguilar's spin and the 10th ID-AFP intense combat operations will surely fail to suppress the people's revolutionary resistance, and will continue to make the regime's war machinery even more vulnerable to the tactical offensives of the people's army.


http://www.philippinerevolution.net/cgi-bin/statements/stmts.pl?author=mac;date=101005;lang=eng

[A Revolutionary Tool]

PRESS RELEASE
Information Bureau
Communist Party of the Philippines

NPA offensives and the people's resistance put the AFP on the losing courseOctober 5, 2010

The Efren Martires Command of the New People's Army in Eastern Visayas today debunked claims of recent victories by the 8th Infantry Division, adding that recent government reinforcements may lead to more human rights violations rather than NPA casualties. "It is meaningless for the the 8th ID to crow over capturing alleged NPA camps in Samar because the NPA is a guerrilla army with no permanent base," said Ka Karlos Manuel, EMC spokesperson. "Thus Gen. Mario Chan's striving to seem impressive is pure humbug. Moreover, the NPA continues to make gains in the people's war by inflicting serious losses on the Armed Forces of the Philippines and other government forces. Though the 8th ID may have been reinforced with 239 additional troops, the real concern of the NPA is not over itself but for the well-being of the people, who face worsening human rights violations."
The EMC spokesperson also said that winning in war is decisively a matter of popular support and not just armed strength. "The NPA is confident not only in its armed strength and correct strategy and tactics, but more so because of the people's continuing support. The new Aquino regime is now exposing itself as just as corrupt, fascist and pro-imperialist as its predecessors. The Aquino regime makes a lot of noise over the superficial such as infrastructure projects and dole-out programs for the poor, which are also tied to "counterinsurgency" to lull the people's discontent. But it does not undertake fundamental socio-economic changes such as land reform and national industrialization. It also seems to prefer all-out war with US backing in refusing to resume peace negotiations with the long-ready National Democratic Front of the Philippines."
Manuel related that a recent preliminary status report by the Efren Martires Command from January to September 2010 also showed the NPA had minimal losses, while the 8th ID and other armed services of the Aquino government have sustained heavy casualties. "The NPA successfully faced intense military operations under Oplan Bantay Laya, which the military was forced to extend from June 2010 to January 2011 because the government made no significant advances. From January to September 2010, there were a total of 51 armed engagements between the NPA and the 8th ID, police and other government forces. In these 51 armed engagements, government forces sustained 74 casualties killed in action, and 25 casualties wounded in action. Meanwhile, the NPA had 10 casualties killed in action and six others wounded in action, while also confiscating 18 firearms from the enemy. This therefore belies the 8th ID's boasting the NPA is facing imminent defeat. Despite the numerical superiority of government troops, the NPA is proving it can futher develop its strength by launching tactical offensives in guerrilla warfare, such as the Aug. 21 Catarman ambush."
The EMC spokesperson concluded the NPA's increasing offensives and the people's demands for fundamental changes will put the AFP on the losing course. "The NPA is carrying out a just war in defense of the people's nationalist and democratic demands. On the other hand, the AFP is carrying out an unjust war under the direction of the US Counterinsurgency Guide to protect US imperialist interests and the reactionary ruling system. Human rights violations will surely worsen as the Aquino regime pursues Oplan Bantay Laya and puts in place a new "counterinsurgency" scheme under US guidance. But the NPA is ready to defend the people, support their just demands for fundamental changes, and advance the people's war to a new and higher level towards the overthrow of the reactionary ruling system."

http://www.philippinerevolution.net/cgi-bin/statements/releases.pl?date=101005;refer=emkm;lang=eng

[A Revolutionary Tool]

PRESS RELEASE
Information Bureau
Communist Party of the Philippines

CHR participates in psywar against the NPA and abandons real victims of human rights violationsOctober 6, 2010


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The National Democratic Front-Eastern Visayas today assailed the regional office of the Commission on Human Rights for participating in a psywar campaign against the NPA after its successful Aug. 21 tactical offensive in Catarman, Northern Samar. "Without even the pretense of an investigation, the CHR-8's condemnation of the NPA's offensive merely parrots the lies that the police casualties were not legitimate targets and that the NPA used prohibited land mines," said Fr. Santiago Salas, NDF-EV spokesperson. "These lies were spread by the military through various means, such as official statements by the the 803rd Infantry Brigade, as well as by the Northern Samar Peace and Development Forum that is known to be influenced by the military. It is clear from the repetitious accusations that there is a single force attempting to manipulate public opinion, and that can only be the military's psywar campaign against the NPA. The military is following the style of Hitler's propaganda minister, Joseph Goebbels, in promoting the fascist agenda: A lie when often repeated becomes the truth."
The NDF-EV spokesperson also said only the most undiscerning and diehard could believe the military's psywar. "The military wants to downplay the political impact of the Catarman ambush by maligning the NPA. It is clearly a lie to say the police -- one of the armed services of the reactionary state -- cannot be considered a legitimate target. And it is even more outrageous to say the eight heavily-armed policemen were not combat-ready when they set out to aid a government spy punished by the NPA. Furthermore, the civilians who lived near the ambush site themselves reported to the media there were no land mines anywhere, contrary to rumors spread by the military. In fact, these civilians and the media have every reason to be furious at the military for causing panic and flight among the people."
Fr. Salas also condemned the CHR-8 for rendering financial assistance to the families of the police casualties, but failing to help civilians who were abused during heavy military operations in Northern Samar after the NPA offensive. "There is no reason for the CHR-8 to render humanitarian aid to the families of the policemen -- they were not victims of human rights violations, but died in the performance of their duties as state security forces in a legitimate act of war by the NPA. Meanwhile, the CHR did not help many civilians who were abused during heavy military operations against the NPA after the Catarman ambush. These civilians suffered harassment, torture, strafing, economic blockade, forced evacuations and other human rights violations. The victims have trooped to the media to expose the abuses of the 52nd IB, 63rd IB, and other government forces in their military operations in Barangays Cuenco, Capotoan, Paco and other villages in Las Navas and nearby Matuguinao. These military operations continue today and adversely affect the civilian populace.
"The CHR thus ignores the real victims of human rights violations, and shows by its words and actions it is also an instrument of the government's "counterinsurgency" campaign. The people must rely on their own strength in fighting the mounting human rights abuses of the Aquino regime."

[url]http://www.philippinerevolution.net/cgi-bin/statements/releases.pl?date=101006;refer=ndfev;lang=eng (http://www.philippinerevolution.net/cgi-bin/statements/stmts.pl?author=ndfev;date=101006;lang=eng)

[A Revolutionary Tool]

10th ID-AFP allegation baseless; killers of two Red fighters tasked by enemy, coddled by 3rd SF Bn

Ka Aris Francisco (http://www.philippinerevolution.net/cgi-bin/statements/stmts.pl?author=alc)
Alejandro Lanaja Command
Front 3 Operations Command
New Peoples Army-Southern Mindanao
October 6, 2010

The 3rd Special Forces Battalion (3rd SF Bn) of the 10th Infantry Division is again weaving a tall tale showing without doubt that the Armed Forces of the Philippines of the fascist Gloria Macapagal Arroyo regime is the same and even worse than under the second Aquino government, they continue to commit atrocities and dish out terrible lie after terrible lie, black propaganda after black propaganda.
This time, they peddle an extremely malicious concoction related to the death of two Red fighters of the New People's Army.
The 3rd SF Bn-10th ID is lying through its fascist fangs when it accuses the NPA of killing Ka Jeffrey and Ka Iso. The loved ones of these two martyred revolutionaries and the public should know the truth. The 3rd SF Bn and the 10th ID must be exposed for what they really are: fascist tiger trying to don the face of a meek sheep.
Ka Jeffrey and Ka Iso were murdered by a group led by Isagani Carmelotes, a resident of Barangay Limot, Laak, Compostela Valley Province. Most of Isagani Carmelotes' group were from Sitio Logom, Barangay Pagwas, Laak. Carmelotes and another senior member of his group masterminded the brutal twin murders which they carried out on the night of November 16, 2009 in a house owned by one of the group members. They acted as "masa", befriended the two and later killed them. The motive was to disarm the comrades of their rifles (M16 Armalite and M1 Carbine).
An eyewitness to the gruesome double murder confided to investigators from the local mass organization and the NPA that the two comrades were hacked before they were shot and buried. Several witnesses saw Isagani Carmelotes carrying the two high-powered rifles (HPRs) the morning after. On November 25, he surrendered the two HPRs he seized to the Charlie Company detachment in Barangay Del Monte, Veruela, Agusan del Sur (a barangay adjacent to Barangay Limot, Laak).
Within the week after turning over the two rifles, Isagani Carmelotes stayed with troops of the 3rd SF Bn stationed in the Philippine Army/Cafgu detachment in Barangay Pagwas. He acted as guide to the combat operations of the 3rd SF Bn in Laak. Up to this very day of the 10th ID-directed "drama", Isagani Carmelotes and his criminal cohorts are handled by the 3rd SF Bn.
Few days before their brutal deaths, Ka Jeffrey and Ka Iso detached from the main body of their guerilla unit to launch attritive action against troops of the 3rd SF Bn and 26th IB's Charlie Company who were conducting military operations in the area as part of their failed rescue attempt on prisoner of war (POW) Cpl. Dominador Alegre. The NPA released POW Alegre on November 15, 2009.
In December 2009, the Alejandro Lanaja Command of the NPA, in conjunction with the local revolutionary mass organizations started investigating the "disappearance" of the two comrades. In January this year, the investigation unearthed the facts of the incident. The murderers and their criminal coddlers will pay a heavy price for the death of our comrades. Revolutionary Justice shall be achieved in due time.


http://www.philippinerevolution.net/cgi-bin/statements/stmts.pl?author=alc;date=101006;lang=eng

[The Vegan Marxist]

CPP denounces AFP Red baiting of candidates
October 8, 2010

The Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) belied claims by the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) that the New People's Army (NPA) is fielding candidates in the upcoming barangay elections and denounced it as Red baiting.

The CPP expressed concern that because of such Red baiting, more progressive and propeople candidates and officials as well as social activists at the barangay level will become targets of extrajudicial killings and other fascist terrorist actions by reactionary politicos and their military and private armed auxiliaries.

The CPP said that the armed revolutionary movement builds its own truly democratic people's government in the revolutionary areas, conducts its own elections and does not participate in the reactionary elections. "Such elections generally reflect the rotten rule and system and are used by reactionary politicos to extend their power down to the barangay level," said the CPP.

"But while reactionary state power continues to hold sway and has not yet been replaced by democratic revolutionary rule in the entire country, the revolutionary movement does not oppose efforts by the people to support their progressive and propeople elements vying in the reactionary elections."

The CPP said that at the barangay level, progressive and propeople officials are able to achieve immediate benefits for their constituencies within the constraints set by the rotten, reactionary, puppet nature of the entire government and system.

"In their own barangays, progressive and propeople candidates and officials may be able to immediately marshall closer grassroots support for causes such as protection of human rights; promotion of agrarian reform; provision of more livelihood, infrastructure, education, health and and other services; and advancement of other propeople concerns."

The CPP warned, however, that because of this, they become even more open targets of local reactionaries and their armed minions.

http://www.philippinerevolution.net/cgi-bin/statements/releases.pl?date=101008;refer=cpp;lang=eng

[The Vegan Marxist]

The people support the continuing struggle of the NPA; 8th ID is on the run because it is despised by the people
October 12, 2010

The Efren Martires Command today scorned 8th Infantry Division chief Gen. Mario Chan as talking bull for calling on the New People's Army to surrender, while it is in fact government troops that are on the run because they are not welcomed by the people. "After more than 30 years of fighting, the NPA remains unperturbed by the Aquino government's renewed offensives because of the people's continuing support," said Ka Karlos Manuel, EMC spokesperson. "The 8th ID is only wearing itself out in its much-ballyhooed relentless and massive operations. It is the 8th ID that is on the run, not the NPA, because the NPA is welcomed and sheltered by the people, who on the other hand reject government troops as thieves and ruthless killers."

Manuel also pointed out the 8th ID is committing violence against the people because it is not winning against the NPA. "No one wins a war by forcing it on the people. But the 8th ID blames and attacks the people because of the NPA's perseverance and growing strength. It is has also been brought to the attention of the NPA that while the military pretends to observe human rights, it is in fact forcing the victims to absolve them of any wrongdoing, or else go incognito so they wouldn't be identified." Manuel cited recent examples of human rights abuses by the 8th ID:

1. September 20. In Brgy. Casapa, Jiabong, soldiers from the 34th IB looking for the NPA harassed and threatened to execute 30-year-old Rosalie Gagbo and her three children aged one to four years old. Gagbo, wife of a barangay councilor, was also beaten with a stick on the neck and forced to sign a document stating she was not abused by the soldiers. The soldiers also stole two chickens and a bolo. They also came back after a week and forced Gagbo's seven-year-old son to sign a document attesting his mother was not abused.

2. In the space of a week beginning September 20, more than 20 soldiers from the 34th IB operating against the NPA swindled Irene and Serafin Pacios, Jr., who ran a store in Brgy. Bunga, Motiong. The soldiers consumed on credit nearly P4000 worth of rice, soft drinks, biscuits, canned sardines, cigarettes, and Colt 45 beer. But they left after paying less than half of what they consumed and still owe at least P2200. The Pacios couple could not run after the soldiers because they had no nameplates and did not identify themselves or their commanding officer. In an earlier military operation, store owner Wenceslao Jomagdao was also swindled in the same way by soldiers and has not been indemnified to date.

3. The same troops in Brgy. Bunga also stole the papaya and sugarcane harvests of Arcenia and Jose Labong, while also trampling their rice harvests. A sack of cassava and a chicken owned by Gabriel and Remedios Pacleta were also stolen.

4. In Matuguinao, helicopters ferrying troops and supplies have been indiscriminately landing on and ruining rice fields; the farmers have all been eagerly expecting their first good harvest since the intense and prolonged dry spell of the previous months. In the interior barangays of San Jose de Buan, columns of the 34th IB on scouting missions have been trampling over and destroying the precious crops and livelihood of the poor peasants.

Manuel urged other victims of human rights violations to press for justice and indemnification against the 8th ID's abuses. "Other human rights violations are believed to have been perpetrated in massive military operations carried out in Catbalogan, San Jorge, Gandara and Paranas in Western Samar, as well as in Northern Samar. These abuses show that while the military is claiming gains over the NPA, it is the people who have been hardest hit. The NPA vows to make the 8th ID pay dearly for the sufferings of the people. The 8th ID will surely be on the run because of its isolation from the people and abuses. The Aquino regime will also certainly be shaken by the people's resistance to its dastardly, US-backed "counter-insurgency" campaign."

http://www.philippinerevolution.net/cgi-bin/statements/releases.pl?date=101012;refer=emc;lang=eng

[The Vegan Marxist]

NDF-EV says amnesty for rebel soldiers may be positive, calls for release of NDFP consultant and all political prisoners
October 13, 2010

The National Democratic Front-Eastern Visayas today said the Aquino government's granting of amnesty to soldiers who rose up against the previous administration may be a positive step, and also called for the release of NDFP peace consultant Eduardo Sarmiento and all political prisoners. "The Aquino government must also heed as well the plight of the political prisoners, who were slapped with trumped-up charges and subjected to arbitrary arrest and detention," Fr. Salas said. "We call attention to political prisoners languishing behind bars, such as NDFP consultant Eduardo Sarmiento, Dario Tomada, Vincent Borja, Paterno Opo, and Jaime Soledad, among others. Mr. Aquino should take a leaf from his mother, who released the political prisoners of the Marcos dictatorship after its overthrow in 1986."

Fr. Salas added that, "To recall, Eduardo Sarmiento, the NDFP consultant for Eastern Visayas in the peace talks with the Philippine government, was abducted by government intelligence agents on Feb. 24, 2009, while in Manila for consultations and is currently detained at Camp Crame. Sarmiento's arrest was a blatant violation of the Joint Agreement on Safety and Immunity Guarantees between the NDFP and Philippine government. Meanwhile, political prisoners Borja, Tomada, Opo and Soledad were also arrested on false charges stemming from the military's orchestration in 2006 of alleged "mass graves" by the New People's Army in Leyte."

Fr. Salas also pointed out that the release of Sarmiento, Borja, Tomada and other political prisoners will be a positive step to resuming the peace negotiations between the Aquino government and the NDFP. "We call on the Aquino government to release NDFP consultant Sarmiento and all the political prisoners as a show of goodwill for the resumption of peace talks with the NDFP. This will pave the way to discuss and address the root causes of the armed conflict. We also call on the Church, media, human rights advocates, civil libertarians and other peace advocates to support the struggle for freedom for all political prisoners and the continuation of the peace process."

http://www.philippinerevolution.net/cgi-bin/statements/releases.pl?date=101013;refer=ndfev;lang=eng

[The Vegan Marxist]

Militarization in Samar confirms "counterinsurgency" purpose of MCC assistance
October 13, 2010

The National Democratic Front-Eastern Visayas today slammed 8th Infantry Division chief Maj. Gen. Mario Chan for launching widespread military operations under the extended Oplan Bantay Laya, and for coercing the local government in Western Samar to support the Aquino government's "counterinsurgency" campaign. "It is clear Gen. Chan is asserting military supremacy in making the inappropriate and insulting demand to the Western Samar provincial government to increase and expand the "mobility corridors" so the 8th ID troops could pursue the New People's Army," said NDF-EV spokesperson Fr. Santiago Salas. "This proves the government's so-called development projects, especially under the aegis of the Millenium Challenge Corporation, are not really beneficial to the people but in support of the "counterinsurgency" campaign. It is in fact the military that is calling the shots, and the militarist solution to social unrest lurks behind the US-funded Samar Road and other alleged development projects. While pretending to aid the people of Samar, the more than $200 million MCC development assistance is actually serving as the Trojan horse of militarization."

Fr. Salas also said the ongoing militarization in Northern and Western Samar belie the Aquino government's promises of peace and development. "Human rights violations continue under the extended Oplan Bantay Laya, and are bound to mount after January 2011 when the Aquino government pursues a new scheme in the mold of the US Counterinsurgency Guide. Gen. Chan's pronouncements the military ushers in peace and development are thus nothing more than sugarcoating militarization. Since August in fact, wide areas of the countryside in northern, western and eastern Samar are now warzones where the military violates human rights and international humanitarian law with impunity. These include areas in the Western Samar towns of Jiabong, Motiong, San Jorge, Catbalogan, Gandara, Paranas, San Jose de Buan and Matuguinao, on to Las Navas and other Northern Samar towns, as well as Jipapad in Eastern Samar. The 8th ID troops encamp in civilian communities, putting these in danger, in gross violation of international humanitarian law. Troops from the 52nd IB, 63rd IB, 34th IB, Scout Rangers and other military and paramilitary units have also been accused by civilians of summary executions, torture, harassment, indiscriminate firing, robbery, destruction of property and other violations."

The NDF-EV spokesperson called on the local government, Church, media, human rights advocates and other sectors to expose and oppose the militarization of Samar and to reject the US Counterinsurgency Guide and its MCC component. "The victims of human rights violations must stand up and demand justice and redress for the decade-long ordeal caused by Oplan Bantay Laya. The people must unite, expose and oppose the militarist and fascist solutions being railroaded by the Aquino government as directed by the US COIN Guide. If it wants to show its genuine concern for the people, civilian authority must confront and reject the fascist imposition of military supremacy. The path to genuine peace and development is not that made by the few and by the interests of US imperialism; it is made by the people's struggle for justice, national freedom and democracy."

http://www.philippinerevolution.net/cgi-bin/statements/releases.pl?date=101013a;refer=ndfev;lang=eng

[The Vegan Marxist]

Statement of the National Democratic Front-Negros on the admission of DND Secretary Voltaire Gazmin that the suspected murderers of Bayles are members of the 61st IB Phil Army.

Frank Fernandez
Spokesperson
National Democratic Front-Negros
October 13, 2010

We welcome the statement of Congressman Neri Colmenares of Bayan Muna partylist in an interview by DYEZ radio informing of the admission of DND secretary Voltaire Gazmin, AFP spokesperson Jose Mabanta and the head general of CRS-AFP during the October 7 budget hearing of the plenary session of the Philippine House of Representatives that the suspected murderers of Benjamin Bayles -- PFC Reygine Laus alyas "Roger Bajon" and Ronnie Caurino (PFC Rafael Cordova) were active members of the 61st IB PA.

This admission by Sec Gazmin and military officials only confirms the belief of the people on the truth behind the cases of extra-judicial killings that victimized not only Benjamin Bayles but also the latest victim Rene Quirante murdered by troops of the 11th IB last October 1, 2010 and other past victims in Negros and the whole country.

The high officials of the reactionary government and AFP was forced to admit because of the strong political pressure of the people and churches in the country and the international community that condemned the crimes of the Phil Army and demanded justice. Because of the gathering of solid evidences against the two criminal elements of the 61st IB PA, Sec Gazmin and top military officials of the AFP can no longer maintain the state of denial on the murder of Bayles and blame this on "CPP-NPA internal purge." They also believe that their admission on one specific murder case is enough to lead the people on the sweet rhetorics of P-Noy on his "stand for truth" and "daang matuwid" and forget the more than 10 victims of extra-judicial killings under Aquino and the more than 1,000 under Arroyo.

Despite the official statement of their superiors, the officers of the 3rd ID and the 61st IB PA earlier denied that the two using the alias "Roger Bajon" and "Ronnie Caurino" are their personnels. Their continuing denial means that they haven't receive yet the official instruction from the AFP chief Ricardo David and DND Sec Voltaire Gazmin that they must admit the two criminals as members of the Phil Army.

The statement of Sec Gazmin and other top officials of the AFP admitting "Roger Bajon" and "Ronnie Caurino" as members of the AFP is NOT ENOUGH! To give justice to the victims of extra-judicial killings they must order the court martial not just of the two criminal soldiers but also the masterminds and those who give the orders to kill Benjamin Bayles, Rene Quirante and all the victims of extra-judicial killings and enforced disappearnces in the country.

We challenge Sec Gazmin and General David to arrest, put on trial and punish the high ranking officials in a military court those responsible for the extra-judicial killings in Negros like Gen Ralph Villanueva of the Central Command AFP-Visayas, Maj Gen Vicente Porto, Col Maximo Caro, Brig Gen Josue Gaverza, Col Cesar Yano, Col Manuel Luis Ochotorena, Lt Col Ricardo Bayhon and Lt Col Ramil Bitong. They must also order the arrest and filing of cases of crimes against humanity on Jovito Palparan and other military officials that gave orders to implement components of Oplan Bantay Laya on extra-judicial killings, enforced disappearnces and application of tortures against progressive leaders and activists.

NDF-Negros is informing the people that the People's Revolutionary Court of Negros has issued warrant of arrests for Maj Gen Vicente Porto, Col Maximo Caro, Brig Gen Josue Gaverza, Col Cesar Yano, Col Manuel Luis Ochotorena, Lt Col Ricardo Bayhon and Lt Col Ramil Bitong. There is also an order from the revolutionary court to all operational commands and unit command of the NPA in all levels to arrest the suspected criminal officers so they will face the cases filed by the people through the Democratic Coalition Government based in the countrysides. The regional revolutionary court of Negros has already sent a copy of the warrant of arrest to the Military Commission of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Philippines and territorial sub-military commissions and commands of the NPAs in other regions to enforce the arrest of the suspects in any place in the Philippines.

http://www.philippinerevolution.net/cgi-bin/statements/stmts.pl?author=ndfn;date=101013;lang=eng

[A Revolutionary Tool]

NPA releases POW Hadjaie after 12 days of captivity

Rigoberto F. Sanchez (http://www.philippinerevolution.net/cgi-bin/statements/stmts.pl?author=mac)
Spokesperson
Merardo Arce Command
Southern Mindanao Regional Operational Command
New People's Army
November 28, 2010


The Merardo Arce Command-Southern Mindanao Regional Operations Command of the New People's Army has ordered the release of Cpl. Daiem Amsali Hadjaie of the 25th Infantry Battalion of the 10th Infantry Division-Armed Forces of the Philippines (Serial No. 813144) after 12 days of captivity as prisoner of war of the Conrado Heredia Command-Front 20 Operations Command-NPA. The CHC-NPA custodial unit undertakes POW Cpl. Hadjaie's safe and orderly release today, November 28, in the guerilla territory in Compostela Valley Province.
The order to release Cpl. Hadjaie is an exercise of the revolutionary forces' own political authority and based on humanitarian grounds. This is consistent with the revolutionary movement's long-standing policy of humane and lenient treatment of POWs and its serious adherence to the NDFP Declaration of Undertaking to Apply the Geneva Conventions of 1949 and Protocol 2 of 1977. His release is giving due consideration to the appeals made by sincere individuals, a Moro organization and allies including local officials of the Aquino government. POW Cpl. Hadjaie's case is being archived.
Upon his capture and detention, the NPA custodial unit fully respected his rights attendant to his status as prisoner of war in consonance with the international humanitarian law and Geneva Conventions; and sensitive to his religious persuasions. He was provided his necessary health and medical care under guerilla conditions; and his well-being and safety were guaranteed inside the guerilla territories of the People's Democratic Government.
The worn-out AFP black propaganda on such NPA legitimate action as "hostage-taking" and "kidnapping" only further exposes the murderous character of the AFP and its ignorance to the protocols of war. This is not surprising for a mercenary AFP which is responsible for the torture, planting of evidence, enforced disappearances, extra judicial killings not only of captured NPA combatants but also against mass activists, plain civilians and non combatants. This is not surprising for the arrogant AFP which has launched failed rescue cum military operations that deliberately put the lives of captured AFP soldiers in danger.
Cpl. Hadjaie's safe release and reunion with his family -- along with the numerous other AFP combatants held as POWs and safely released -- should serve as a challenge to GRP President Benigno Aquino III to release all political prisoners in the country.
POW Cpl. Hadjaie's arrest on November 16 in sitio Mabatas, Barangay Upper Ulip, Monkayo, ComVal should serve as a warning to those who act as protectors -- in the guise of AFP peace and development teams or Investment Defense Force -- of big plantation, logging and destructive mining interests anywhere in the region.


http://www.philippinerevolution.net/cgi-bin/statements/stmts.pl?author=mac;date=101128;lang=eng

[A Revolutionary Tool]

PRESS RELEASE
Information Bureau
Communist Party of the Philippines

NPA snipers carried out legitimate offensive in hitting enemy combatants and sparing civiliansNovember 28, 2010



The National Democratic Front-Eastern Visayas today commended the New People's Army in Northern Samar for carrying out a successful sniping operation while ensuring the safety of civilians in Brgy. San Isidro, Las Navas last Nov. 22. "According to the terms of international humanitarian law, the NPA carried out a legitimate offensive because it targeted enemy combatants of the 6th Field Artillery Battery and did not harm any civilians," said Fr. Santiago Salas. "Gen. Mario Chan, 8th Infantry Division chief, makes up the cock-and-bull psywar story that the NPA committed rights violations. The enemy casualties, Sergeant Rennie Solis who was killed and Technical Sergeant Edgardo Tahum who was wounded, were legitimate targets as regular combatants. The 8th ID really wants to hide its embarrassment over having veteran noncommissioned officers such as these as casualties, for being careless in the warzone and paying dearly. Moreover, the real violation of international humanitarian law is that the enemy combatants and their unit were encamped and mingling in a village of civilians and thus putting them in harm's way as human shields. The NPA sniping operation was a way of ensuring that only legitimate targets were hit and that civilians were safe."
Fr. Salas added that the NPA sniping operation was entirely different from the cowardly and cold-blooded attack by the 19th Infantry Battalion without identifying their targets, and that killed leading botanist Leonardo Co and two other civilians in Kananga, Leyte last Nov. 15. "The 8th ID in fact flagrantly disregards international humanitarian law by insisting that the massacre in Kananga was a legitimate operation, even though civilians had been killed. Furthermore, the 8th ID is talking only to itself in making an investigation in collaboration with the police and recently clearing the 19th IB elements of wrongdoing. Everybody else is demanding an impartial civilian investigation, while the Communist Party of the Philippines goes even further by calling for a joint investigation by the Philippine government and the NDFP. As far as the massacre of Co and his companions is concerned, the revolutionary movement has nothing to hide and is willing to cooperate in a joint investigation. But the 8th ID is twisting in the wind in trying to do a cover-up in the face of intense public scrutiny. Its expression of remorse without an apology is nothing more than hypocrisy."
The NDF-EV praised the NPA for carrying out the revolutionary war against the Aquino regime while putting the highest premium on protecting civilians. "The NPA observes human rights and international humanitarian law in word and in practice. That is the crucial difference between the NPA and the 8th ID. Gen. Mario Chan mouths platitudes about human rights, but snarls and defends his men who are accused of violations. The 8th ID is thus the paragon not of sincerity but of incorrigibility. As the Aquino regime claims to uphold human rights in preparing a new international security plan to replace Oplan Bantay Laya, the people should continue to stand up and fight the military's impunity for rights violations."

http://www.philippinerevolution.net/cgi-bin/statements/releases.pl?date=101128;refer=ndfev;lang=eng

[A Revolutionary Tool]

NDFP-Mindanao urges: remove all impediments to peace!

Jorge "Ka Oris" Madlos (http://www.philippinerevolution.net/cgi-bin/statements/stmts.pl?author=ndfm)
Spokesperson
National Democratic Front of the Philippines-Mindanao
November 28, 2010

[/URL]
The NDFP-Mindanao is one with all peace advocates and peace-loving Filipino people in the pursuit of a just and lasting peace. We are aware of the call for peace of advocates through the Mindanao Week of Peace. It is, however, imperative to thoroughly understand the nature and context of the social conflict that breed un-peace.
Almost four centuries of Spanish rule and six decades of US tutelage fettered the Philippines to feudal and semi-feudal exploitation. Filipino peasants have been deprived of land; workers, reduced to cheap labour force; and our natural resources and environment, plundered and ravaged. The country became a dumping market for overpriced goods, and a forward base for imperialist hegemony in the Asia-Pacific.
Since the bogus independence of 1946, puppet governments were beholden to US imperialist economic and political interests. Particularly in Mindanao, the Moro warlord ruling elite connived with US imperialists to grab and turn their ancestral lands into export crop production at the expense of both the Moro and non-Moro peasants.
This paved the way for US Firestone rubber plantations in the Cotabato and Zamboanga provinces, and for vast Dole Phils. pineapple plantations in plains of Cotabato and part of Bukidnon. This insured imperialist interest in oil, geothermal energy and minerals in the Liguasan marsh, Cotabato, Sulu and Palawan.
Moro warlords were heavily armed to protect foreign monopoly businesses and the ruling class as well as suppress people's opposition. They were pampered to such an extent that they killed with impunity, as did the Ampatuan warlords in the brutal massacre of 58 civilians, including lawyers and journalists, on 23 Nov. 2009.
In non-Moro areas, US imperialism, in collusion with the big bourgeois comprador and local big landlords, grabbed forests and land for large scale plantations, logging and mining. Xstrata, Inc., a large foreign mining firm, laid claim to the mineral rich quadri-boundary of SOCSKSARGEN, to the detriment of the masses there. The mineral-rich provinces of Surigao and Davao were ravaged by big multinational mining firms. Mindanao valleys and plains fast became imperialist plantations, displacing countless peasants and turning food production into export crop plantations.
To secure its geo-political interest in the Asia-Pacific region, the US deployed its troops to Mindanao and other parts of the country, which directly participate in military operations in clear violation of our sovereignty. The Michael Meiring bomb accident of 2002 in Davao exposed US's hand in Mindanao terrorist bombings to justify its military intervention here. US imperialist discretely worked to impel the reactionary government to tamper with the GRP constitution to allow US military basing and full property rights.
The AFP, together with the PNP, CAFGU, CAA and private armies, served as mainstay to impose and to secure the interests both of the local ruling class and US imperialist, which often end in rampant human rights violations such as massive dislocation, abduction, torture, rape and murder.
This vicious systemic exploitation and oppression, which has compelled the Filipino people to rise in revolution, is the root of un-peace. Therefore, true sovereignty from imperialist domination and the attainment of social justice are pre-requisites for a just and lasting peace for the whole country.
Particularly in Mindanao, the recognition and granting of the Moro and the Lumad peoples' right to self-determination is a must and, as such, majority and Christian chauvinism should be eradicated. In concrete, their ancestral domain must be protected from imperialist, big comprador bourgeois and big landlord incursion and land grabbing. Genuine land reform must be instituted to emancipate the Lumad and Moro peasants from warlords who perpetuate feudal and semi-feudal exploitation.
On the other hand, the majority population in Mindanao are one with their Lumad and Moro counterparts in their struggle against US imperialist domination in the island, and against the exploitation of the comprador bourgeoisie and big landlord classes.
Genuine land reform and national industrialization are indispensable together with the institutionalization of a real democracy to give the workers and peasants the political power to determine their future.
The MILF and the NDFP, the major revolutionary forces in Mindanao, are both committed to attain just and lasting peace that may result from a political settlement with the GRP thru peace negotiations, so long as peace talks genuinely address the root causes of the armed conflict and the people's discontent. However, the two revolutionary forces share the same predicament in facing the GRP which appears disinterested in pursuing the peace process because it has been dilly-dallying, has not been serious in implementing all signed agreements, and, worse, has continuously launched military offensives against both revolutionary movements.
In this context therefore, peace advocates have a crucial role to help urge the GRP under Benigno Aquino III to be serious in undertaking talks with both the MILF and the NDFP. All advocates for peace at the same time need to be aware of the historical and current circumstances that have spawned un-peace in Mindanao.
Conversely, while we work in earnest to achieve peace that is based on social justice at the negotiating table, other forms of struggles will go on until all the root causes of social injustice are genuinely addressed. More so that the Aquino III government, unlike its predecessors which have shown initial positive gestures such as releasing political prisoners and declaring the suspension of offensive military operations, has so far paid only lip service to the peace process while extending the military campaigns of OBL 2.
In view of the foregoing, the NDFP --Mindanao calls on all Filipinos to unite resolutely in the pursuit to shatter the chains of social injustice to attain just and lasting peace!


[url]http://www.philippinerevolution.net/cgi-bin/statements/stmts.pl?author=ndfm;date=101128;lang=eng (http://www.philippinerevolution.net/cgi-bin/statements/stmts.pl?date=101128;author=ndfm;lang=bis)

[A Revolutionary Tool]

PRESS RELEASE
Information Bureau
Communist Party of the Philippines

AFP spreading baseless speculations about Ka Roger's situation--CPPDecember 1, 2010


The Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) today dismissed as "purely baseless" the speculations being spread by the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) about the supposed death of CPP spokesperson Gregorio "Ka Roger" Rosal.
"The AFP is obviously just spreading disinformation to the media to fish for fresh leads about Ka Roger's present location and situation, in a desperate bid to monitor his movements and whereabouts," said the CPP.
"It is outrightly hypocritical for the AFP to assure Ka Roger's safety, when his family and friends have been the subject of continual surveillance and military operations for the past 15 years," said the CPP.
The CPP noted that AFP surveillance of Ka Roger's family and friends has recently intensified.
"In bringing up the situation of Ka Roger and purportedly offering assistance, the AFP is also trying to deflect issues and denunciations of its continuing fascist operations, the almost weekly extrajudicial killings perpetrated by its death squads, and its widespread violations of human rights."


http://www.philippinerevolution.net/cgi-bin/statements/releases.pl?date=101201;refer=cpp;lang=eng

[A Revolutionary Tool]

1st PBC-NPA disarms 10th ID-AFP Davao patrol base without a shot fired; Army corporal and Cafgu minor surrendered and immediately released unharmed

Ka Parago (http://www.philippinerevolution.net/cgi-bin/statements/stmts.pl?author=pbc1)
1st Pulang Bagani Company
Merardo Arce Command
Southern Mindanao Regional Operations Command
New People's Army
December 11, 2010


Without firing a single shot, the 1st Pulang Bagani Company-New People's Army successfully overran the patrol base of the Bahani Long Range Platoon (BLRP) under the 1003rd Brigade-10th Infantry Division-AFP in sitio Damilag, Barangay Mapula, Paquibato District December 9 Thursday. Red fighters carted away eight high-powered rifles (four Garand, two M1 carbines, one M16 and a 12-gauge shotgun). A Harris radio, assorted ammunitions, military paraphernalia and documents were also confiscated during the daring NPA raid.
Eight Cafgu members who were on duty at the time abandoned their posts, and escaped. The BLRP patrol base detachment commander AFP Cpl. Fresilo C. Dosel (SN No. 810931) surrendered to the NPA raiding team. Another Cafgu conscript who was a minor also surrendered. The NPA raiding team immediately released Cpl. Dosel and the CAFGU child conscript after they voluntarily handed their firearms.
This latest NPA tactical offensive further exposes the lies and fabrications peddled by 10th ID-AFP Confidential Agent Ruben Labawan and his mentor B/Gen. Eduardo del Rosario as well as 1003rd-AFP's Col. Domingo Tutaan that falsely accused the People's Army as cold-blooded murderers of Lumads. It further proves the 10th ID-AFP's duplicity in denying their continued recruitment and arming of minors as combatants into the AFP paramilitary ranks.


http://www.philippinerevolution.net/cgi-bin/statements/stmts.pl?author=pbc1;date=101211;lang=eng

[A Revolutionary Tool]

Even Revolutionaries get a Christmas break!





NDFP-Rizal supports the ceasefire!

Arman "Ka Arms" Guerrero (http://www.philippinerevolution.net/cgi-bin/statements/stmts.pl?author=ndrz)
Spokesperson
National Democratic Front of the Philippines-Rizal
December 15, 2010

The National Democratic Front of the Philippines in Rizal (NDFP-Rizal) and the whole revolutionary movement in the province of Rizal expresses its full support to the declaration for 18 day ceasefire of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP-MLM) in conformity to the mutual declaration of ceasefire between the Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP) and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP). The ceasefire was issued on humanitarian grounds and as an act of good will to allow troops of the AFP-PNP-CAFGU and the NPA forces to enjoy the spirit of the yuletide season and the New Year in peace.
In view of this, all armed troops of the revolutionary movement in Rizal province under the Narciso Antazo Aramil Command (NAAC-NPA-Rizal) including its people's militias and armed city partisans shall cease and desist from carrying out offensive operations against the armed units and personnel of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), Philippine National Police and CAFGU starting at 12:01 early morning tomorrow, December 16, 2010 until 11:59 midnight of January 3, 2010. Within the said period, all Officers and members of the AFP-CAFGU and PNP who have no serious liability and grave crimes against the people may be allowed to enter the territory of the people's democratic government to visit relatives and friends and shall not be arrested and punished.
However, NAAC troops and the people's militia shall be in a defensive mode and shall remain vigilant against any encroachment on the territory of the people's democratic government, surveillance or offensive operations by the armed commands and units of the GRP. They must be ready to defend themselves once subject to attack by AFP-CAFGU and PNP troops
In the past, AFP troops usually violated ceasefire whether mutually or unilaterally declared. One of the AFP troops that operates in the Province who usually violates ceasefire declaration is the "butcher battalion", the 16th IB-PA. Last Nov. 13, when the AFP unilaterally declared their own ceasefire to have their troops watch the Pacqiao-Margarito Boxing Fight, more than 200 troops under 16th IB-PA continued their military operations in the hinterland of Rizal province thereby denying the people's chance to watch and enjoy the Pacquiao-Margarito match. The said AFP unit only stopped temporarily their harassments and threat against the member of Dumagat tribes, settlers and farmers when one platoon from Charlie Coy, 16th IB-PA were ambushed by NAAC-NPA troops last December 1, 2010 in Brgy. Puray. Rodriguez, Rizal resulting to the death of 3 AFP soldiers and seriously wounding of 3 more 16th IB-PA troops while the NAAC-NPA suffered no casualties. The 16th IB-PA is one of the AFP units that can not be trusted to uphold the ceasefire that is why it is imperative for the NAAC-NPA units to be vigilant and be always on guard.
We pitied the 16th IB-PA members who were killed and were not able to experience the yuletide season and spend the Christmas and New Year alive with their families. They paid for their lives because of their intrusion in the revolutionary territory and harassments and threats to the lives of the people. We wish that all AFP-PNP troops can be with their families during the whole duration of the ceasefire. To ensure that this happens, we are calling on the junior officers of the AFP and PNP and the ordinary foot soldiers to disobey any orders of your senior AFP-PNP officers to violate ceasefire. They are just making you as pawn for their ambition to be promoted. Don't have yourselves get killed just to protect the rich oppressors and exploiters. You have the rights to be with your families this Christmas and New Year. If ever, your AFP senior officers forced you to launch military operation, avoid getting near revolutionary territories. If circumstances occur that you encountered NAAC-NPA troops, you can avoid getting killed by immediately surrendering similar to acts that members of the PNP-SAF-Commando did when they encountered NPA members last April 20, 2010. Those who were not killed by the first volley of fire immediately surrendered and survived.
Long Live the New People's Army!
Long Live the Communist Party of the Philippines-MLM!
Long Live the National Democratic Front of the Philippines!
Long Live the Filipino People!


http://www.philippinerevolution.net/cgi-bin/statements/stmts.pl?author=ndrz;date=101215;lang=eng

[A Revolutionary Tool]

Red fighters harass paramilitary Cafgu on combat operation in Davao; serves as a strong warning

Bien Sumuroy (http://www.philippinerevolution.net/cgi-bin/statements/stmts.pl?author=asc)
Spokesperson
Amoran Saripada Command
Front 52 Operations Command
NPA-Southern Mindanao
December 15, 2010

[/URL]
A three-man team of the Red fighters from the Amoran Saripada Command Front 52 Operations Command of the New People's Army harassed a squad-size paramilitary Cafgu on offensive combat operation going to Kamyasongan in Barangay Matupi, San Fernando Bukidnon at 8 am, Wednesday December 15. The paramilitary Cafgu belongs to the Mangani Patrol Base under the 16th CAA Coy-1003rd Bde-10th ID-AFP in Barangay Tapak, Paquibato District, Davao City.
The December 15 NPA harassment operation serves as a strong warning to enemy troops engaging in offensive combat operation and incursions inside the guerilla territories of the People's Democratic Government.


[url]http://www.philippinerevolution.net/cgi-bin/statements/stmts.pl?author=asc;date=101215;lang=eng (http://www.philippinerevolution.net/cgi-bin/statements/stmts.pl?date=101215;author=asc;lang=bis)

[A Revolutionary Tool]

NPA-Rizal implements ceasefire, condemns the ceasefire violation of AFP-PNP!

Macario "Ka Karyo" Liwanag (http://www.philippinerevolution.net/cgi-bin/statements/stmts.pl?author=naac2)
Spokesperson
Narciso Antazo Aramil Command
NPA-Rizal
December 16, 2010

The NPA-Rizal under the Narciso Antazo Aramil Command (NAAC-NPA-Rizal) upon receipt of the order of ceasefire coming from the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP-MLM) and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) with verification from proper revolutionary authorities in the province starts compliance of the order. All NPA troops in the province including the armed city partisans and people's militias ceased all offensive military operations against armed units personnel of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), including its paramilitary troops, CAFGU and Philippine National Police (PNP) troops operating in the province starting 12:01 early morning today, December 16, 2010 and shall last until 11:59 in the evening of January 3, 2011. All NAAC-NPA troops are now in the defensive mode inside the territories of the people's democratic government ready to act in self-defence to protect the lives of civilians if attacked by AFP-PNP troops.
While the NPA-Rizal starts implementing the declared mutual ceasefire between the Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP) and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP), the members of the AFP-PNP under 56th IB-PA, 16th IB-PA and SAF-PNP are disregarding the orders coming from their Commander-in-Chief, Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino, III. They surreptitiously entered the boundary of Rizal province and Bulacan province on the eve of the start of the mutually declared ceasfire to conduct offensive military operation against NPA-Rizal members. Two platoons coming from the said AFP-PNP units are now scouring Sitio Ricafort, Brgy. Tungkong Mangga, San Jose Del Monte City and Brgy Macabud, Rodriguez, Rizal. They are now sowing fear and terror among farmers and residents of the said villages.
We condemn these acts of the AFP-PNP troops. This is a clear violation of the mutually declared ceasefire between the GRP and the NDFP. The continuous offensive military operation of the 16th IB-PA, 56th IB-PA and SAF-PNP will surely endanger the on-going ceasefire. We hold the GRP and AFP-PNP leadership responsible for the collapse of the ceasefire in the province of Rizal. They must order the said operating troops to immediately pull-out of the area and return to their barracks. Though the NPA-Rizal wants the ceasefire to remain, we are prepared to give battle if military and police troops intrude in any NPA positions. The GRP and its mercenary AFP-PNP troops shall be held accountable for any hostilities that may arise in the province of Rizal between NPA and AFP-PNP members.
We are alos calling on the junior officers and ordinary soldiers of the 16th IB-PA, 56th IB-PA and SAF-PNP to refrain from entering NPA territories and to avoid making enemy contacts with NPA units for you to be able to celebrate the yuletide season alive with your families. However, if chances occurred that you encountered NAAC-NPA members, you must immediately surrender your guns and other armaments. It's no use sacrificing your lives just follow the whims and caprices of your senior officers just to be promoted to higher positions in the AFP-PNP. Don't repeat your mistake of intruding inside NPA territories which you committed last December 1, 2010 that resulted to 3 deaths and 3 wounded on your side. Your 3 dead comrade will not be able to celebrate the yuletide season because of offensive military operations. Don't be like them. Value your lives and celebrate the yuletide season and New Year with your families alive. Respect the mutually declared ceasefire to live another day in peace.
Long Live the New People's Army!
Long Live the Communist Party of the Philippines-MLM!
Long Live the National Democratic Front of the Philippines!
Long Live the Filipino People!


http://www.philippinerevolution.net/cgi-bin/statements/stmts.pl?date=101216;author=naac2;lang=eng

[A Revolutionary Tool]

PRESS RELEASE
Information Bureau
Communist Party of the Philippines

Successful Las Navas ambush a punishment of the military in reponse to the people's demandDecember 18, 2010


[/URL]
The Efren Martires Command of the New People's Army-Eastern Visayas today hailed the success of the NPA's ambush in Brgy. Sta. Fe, Las Navas, Northern Samar last Dec. 14 and said that it was in response to the people's demand. "We commend the NPA in Northern Samar for heeding the people's demand to punish the military, killing 10 fascist troops of the 63rd IB and confiscating 11 high-powered firearms," said Ka Karlos Manuel, EMC spokesperson. "The 8th Infantry Division had it coming for committing many human rights abuses in the second half of this year in widespread military operations on Samar Island. The people have long been seething and demanding the punishment of 8th ID troops responsible for bombing their communities, killing suspected NPA supporters, destroying crops, looting and burning houses, torturing and harassing the people, forcing mass evacuations and other rights violations. The militarization of Samar and the consequent abuses were glossed over by 8th ID chief Gen. Mario Chan, with his meaningless boasts of having "captured" 43 NPA camps and that the NPA was finished. Now Gen. Chan is eating his own words and the people are rejoicing at the sterling victory of the NPA and the punishment of the fascist tormentors."
Manuel also expressed regret at the reported death of a child in the ambush but pinned responsibility on the military. "News reports state the child was not inside the ambush area but swimming in a nearby river. The NPA had defined targets within the ambush area, so how could the child be hit when he was not even inside the danger zone? The EMC instead believes the child was either hit by the ambushed soldiers firing indiscriminately to save themselves, or else deliberately shot afterwards by enemy reinforcements for anti-NPA black propaganda. The NPA certainly welcomes any investigation that would strengthen the Comprehensive Agreement on Respect for Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law and the prospects for peace negotiations."
The EMC spokesperson also said the NPA offensive occurred before the mutual ceasefire between the NDFP and the Philippine government on Dec. 16 with which it is now complying. "The NPA views with disdain the comments by Gen. Chan that the Las Navas ambush is an act of treachery, even though it happened before the ceasefire, and furthermore implying that the NDFP is insincere about the peace talks. Gen. Chan is contemptible for accusing the NPA of warmongering when it is the 8th ID that has been mounting massive military operations on Samar Island for the past months and causing untold suffering to the people. The ambushed 63rd IB troops were in fact on their routine combat operation, the reason why the NPA had correctly anticipated their movements and prepared to do battle. And if insincerity should be cited, it is on the part of the 8th ID and the Aquino government, who have militarized Samar and are preparing a fresh offensive next year to supplant Oplan Bantay Laya."
Manuel however assured the officials and members of the military and police who have no serious crimes that they will not be arrested or punished during the NPA's ceasefire from 00:01H of Dec. 16,2010 to 23:59H of January 3, 2011. "They may also individually visit their friends and families inside the territory of the people's democratic government. At the same time, the EMC calls on all NPA units to actively defend themselves only if there is a clear and present danger, and to closely monitor enemy movements and immediately report any ceasefire violation by the enemy. Violations that may be reported include operations by the military, paramilitary and police; fascist violence such as harassments and road blockades; and other hostile actions within and around guerrilla zones and fronts. Any ceasefire violation by enemy forces should be immediately reported to the Information Bureau of the Communist Party of the Philippines.

[url]http://www.philippinerevolution.net/cgi-bin/statements/releases.pl?date=101218;refer=emc;lang=eng (http://www.philippinerevolution.net/cgi-bin/statements/stmts.pl?author=emc;date=101218;lang=eng)

[A Revolutionary Tool]

PRESS RELEASE
Information Bureau
Communist Party of the Philippines

CPP denounces Agusan arrests as violation of ceasefireDecember 19, 2010

Other versions: Hiligaynon (http://www.philippinerevolution.net/cgi-bin/statements/releases.pl?date=101219;refer=cpp;lang=hil)
The Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) today denounced the Philippine National Police (PNP) for arresting a ranking officer of the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) in Northeast Mindanao and at least four of his staff as "a flagrant violation of the simultaneous ceasefire declarations." The ceasefire declarations issued separately by the Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP) and the CPP-NDFP took effect at dawn of December 16 and will last until midnight of January 3 next year.
On December 17, police operatives arrested Pedro Codaste and his companions at a checkpoint in Bayugan town, Agusan del Sur. Police officers justified their action by claiming that Codaste has standing warrants for his arrest. They gave no explaination for the basis of the arrest of his companions.
"The criminal charges against Codaste, now being used as justification for the arrest, are trumped-up and meant to harass the leaders of the NDFP," said the CPP.
"The arrest of Codaste and his staff is in outright violation of the letter and spirit of the simultaneous ceasefire declarations," said the CPP. "The CPP and the NDFP demand that Malacañang immediately rectify the violation and order the local police to release with dispatch Codaste and his staff in order to boost, instead of destroy, the goodwill being generated on both sides for the resumption of the GRP-NDFP peace negotiations next month."
"By setting up checkpoints and arresting revolutionary forces during the ceasefire period, the police and military are preventing the revolutionary forces from enjoying free movement in order for them to visit or have access to their families and loved ones during the ceasefire period," added the CPP.
The CPP-NDFP ceasefire declaration issued last December 7 stated that "Officers and members of the AFP and PNP who have no serious liability other than their membership in their armed units shall not be subjected to arrest and punitive actions. They may be allowed individually to enter the territory of the people's democratic government to make personal visits to relatives and friends."
The CPP said that it expects reciprocity from the AFP and PNP to also benefit the officers and members of the CPP-NDFP-NPA during the simultaneous ceasefire period.


http://www.philippinerevolution.net/cgi-bin/statements/releases.pl?date=101219;refer=cpp;lang=eng

[IndependentCitizen]

Holy shit, was not aware there was an insurrection in the Philippines. I wonder how long it'd be before the U.S begins to stand in, they have troops stationed there, I believe?

[A Revolutionary Tool]

PRESS RELEASE
Information Bureau
Communist Party of the Philippines

AFP troops killing, torturing and using civilians as human shieldsDecember 20, 2010


The National Democratic Front-Eastern Visayas said today that the Armed Forces of the Philippines was killing, torturing and using civilians as human shields in military operations in Las Navas, Northern Samar from November-December. "The human rights violations of the AFP's 8th Infantry Division are being suppressed while malicious accusations are levied against the New People's Army for black propaganda," said Fr. Santiago Salas, NDF-EV spokesperson. "The AFP's human rights violations were committed in the course of widespread military operations beginning in the first week of December. These combat operations are continuing even after the start of the AFP's ceasefire declaration on Dec. 16."
Fr. Salas said that 8th ID troops used civilians as human shields, which led to the death of two civilians in the NPA riverside ambush on Dec. 8 between Brgy. Taylor and Brgy. Impon. "According to a report from the NPA's Rogelio Bantilo Command, four civilians were about to leave Las Navas town proper for Brgy. Poponton on a "dalamas" (motorized banca), when six soldiers from the 83rd Civil Military Operations Unit suddenly boarded. Julito Casio, the owner of the boat and incumbent barangay captain of Brgy. Poponton, protested the presence of armed men, fearing ambush by the NPA. But the soldiers, who were out of uniform, ignored Casio's protests and demanded passage. Red fighters from the RBC spotted the boat and the armed men on their way and opened fire, because the NPA was aware for several months of continuous military operations and knew that the soldiers involved were disguised as civilians. Four soldiers were killed or wounded, but two others immediately leaped free from the boat upon the burst of gunfire.
"The Red fighters approached the boat and discovered that there were civilian casualties -- all of whom were still alive. But when the Red fighters were about to rescue the wounded civilians, the two soldiers who had earlier escaped suddenly began strafing. The soldiers' shooting killed one Red fighter and wounded another, while Brgy. Capt. Casio was also hit in the head and died instantly. The NPA was forced to withdraw and was no longer able to rescue the civilian casualties, one of whom, 15-year-old "Alan" (not his real name), also died later."
Fr. Salas noted the AFP troops violated international humanitarian law, by using the civilians as human shields, and by indiscriminately firing when they had saved themselves and knew that there still civilians left behind who were bound to be hit. "The NPA regrets and apologizes for the incident and will strive to indemnify the civilian victims. Meanwhile, the AFP should also acknowledge its accountability and indemnify the victims they had put in danger in the first place, and whom it denies shooting because it is claimed the AFP troops never opened fire."
In relation to this, the NDF-EV spokesperson also said that Brgy. Capt. Casio had gone to Las Navas town proper to report to the police and municipal authorities about the killing by soldiers in his village of a civilian. "Before the ambush, Brgy. Capt. Casio had complained to government authorities that soldiers from the Bravo Company of the 87th IB had killed Torib de la Cruz on the night of Dec. 4 in Brgy. Poponton. De la cruz, who was mentally handicapped, had gone drinking with the soldiers, who were also with private armed group members "Aresgado" and "Cabatoan". The villagers discovered his bruised and bloodied body floating in the river the next day; he had been stabbed thrice in the chest and also suffered a gunshot wound. The details of this incident was suppressed by the military, who instead focused on maligning the NPA for the Dec. 8 ambush."
Fr. Salas cited other human rights violations by the military in Las Navas:
1. An MG-520 attack helicopter strafed the farmlands between Brgy. Cuenco and Brgy. Capotoan on Nov. 28.
2. Up to 164 AFP troops began basing in Brgy. Poponton starting on the first week of December, mingling with civilians in their houses.
3. "Jeffrey" (not his real name), an 18-year-old minor and peasant youth, was shot at by soldiers while working in his farm but fortunately escaped unharmed on Dec. 8 in Brgy. Paco. The troops were identified as from the Bravo Company of the 87th IB, who chased "Jeffrey" while shouting that he must be an NPA member. The soldiers also burned "Jeffrey's" 40-kilo abaca produce worth about P1,600, as well as other personal belongings.
4. A certain "Inggo", who is from Brgy. Osmena and mentally handicapped, was arrested and tortured by soldiers in their camp.
The NDF-EV spokesperson also dismissed allegations the NPA violates international humanitarian law as old hat. "Regarding the Dec. 14 ambush, the NPA has long clarified that it uses command-detonated land mines, which are allowed by international humanitarian law, while contact-detonated land mines are not. As for the regrettable civilian casualty, the NPA is investigating the matter and is willing to indemnify the family of the victim.
"The NDF-EV calls on the Aquino government and the 8th ID to respect international humanitarian law, not to make a mockery out of it in desperate attempts at black propaganda against the NPA. Because it serves the people, the NPA is willing to accept responsibility where it is at fault. But the people on the other hand have to struggle for their rights to straighten out the contortions of the AFP on respecting the rights of civilians."

http://www.philippinerevolution.net/cgi-bin/statements/releases.pl?date=101220;refer=ndfev;lang=eng

[A Revolutionary Tool]

Holy shit, was not aware there was an insurrection in the Philippines. I wonder how long it'd be before the U.S begins to stand in, they have troops stationed there, I believe?
They already do. I remember a while ago(It can probably be found in this thread) a news report of U.S. soldier casualties from the NPA. We also have a nuclear submarine there, teach the troops there in "Counter-Insurgency", etc.

[IndependentCitizen]

They already do. I remember a while ago(It can probably be found in this thread) a news report of U.S. soldier casualties from the NPA. We also have a nuclear submarine there, teach the troops there in "Counter-Insurgency", etc.

Well, Long live the CPP, and up the NPA!

[A Revolutionary Tool]

PRESS RELEASE
Information Bureau
Communist Party of the Philippines

Widespread military operations violate AFP's ceasefire declarationDecember 20, 2010


[/URL]
The Efren Martires Command of the New People's Army-Eastern Visayas today accused the Armed Forces of the Philippines of violating its own ceasefire from Dec. 16, 2010 to Jan.3, 2011 in widespread military operations in Las Navas, Northern Samar and Matuguinao, Western Samar. "According to reports from NPA units in the field, extensive military operations by the 8th Infantry Division are ongoing in adjacent areas in Las Navas and Matuguinao," said Ka Karlos Manuel, EMC spokesperson. "The operating troops are estimated at 150-200 elements from the 63rd IB and 87th IB, with Scout Rangers and other forces under the 803rd Infantry Brigade, as well as CAFGU paramilitaries. These military operations commenced with troops build-ups on the first week of December, even before the NPA's ambush on 63rd IB troops in Brgy. Sta. Fe, Las Navas on Dec. 14. The 8th ID chief, Gen. Mario Chan, is therefore lying when he claims the ambushed troops were returning to barracks to observe the ceasefire -- they were in fact part of continuing combat operations. There are also reports of many human rights violations committed by the military."
Manuel said the NPA report as of Dec. 18 observed that the AFP troops were not returning to barracks but were still continuing maneuvers that began Dec. 14-15, though their ceasefire was supposed to start at midnight of Dec. 16. He identified the following 8th ID troop dispositions:
1. A column of AFP troops was monitored to be maneuvering from combat operations in Brgy. Ligaya, Matuguinao to Brgy. Cuenco, Las Navas on Dec. 15. The soldiers were guided by CAFGU paramilitary and "Hapa-hapa" criminal gang member "Lido" from Matuguinao.
2. Another column of AFP troops began maneuvers in Brgy. San Isidro, Las Navas and were in Brgy. Ligaya, Matuguinao as of Dec. 14. They were guided by "Hapa-hapa" criminal gang members Serbin and Darwing from Matuguinao.
3. Around 60 soldiers from the military camp in Las Navas are on combat operations in the hinterlands in Brgy. Paco of the same town.
4. A column of 60 soldiers from the 803rd Infantry Brigade was monitored to be in ambush position by the Hipili River, Las Navas.
5. There are also AFP troops who are based at Brgy. Poponton, Las Navas and dispersed in the houses of civilians, in violation of international humanitarian law.
The EMC spokesperson assailed Gen. Chan for acting with treachery and deceit despite the AFP's ceasefire declaration, even going so far as to accusing the NPA with acting in bad faith in the Dec. 14 Las Navas ambush and questioning the sincerity of the NDFP for the peace talks. "Gen. Chan lambasts the NPA for the Las Navas ambush, but hides the fact that his ambushed troops were not returning to barracks but on combat operations since the first week of December. He feigns concern for the AFP casualties, but has no compunctions on still sending his troops on combat operations in violation of the the AFP ceasefire. The 8th ID chief has no regard for the well-being of his troops, he is increasingly belying the AFP's ceasefire as crap, and he is certainly causing ill-will and putting the sincerity of the Aquino government for the peace talks into question."
Manuel however clarified the NPA will not be undertaking offensive operations against the AFP troops and will only be on active defense as per the NPA ceasefire declaration from Dec. 16 to Jan. 3. "The Efren Martires Command assures the officials and members of the AFP and PNP that the NPA ceasefire is holding up. As long as they have not committed any serious crimes against the people, they are free to individually visit their families and friends inside the territory of the people's democratic government. Meanwhile, the NPA will continue to monitor and inform the people of further violations by the AFP of its own ceasefire. The AFP's ceasefire observation will be a litmus test that will either bode well or be the bane of the prospects for peace negotiations."

[url]http://www.philippinerevolution.net/cgi-bin/statements/releases.pl?date=101220;refer=emc;lang=eng (http://www.philippinerevolution.net/cgi-bin/statements/releases.pl?date=101220;refer=emc;lang=war)

[Who really expected them to not break the ceasefire they "wanted"]

[A Revolutionary Tool]

PRESS RELEASE
Information Bureau
Communist Party of the Philippines

Like its predecessor, Aquino's Oplan Bayanihan will fail to stop the advance of people's war--CPPDecember 20, 2010


The Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) today described the US-Aquino regime's new counterinsurgency (COIN) campaign plan Bayanihan as "the same dog with a different collar." The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) is scheduled to unveil tomorrow its new COIN plan that will replace the previous Arroyo government' Oplan Bantay Laya (OBL).
The OBL has been widely criticized for giving rise to the spate of extra-judicial killings and abductions targeting mainly social activists and critics of the government and the ruling system. It was known for its brutal military operations and other gross human rights abuses that have caused massive sufferings of the people, especially in suspected New People's Army areas as well as those fighting in the legal and parliamentary arena.
More than a thousand people tagged by government military and security forces as "supporters of the NPA" were summarily executed by "death squads" identified with the AFP.
In his assessment of the OBL, AFP Chief of Staff Gen. Ricardo David Jr. acknowledged the "negative public perception" generated by what he says is a "perceived poor human rights record ascribed to the AFP and the publicized military abuses." In an effort to counter such perception, the AFP command has gone public to say that their COIN plan now stresses the 'whole nation approach' and 'respect for human rights.'
"The problem with the ruling reactionary regime and its armed forces is that they want to dismiss the several thousand cases of human rights abuses by the military as a mere problem of negative perception and is now trying to hide behind new fancy slogans," said the CPP. "With the AFP persistently in a state of denial regarding its record of abuses and rights violations, their new slogans are only good for sound bytes."
The CPP said that "Aquino's Oplan Bayanihan is not at all new except in name and heavy cosmetizing."
Elaborating, the CPP said "the 'new' COIN plan hews to the fancy rhetoric of the latest edition of the US Counterinsurgency Guide. It contains the same, brutal, militarist doctrine and prescriptions of all previous US-designed COIN plans. It pretends only to be different from Arroyo's Oplan Bantay Laya by harping on new rhetoric that are neither grounded in practice nor in will."
The CPP said further that the Aquino government is now being called upon to decisively stop the ongoing extrajudicial killings, brutal military operations and other gross human rights violations of its military, security and paramilitary forces. "It should prosecute and punish the criminal masterminds and principal perpetrators of more than a thousand cases of extrajudicial killings and thousands of other cases of gross human rights abuses committed in the past ten years under Oplan Bantay Laya (OBL)."
Since the onset of the Aquino government, there has been an average of more than one extrajudicial killing per week, which is a much higher rate than during the terminal months of its predecessor.
"In failing to punish the masterminds and perpetrators of continuing gross human rights violations and crimes against the people, the Aquino government is encouraging the culture of impunity and emboldening these criminals. This confirms that reaction, oppression and fascism are endemic to the rotten ruling system. The people have no other recourse but to resist and wage revolution to effect change."
"Like its predecessor," said the CPP, "Oplan Bayanihan is sure to fail in its declared objectives of defeating the people's revolutionary armed resistance. It can never succeed in its core objective to defend the rotten ruling system that exploits and oppresses the people. It will will keep on engendering revolution until the entire rotten, puppet, reactionary system is brought down and replaced by a revolutionary, democratic, pro-people and progressive one."


http://www.philippinerevolution.net/cgi-bin/statements/releases.pl?date=101220a;refer=cpp;lang=eng

[Burn A Flag]

I appreciate your updates to this thread revolutionary tool. It would be cool if someone started a thread on the Naxalites' news.

[A Revolutionary Tool]

I appreciate your updates to this thread revolutionary tool. It would be cool if someone started a thread on the Naxalites' news.
No problem.
There is a thread about the Naxalites:
http://www.revleft.com/vb/spring-thunder-indias-t132890/index.html
Also:
http://naxalrevolution.blogspot.com/
I use this blog to get info on the Naxalite's whenever people aren't posting it here. It doesn't get updated every news story on the Naxalites but if something big happens it's bound to end up there.

[Burn A Flag]

Thank you yet again.

[IndependentCitizen]

Why is there not a sub forum for the Philippine's and the Naxalite's revolutionary struggles?

[A Revolutionary Tool]

I really have no idea why not. We should just create a "South Eastern Asia" area in the Ongoing Struggles subforum for the struggle in Nepal, Philippines, and India. That's already been said before, why it hasn't happened, idk.

[A Revolutionary Tool]

1st PBC-NPA warmly recognizes the Dutertes invitation; proposes Sara, Digong, instead, to come to the countryside

Ka Parago (http://www.philippinerevolution.net/cgi-bin/statements/stmts.pl?author=pbc1)
1st Pulang Bagani Company
Merardo Arce Command
Southern Mindanao Regional Operations Command
New People's Army
December 22, 2010

[/URL]
The 1st Pulang Bagani Company-New People's Army warmly recognizes the invitation offered by Davao City Mayor Inday Sara Duterte, and her father, Vice Mayor Rodrigo Duterte for Red fighters to come down from the hills and go to the city and celebrate with them the traditional holidays. We view this as a positive gesture and an act for genuine dialogue.
We would, however, like to propose another suggestion. Instead of coming down from the hills, the Red fighters invite Inday Sara and Digong to come and visit our guerilla bases in the hinterlands. Red fighters have lived and celebrated with the masses year-round, including the traditional holidays and we are more than happy to share with Inday Sara and Digong the felicity that comes with living among the masses.
As a gesture of the continuing goodwill of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP), we formally invite Inday Sara and Digong to celebrate with us in the mountains the CPP's 42nd founding anniversary on December 26.
It would be more relevant if Inday Sara and Digong could come to the hinterlands and visit the Red fighters and the masses. It would be an opportune time for them to see further the economic aggression and fascist militarization that have wrought havoc on the lives of poor peasants in Davao City. Thus, the masses and the Red fighters in the Base areas warmly welcome the Dutertes' good intentions for a dialogue here in the countryside.
Understandably, rabid fascists as personified by 10th ID-AFP spokesman Lt. Col. Medel Aguilar fall sharply on the opposite side of the good intentions of civilian authorities in Davao City. Lt. Col. Aguilar's rant about arresting me once I set foot on the city is his fascist delusion and borne out of the 10th ID-AFP's frustration in stemming the tide of the people's war.


[url]http://www.philippinerevolution.net/cgi-bin/statements/stmts.pl?author=pbc1;date=101222;lang=eng (http://www.philippinerevolution.net/cgi-bin/statements/stmts.pl?date=101222;author=pbc1;lang=bis)

[A Revolutionary Tool]

PRESS RELEASE
Information Bureau
Communist Party of the Philippines

The truth about the Las Navas NPA-AFP encounterDecember 22, 2010


The CPP rebuts the psywar spins of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and released today further clarification about the controversial December 14 encounter in Las Navas, Northern Samar. Ten government soldiers were killed in action and two more were wounded in a counter-attack by local New People's Army (NPA) forces that the government's military had set out to annihilate prior to the simultaneous holiday ceasefire between the NPA and the AFP. The ceasefire, starting from early morning of December 16, 2010 up to midnight of January 3, 2011, was agreed upon by the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) and the Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP).
The CPP cited data from a report submitted by the Eastern Visayas NPA's Efren Martires Command about the search-and-destroy operations the AFP launched in the Las Navas-Matuguinao area of Northern Samar for more than a month up to mid-December at the very eve of the ceasefire.
"Since November, the Philippine Army's 8th Infantry Division has been undertaking intensive and extensive military operations in the adjacent towns of Las Navas and Matuguinao. From 150-200 troops from the 63rd IB, 87th IB, and other units of the 803rd Infantry Brigade, more special forces from the Scout Rangers, plus several CAFGU elements have been deployed in the area. The AFP's offensive operation was at its height on December 14, when forces of the 63rd IB were scouring Barangay Sta. Fe, Las Navas to seek and annihilate the local NPA unit operating in the area."
The CPP said that "The 8th ID's commanding officer, Gen. Mario Chan, has been lying through his teeth in claiming that the decimated troops were already returning to barracks to observe the ceasefire. They were, in fact, still in the thick of their search-and-destroy operations, seeking to score against the NPA on the eve of the ceasefire. They knew that the NPA would be constrained from retaliating during the ceasefire period."
The CPP also berated the AFP psywar spinners for trying to pin the blame on the NPA for the death of a nine-year old that day, explaining that the child was nowhere near the area where the government troops were fired upon, but was swimming in a river closer to where the NPA forces were. "The EMC-NPA reported that the child was either hit by the ambushed soldiers firing indiscriminately, or deliberately shot afterwards by government reinforcements to make fodder for anti-NPA black propaganda. The CPP and NPA welcome investigations by the NDFP-GRP Joint Monitoring Commission and other impartial bodies regarding the matter."
The CPP and the NDF-Eastern Visayas also cited reports of many more human rights violations committed by the AFP's operating troops. Fr. Santiago Salas, NDF-Eastern Visayas spokesperson, reported that the AFP troops that have been launching a month-long military offensive in the Las Navas-Matuginao area committed several acts of murder and other fascist atrocities, including the forcible use of civilians as human shields in their reconnaissance and other operations.
One of those cited in Fr. Salas' report as killed by government troops was a mentally handicapped man, who the government troopers intoxicated with alcoholic drink to try to extract information from him regarding the whereabouts of the NPA in the area. The report narrated that as the man could not say anything about the NPA presence, the government soldiers stabbed and shot him to death, and then threw his body into the river. Fr. Salas' report also mentioned the shooting of a peasant youth who was fortunately able to escape, the indiscriminate bombing of farmlands and destruction of agricultural products.

Reference:

Marco Valbuena
Media Officer
Cellphone Numbers: 09156596802 :: 09282242061
E-mail:[email protected]

http://www.philippinerevolution.net/cgi-bin/statements/releases.pl?date=101222;refer=cpp;lang=eng

[A Revolutionary Tool]

Fulfill the requirements for the advance of the people's war from the strategic defensive to the strategic stalemate

Central Committee (http://www.philippinerevolution.net/cgi-bin/statements/stmts.pl?author=cc)
Communist Party of the Philippines
December 26, 2010

Message of the Central Committee
of the Communist Party of the Philippines
December 26, 2010
We celebrate the 42nd founding anniversary of the Communist Party of the Philippines under the theoretical guidance of Marxism-Leninism-Maoism by renewing our resolve to fulfill the political and other requirements for advancing from strategic defensive to strategic stalemate in the people's war for national liberation and democracy against US imperialism and the local exploitating classes.
We salute all Party cadres and members for strengthening the Party ideologically, politically and organizationally, for victoriously leading the New People's Army, the National Democratic Front of the Philippines, the mass organizations, the organs of political power and the broad masses of the people for overcoming Oplan Bantay Laya I and II of the US-Arroyo regime, and accumulating the all-round strength to fight and defeat the campaigns of suppression being launched by the US-Aquino regime.
The worsening crisis of world capitalism and that of the semicolonial and semifeudal system provide us with the favorable conditions for further strengthening the subjective forces of the revolution and advancing our people's war from one stage to another. The ruling classes of big compradors and landlords are incapable of solving the crisis and are aggravating it as a consequence of their subservience to foreign monopoly capitalism, their plundering character and their brutality. The people are suffering more than ever before and they are driven by the crisis to fight fiercely for their national and democratic rights and interests.
As the advanced detachment of the working class and as the leading force in the Philippine revolution, our Party is determined to strengthen itself and guide other revolutionary forces, such as the New People's Army (NPA), the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP), the mass organizations, and the local organs of political power in further strengthening themselves. The growth in strength of all the organized forces of the revolution ensures the forward movement of the Filipino people in the new democratic revolution.
Benigno Aquino III has emerged as the chief representative of the exploiting classes, having drawn the biggest amount of campaign funds from them, enjoyed the support of the media lords, run the most guileful propaganda campaign and benefited from the manipulation of the US-controlled automated voting system. Thus, he is hellbent on continuing the US-dictated policies of neoliberal globalization, the preservation of the neocolonial fascist state and support for the global war of terror. His promise to lift the people from poverty and misery is a big lie. So is his promise to hold his predecessor Gloria Arroyo accountable for corruption and human rights violations. Poverty, corruption and human rights violations are bound to persist.
The US-Aquino regime does not conceal its objective of destroying the revolutionary movement by following the US Counterinsurgency Guide and supporting the strategic objectives of the US stated in Joint Vision 2020 to maintain world dominance. It continues the widespread militarization and brutal military campaigns of suppression unleashed by its counterrevolutionary predecessors. But it wishes to cosmetize the reactionary military, police and paramilitary forces with ever more deceptive psywar, demagogic gimmickry and doleout campaigns in the guerrilla fronts and other areas of popular resistance.
The US-Aquino regime intends to use the peace negotiations with the NDFP as an instrument for deceiving the people and pressuring the NDFP towards capitulation. It is scheming to junk the peace negotiations when these cannot be bent towards the counterrevolutionary objectives of the regime. The revolutionary forces and the people are aware of these objectives and thus, even if they push for whatever can be achieved through peace talks, they harbor no illusions that revolutionary objectives could be achieved through these alone or in the main. They are fully aware that their patriotic and democratic aspirations can only be effectively pushed in peace negotiations alongside the primacy of people's war and mass struggles.
The best way to serve the Filipino people and to honor our revolutionary martyrs and heroes is to advance the new democratic revolution through protracted people's war. Without the people's army for waging the people's war, the Filipino people have nothing and can never hope to complete the struggle for national liberation and democracy. And neither can they hope to have their own stable bases or liberated zones, nor to encourage and realize the possible rise of an anti-imperialist coalition government.
We stand firmly for waging the people's war, fulfilling the requirements of full-scale guerrilla warfare and advancing it from the strategic defensive to the strategic stalemate by taking advantage of the crisis conditions in order to intensify the tactical offensives, carry out land reform and build the mass base and the local organs of democratic power in the countryside. At the same time, we encourage the patriotic and progressive forces in the urban areas to intensify the mass movement. We welcome mass activists who wish to join the people's army or to work in the countryside. They are urgently needed by the peasant masses.
I. Protracted global depression and disorder

The world today is characterized by protracted economic depression and political disorder. The crisis of the world capitalist system keeps on worsening and deepening because the imperialist powers cling to the rapacious fundaments of capitalist exploitation and the dogma of neoliberal globalization. The consequent political disorder involves the rise of reactionary currents, the escalation of state terrorism, foreign military intervention and wars of aggression. Amid all this rise the people's resistance and revolution.
The recent flurry of summits by the Group of 8, the Group of 20 and the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation have exposed the confusion and inability of the leaders of the imperialist states to solve the protracted economic depression in their respective economies. They openly worry about protectionist trends that run counter to the policy of neoliberal globalization. They fear both the deflationary tendency resulting from the depression and the inflationary tendency from public spending.
In the imperialist countries, public funds have been used to bail out the big banks and corporations responsible for the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression. The use of public funds for bailout in combination with tax cuts have allowed the monopoly bourgeoisie, especially the finance oligarchy to show profits and revive the financial markets. However, production and employment have continued to decline.
Public deficits and debts have mounted. Subsequently, brutal austerity measures at the expense of the workers and the rest of the people have been adopted. Workers' economic, social and political rights are under severe attack. Wages have been pushed down. Health insurance has been made more expensive. Unemployment relief and pension benefits have been reduced. Social services have drastically been cut back.
The workers are being pressed upon by their dire conditions to wage class struggle. They are conducting strikes intermittently and on a widening scale. Among the most threatened and victimized as a result of the crisis are the blue-collar, the public sector, the young and the migrant workers. They are also the most conspicuous and most militant in general strikes and other mass protest actions. The student youth are rising due to the drastic cutbacks on education and other social services. Mass protests of millions have been sprouting in many countries in Europe and some states in the US and spreading to other countries.
The mass movement of the workers and youth is exposing the root causes of the crisis and is favoring the advance of progressive political parties. But the monopoly bourgeoisie is whipping up chauvinism, racism, religious prejudices and other reactionary currents in order to obfuscate the roots of the crisis and favor the rise of reactionary parties. A tug of war is going on between the forces of the Left and the Right in the electoral and other forms of struggle.
The imperialist states are increasingly repressive and prone to use state terrorism. The legal and political infrastructure for fascism has become well entrenched since the 9/11 anti-terrorist hysteria. The imperialist states have stepped up war hysteria and war production, and have proceeded to escalate military intervention and wars of aggression. They have taken advantage of the high rate of unemployment to recruit more troops for their armies and more police agents for breaking up strikes and street demonstrations. Fascism is rearing its ugly head as immigrants and migrant workers are scapegoated as having caused the crisis.
Contradictions among the imperialist powers on economic, financial, political and security issues are steadily growing and becoming conspicuous. But the imperialist powers still manage to maintain their alliance as they confront the oppressed peoples and nations in the underdeveloped countries. At any rate, the crisis is generating protectionism in the imperialist countries. Inter-imperialist competition is intensifying more than ever before for sources of cheap labor, oil and other raw materials, markets, fields of investments and spheres of influence.
The US is wary over the tendency of the European Union to look after its own interests in Europe, Asia, Latin America and Africa. The EU is currently being buffeted by the public debt crisis as a consequence of the bailouts and accumulated neoliberal spending on high consumption and on construction projects. Japan continues to hold on to the coat tails of Uncle Sam in terms of accommodation or cooperation in trade, investments, technology and security. In turn, the US wants Japan to act as a counterforce to China as part of the arc of containment against China in the Asia-Pacific region.
However, the US and China have been the main partners under the policy of neoliberal globalization, with the former serving as the main source of investments and main market for the cheap sweatshop consumer manufactures of the latter. Now the US is increasingly blaming China for the global economic and financial crisis and prating that China's export surpluses are the cause of US indebtedness and that China is prolonging and aggravating the crisis by manipulating its currency in order to continue cheapening its exports.
The US depicts China as its current and long-term No. 1 rival in economic and political terms, notwithstanding the fact that China is a poor country with a low per capita GDP even if its total GDP now ranks second in the world. China has strengthened certain parts of the industrial base inherited from socialism, but has undermined other parts through privatization. It has large foreign exchange reserves which it has used to export capital to various parts of the world. But US and other multinational firms have a claim on such foreign exchange reserves.
China has improved its modern weaponry formidable for defensive purposes, but it is still no match to that of the US for offensive or aggressive purposes. It has sought to counterbalance the US military presence by forming the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, developing close friendly relations with Russia, and making the US dependent on its mediating role with regard to the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.
The US is currently being weakened by the economic and financial crisis as well as by its wars of aggression in Iraq and Afghanistan and the overstretch of its military forces elsewhere in the world. Thus, it appears weakened relative to China in East Asia and relative to the bloc of countries aligned with Cuba and Venezuela in Latin America.
The countries most devastated by the crisis of the world capitalist crisis are, of course, those underdeveloped ones in Asia, Africa and Latin America, and those degraded in Eastern Europe and certain republics of the former Soviet Union. The oppressed peoples and nations in all these countries undergo terrible suffering. They yearn and struggle for national and social liberation from the imperialist countries and the local exploiting classes.
The armed movements fighting the largest and most intense struggles are those of peoples victimized by the US wars of aggression such as those in Iraq and Afghanistan. Taking the revolutionary lead on a longer time scale are the Maoist parties waging or preparing to wage people's war for national liberation and new democracy in various continents. The people's war in India, the Philippines, Turkey and elsewhere is showing the way. Avowedly Marxist-Leninist parties like those in Colombia and other countries have also been waging revolutionary armed struggle for several decades.
The defeat of the Tamil Tigers has been due to strategic and tactical errors but has not foreclosed the reemergence of the revolutionary armed struggle in Tamil Eelam and Sri Lanka. A new revolutionary leadership has declared the continuance of the people's war. The Maoist party in Nepal is at the crossroads of gaining control over government through parliamentary struggle and mass uprisings, or of resuming a protracted people's war.
More armed revolutionary movements are bound to arise in various continents and countries due to the protracted crisis and its effects, such as increasingly severe forms of oppression and exploitation, more wars of aggression against the people and sharpening contradictions among the imperialist powers themselves. The ever worsening crisis of the world capitalist system is favorable to the armed revolution of the Filipino people.
II. Chronic crisis of the rotten system worsens

The chronic crisis of the semicolonial and semifeudal system continues to worsen under the impact of the crisis of the world capitalist system. More than ever before, the Philippines is dependent on the export of raw materials, migrant labor and low value-added semimanufactures, and the prices of these are now pressed down in the global market. More than ever, the Philippines is stricken by trade deficits, and is a beggar for foreign loans at more onerous terms and for portfolio investments in search of higher returns in the financial market.
The change of puppet administrations from Arroyo to Aquino does not involve any significant change. The Aquino regime clings to the dogma of neoliberal globalization, and shuns national industrialization and land reform. It remains dependent on foreign loans and grants for the continuance of an economy oriented to the export of raw materials, and infrastructure projects to serve agricultural and mining corporations. It has given first priority to selling the Philippines and luring more foreign investments through its Public-Private Partnership Program.
Like its predecessor regime, the puppet Aquino regime slavishly follows its US master's bidding in its counterinsurgency drive. The content and language of Aquino's new counterinsurgency campaign plan, Oplan Bayanihan, to succeed Arroyo's brutal Oplan Bantay Laya--is just the same brutal dog with a different collar. It is patterned after and hews closely to the latest US Counterinsurgency Guide, with the same objectives and pretentious features. Couched in new fancy slogans, it combines all forms of deception, cooptation and brute force in seeking to destroy the revolutionary forces by all means. Like other counterinsurgency campaign plans in the past, Oplan Bayanihan has the same objective of controlling and silencing the population right down to the grassroots. It purports that the "whole-of-nation" and "people-centered" approach that it now totes is genuine and is primary over the military or "enemy-centered" approach. Its new slogans sugarcoat fascist bullets and atrocities with pretensions at reaching out to the people and respecting human rights, all to provide cover for and facilitate its brutal campaigns of suppression against the people and their revolutionary forces. In intent and reality, US counterinsurgency doctrine and practice--as more straightforwardly prescribed in military manuals--hold that, in the final analysis, military and other coercive measures are primary. As the revolutionary struggle gains strength, especially amid the ever intensifying crisis, the imperialist and puppet reactionary forces invariably resort to more and more militarist and fascist means and methods.
In conformity with the US Counterinsurgency Guide, the Aquino regime has been using the catchwords of good governance, delivery of services, economic development and security reforms in order to undertake graft-ridden programs and projects, hand doleouts for counterinsurgency purposes, aggravate the underdevelopment of the economy and divert resources from education, health and other essential social services to the military, debt service and profit remittances by multinational corporations.
The World Bank, the US Millennium Challenge Corporation and other imperialist agencies have joined the charade in announcing that they would favor and support states with development projects, such as those bandied about as Millennium Development Goals and Conditional Cash Transfers that supposely would raise the quality of life of the population, improve governance and the delivery of basic services, but whose real objectives are to keep the recipient countries backward and mendicant, and to further the imperialist neoliberal and counterinsurgency agenda.
The Filipino people suffer the impositions of a regime whose chieftain Aquino has been handpicked by the US and the local exploiters. His supposed victory in the elections was predetermined by the propaganda, financing and manipulation of the foreign-controlled automated electoral system by the US and the worst of the local reactionaries. The Aquino regime is being directed by the same foreign and domestic interests that directed the Arroyo regime. It has already exposed itself as essentially similar to the Arroyo regime in terms of puppetry, corruption, brutality and mendacity.
To surpass his electoral rivals in campaign rhetorics, Aquino promised to prosecute and try Arroyo and her accomplices for corruption and human rights violations. But the promise is not going to be fulfilled as proven by the built-in weaknesses and the waste-basketting by the Arroyo-dominated Supreme Court of the so-called Truth Commission, as well as by the continuing condonement not only of the Arroyo regime's human rights violations but also those of the current regime itself.
Intense pressure, including heavy criticism of the ridiculously trumped-up charges, widespread demands nationwide and abroad, the detainees' resolute struggle for justice and freedom and their hunger strike compelled the Aquino government to drop the charges against the Morong 43 and have them released. The AFP still has to answer for the injustice, torture and sufferings inflicted on the victims. The Aquino government has still failed to clear and release hundreds more political detainees who have also been falsely charged, including those whose scurity is guaranteed by the GRP-NDFP Joint Agreement on Safety and Immunity Guarantees (JASIG). It has not rendered justice to the thousands of victims of human rights violations.
By all indications, the Aquino regime is hellbent on using the slogan of human rights in order to continue the gross and systematic human rights violations. It is obviously going to use the peace negotiations with the NDFP and the MILF as an occasional propaganda device and to block the demands of the people for basic social, economic and political reforms to address the roots of the armed conflict and lay the basis for a just and lasting peace. So far, most important to the Aquino regime is beefing up the military, police and paramilitary forces and unleashing them against the people and the revolutionary forces.
The contradictions between the Filipino people and the Aquino regime will sharpen. The people will resent Aquino for failing to fulfill his promise to solve the problem of poverty by eliminating corruption. The regime has practically condoned the crimes of corruption committed by the Arroyo clique and allows the continuing rampage of corruption. To end poverty, it is not enough to stop corruption. Social justice and development through national industrialization and land reform are necessary. But the Aquino regime is opposed to these as well, as proven by his actuations on the Hacienda Luisita issue and his policy pronouncements and acts that exceedingly tout foreign investments and favor the imperialist policy of neoliberal globalization.
The people cannot tolerate extreme forms of exploitation and oppression inflicted on them. Social discontent is more widespread and intense than ever before. The mass organizations of the toiling masses and the middle social strata are girding for concerted mass actions. Strikes and mass demonstrations have begun to break out and are bound to spread. The armed revolutionary struggle is intensifying. The people's army is launching more tactical offensives than ever before in order to realize the objective of advancing from the strategic defensive to the strategic stalemate in five years.
As the crisis worsens and the people's resistance rises, the contradictions among the reactionaries intensify. The economic and financial basis for mutual accommodation among the reactionaries has further narrowed. The ruling reactionaries headed by Aquino tend to monopolize the spoils of power. The reactionaries in the opposition are pushed to expose the corruption and other crimes of those who are in power. They are obliged to criticize the ruling clique in order to seize the political initiative and prepare for the next electoral contest.
At various levels of the political system, the competing reactionaries build their respective armed strength by cultivating factions within the military and police and by organizing their own armed body guards and private security agencies and militia units. GRP president Aquino as commander-in-chief of the armed forces has the advantage over his political opponents in using the military and police chain of command and his own private security corporation. But the regime is vulnerable to the changing alignments among the armed factions that struggle for power and spoils, especially in lucrative official assignments and criminal activities.
There is no sign whatsover that the war between the Manila government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) would be resolved under the Aquino regime. The regime and its imperialist master seek the capitulation of the MILF so that they can exploit and plunder the natural resources in Bangsamoro land in Mindanao. But the MILF is unwilling to give up the right of the Bangsamoro to self-determination and to their ancestral domain.
While the war continues in Bangsamoro land, the Manila government has less deployable military forces against the New People's Army. At the same time, while the people's war advances throughout the Philippines, the MILF and the Bangsamoro have better prospects of achieving their revolutionary aspirations. The revolutionary forces and people led by the Communist Party of the Philippines have always recognized the right of the Moro people to national self-determination. The Moro people have the right to secede from an oppressive state as well as to opt for autonomy in a centralized or federal state that is nonoppressive.
The contradictions between the US imperialists and the Filipino people are sharpening in every field--economic, political, military and cultural. The US has tightened its grip on the Philippine economy under the policy of neoliberal globalization. At the same time, it has increased its military intervention under its policy of "global war on terror" and particularly under the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) and the US Counterinsurgency Guide. Under various pretexts, the US has realized the permanent basing and deployment of US military forces in the Philippines. US military officers have openly acted as the bosses of the Filipino puppet forces.
The US is bent on escalating its military intervention to a war of aggression against the Filipino people as the revolutionary forces gain strength towards the strategic stalemate. But US military forces are being adversely affected by the domestic US economic and financial crisis, by being sucked into the quagmires of two wars of aggression and by being overstretched in overseas deployment.
The possibility of a US war of aggression against the Filipino people can be diminished by the rise of more armed revolutions in the world and by diplomatic actions taking advantage of growing contradictions between the US and certain countries in East Asia, like China and the DPRK. But the most important consideration is that the Filipino people and the revolutionary forces shall have gained a great amount of strength and experience from advancing towards the strategic stalemate and shall have prepared to fight a US war of aggression.
III. The Party leads the revolution

The Communist Party of the Philippines has successfully led the Philippine revolution for over 42 years since its founding. It has defeated all the military campaigns of suppression unleashed by the Marcos regime to "nip the revolution in the bud" from 1969 to 1972 and the 14 years of fascist dictatorship from 1972 to 1986; and thereafter, the various campaigns of the post-Marcos regimes from 1986 to the present.
It has grown from small to big and from weak to strong through fierce revolutionary struggles. It has become tempered in battles against the enemy forces and overcome tremendous odds and difficulties. It has gained rich experience from which to draw lessons in order to advance the people's war from the strategic defensive to the strategic stalemate in five years.
The Party has won great victories in the fields of ideology, politics and organization. It has upheld, defended and promoted Marxism-Leninism-Maoism as the theory of the revolutionary proletariat. It has applied this theory on Philippine history and circumstances in order to determine the character of Philippine society and to draw the general political line of new democratic revolution through protracted people's war. It has adhered to the principle of democratic centralism in building an organization that is deeply rooted among the toiling masses throughout the country.
The Party has gained strength and competence in leading the Philippine revolution because it has resolutely and diligently built itself ideologically, politically and organizationally. Criticism and self-criticism are conducted regularly and in a timely way in all organs and units to identify and overcome errors and shortcomings and to improve work and style of work. When errors and shortcomings of major proportions are committed, higher organs conduct rectification campaigns of varying scale and duration.
The CPP Central Committee initiated and led the Second Great Rectification Movement (SGRM) from 1992 to 1998 that identified, criticized, repudiated and rectified major errors of Left opportunism and Right opportunism arising from the subjectivist notion that the Philippines has ceased to be semifeudal. The Left opportunists who pushed the lines of "strategic counteroffensive" and "urban insurrectionism" (Red Area-White Area, etc.) departed from the strategic line of protracted people's war and undermined the mass base of the revolutionary movement. Subsequently, they conjoined with the Right opportunists who got carried away by Gorbachovism, Trotskyism, bourgeois liberalism and other petty bourgeois trends and who were most vocal in espousing the liquidation of the Party.
The Party held its ground against the opportunists and called for the reaffirmation of basic revolutionary principles and the rectification of errors. It confronted and defeated the opportunists on all major issues, renewed the criticism and repudiation of modern revisionism in view of the blatant and full-scale restoration of capitalism in revisionist-ruled countries. It combatted the ideas and policies related to the ideological, political, economic and military offensives of the US and its allies against the cause of national liberation, democracy and socialism.
The SGRM held the incorrigible opportunists and renegades accountable for gross ideological and political errors and for crimes arising from hysterical anti-informer campaigns. It frustrated and defeated the wrecking operations of the opportunists who eventually exposed themselves as renegades and special agents of the enemy. Ideological work was intensified. Through vigorous efforts, the Party successfully recovered and expanded the mass base in rural and urban areas. But certain aspects and areas of work did not get prompt and proper attention until after the SGRM.
The Party was able to preserve itself and gain strength under the worst conditions of adversity. It was still in the process of laying its foundation when Marcos imposed the fascist dictatorship and sought to destroy the revolutionary movement. In the time of the first Aquino regime, the military campaigns called Lambat Bitag coincided with the opportunist lines still at work within the Party. The Ramos and Estrada regimes continued the campaigns of suppression while the Party concentrated on the rectification movement and the recovery of the mass base.
The Arroyo regime carried out Oplan Bantay Laya (OBL) for nearly ten years. The victories gained from the SGRM served the revolutionary movement well. In certain regions, the revolutionary forces that came under concentrated enemy attack became stronger. Others maintained their strength to be able to fight back in armed and legal struggles. One region was able to surmount the whole course of OBL I but declined in both armed and legal forms of struggle in the course of OBL II. In certain regions, the revolutionary forces grew because the enemy military forces were sparse due to overextension elsewhere.
Even when the enemy forces launched the most brutal campaigns of military suppression, the Party has been able to engage in ideological building by undertaking courses at the primary, intermediate and advanced levels in many rural and urban areas. It is impossible for the enemy to stop ideological and political studies in so many guerrilla fronts, mountainous sites, private homes, offices and campus grounds apart from studies conducted in guerrilla fronts under concentrated attack by the enemy forces.
It is absolutely necessary to have Party cadres and members who have a sufficient level of theoretical knowledge of Marxism-Leninism-Maoism. They serve as the hard core of the revolutionary movement. The long life and victories of the Party and the entire revolutionary movement are assured as the number of Marxist-Leninist-Maoists keep on increasing.
Theoretical and political studies have been facilitated and accelerated by the translation of the classics and major Party documents in various Philippine languages, by the legal availability of these in hard copies and on the internet in digital copies, by simplified study materials and by the use of audio-visual media and illustrations in hard and digital copies,
The Party has consistently promoted the general political line of democratic revolution through protracted people's war in response to the semcolonial and semifeudal conditions that have not only persisted but also worsened and deepened under the policy regime of neoliberal globalization and the global war of terror pushed by the US imperialists. The Party has taken up all the major political, economic, social, cultural and military issues related to the general line of the revolution. It has debated with and defeated the exponents of blatant counterrevolution and reformism.
The Party has vigorously aroused, organized and mobilized various sections of the masses to undertake various forms of struggle against the current enemy and the entire ruling system. The mass movement has continued to persevere and grow in both urban and rural areas. It can grow faster than ever as it responds to the demands of the masses themselves and members of mass organizations are recruited in accordance with easily understood constitutions and programs of such organizations.
There is no way for the enemy to stop the mass organizations, especially because of the worsening political and economic crisis of the ruling system. But certain mass organizations and alliances have declined not so much because of the enemy campaigns of suppression but because of errors and shortcomings of leadership in the Party organs concerned.
The mass movement of workers, peasants, youth, women, professionals and other people is the source of Party members and NPA fighters. It is the force by which the masses themselves express their needs, demands and aspirations. It is the force by which they can build and appreciate their own strength. It is also the force by which various types of alliances can be formed.
The New People's Army has 110 to 120 guerrilla fronts that cover significant portions of 800 municipalities in 70 provinces. The number of guerrilla fronts fluctuates because of concentrated enemy attacks with varying durations. The enemy has no capability to concentrate attacks on more than 10% of the guerrilla fronts at every given time.
To frustrate and defeat concentrated attacks by the enemy forces, the NPA can shift its forces, leave units to pin down the enemy and launch offensives at the weakest points of the enemy elsewhere. While the enemy can concentrate strength on less than 10% of the Philippines, the NPA can move around freely in more than 90%.
The NPA continues to integrate the revolutionary armed struggle with genuine land reform and the building of the mass base and organs of political power. It is invincible because it smashes the bureaucratic military power of the state, responds to the peasant demand for land and realizes land reform as the main content of the democratic revolution and because it builds the people's democratic state of workers, peasants and other people.
The National Democratic Front is effectively harmonizing 17 revolutionary forces consisting of the Party, the NPA and the underground revolutionary mass organizations of workers, peasants, national minorities, women, youth, teachers, health professionals, lawyers, scientists and technologists, writers and artists, the religious and other sectors. It is a united front for armed struggle. At the same time, all the revolutionary forces have authorized it to engage in peace negotiations with the reactionary government.
The peace negotiations have dragged on because one reactionary regime after another has sought to use it in futile attempts to deceive the people, split the revolutionary forces and press the NDFP towards capitulation and pacification. But the NDFP has correctly and consistently asserted that the framework agreement, The Hague Joint Declaration, must be followed and that the roots of the armed conflict must be addressed through basic social, economic and political reforms to lay the basis for a just and lasting peace.
The Party and the NDFP have served well the people and the revolutionary forces by declaring that the line of negotiations for a just peace is no different from the line of struggle for national liberation and democracy. A just peace can be achieved in the following ways: the complete victory of the armed revolution, the emergence of an anti-imperialist coalition government or an anti-imperialist alliance and truce.
None of these possibilities is easily attainable because the enemy persists in trying to destroy the revolutionary movement of the people. The NDFP carries on the peace negotiations because these provide the opportunity to articulate the program for a people's democratic revolution, to win more adherents to the revolution and to be open to possibilities presented by the worsening crisis of the ruling system and the world capitalist system.
IV. The new fighting tasks

It is an achievement of great national and world significance that the Communist Party of the Philippines and the Filipino people have carried forward the new democratic revolution through protracted people's war for more than four decades and in the process overcome the most vicious campaigns of suppression unleashed by US imperialism and the local reactionary classes.
The Party has taken an outstanding role in exposing and opposing the ideological, political, economic, cultural and military offensives of the US and other imperialist powers abetted by the revisionist betrayal of socialism. It has analytically anticipated the resurgence of the forces of national liberation, democracy and socialism as a result of the worsening crisis of the world capitalist system under the policy of neoliberal globalization.
It is fine that the Party has resolved to advance the people's war from the strategic defensive to the strategic stalemate in five years' time. The sight of the near horizon has aroused the optimism and heightened the vigor of the revolutionary forces as they rise in triumph over the harse difficulties and trials inflicted in the course of the enemy's vicious Oplan Bantay Laya just as they have triumphed over all past similar counterinsurgency campaigns, and rallied to push forward and make a new leap in the struggle, armed with deep resolve, valuable lessons and increased strength. Inspired by their victories accumulated in more than 40 years of ardent struggle and the higher new challenge, the Party membership, NPA units and revolutionary forces are resolved to raise the level of intensity and quality of their struggle, fulfill the requisites, carry out the required tasks, and advance the people's war. The Party must take advantage of the favorable conditions created by the crisis of the world capitalist system for waging revolution. It must confront and defeat the scheme of the enemy to destroy the armed revolution in the Philippines. It must make great strides in realizing the people's aspirations for national and social liberation.
Certain requirements have to be fulfilled in order to advance the people's war. We must be clear about the tasks to be carried out in order to fulfill such requirements.
1. The Party must expand boldly without letting a single undesirable in. It must increase its membership to an extent that it has a Party branch in a majority of barangays and in every NPA company and it has Party groups at various levels of mass organizations and institutions. It must be able to recruit Party members from the urban and rural-based mass organizations as well as from units of the NPA.
The main source of Party recruits is the revolutionary mass movement. The mass organizations of workers, peasants, national minorities, urban poor, women, youth, migrants, professionals and others must run far ahead of the Party in recruiting their own members from the unorganized masses. Recruitment can be carried out in large numbers, because acceptance of the constitution and program of the mass organization with patriotic and progressive character suffices for a recruit to become a member. Members thus recruited take general and special mass courses to deepen their understanding, adherence and commitment to the national and democratic cause. Rapid expansion of membership can be realized especially when these mass organizations are at the lead of propaganda campaigns and mass mobilizations of the people to fight for their immediate and strategic aspirations.
The Party can expand easily upon the rapid growth of the mass organizations. It gives priority to the recruitment of the most advanced mass activists at every given time. Any resident of the Philippines at least 18 years of age who accepts the Party Constitution and Program can qualify immediately as a candidate-member. Within the period of candidature, the recruit is provided with the basic Party course and has the same rights and obligations as the full members, except the right to vote.
The period of candidature for workers and peasants is six months; for those of the urban petty bourgeoisie, one year; and for the middle bourgeoisie, two years. Kabataang Makabayan Communist Youth League members automatically become full members of the Party upon reaching the age of 18, provided they have finished the basic Party course.
The Party must enforce the provisions on Party membership as stated in the Constitution. Any notion that there are rules and standards for membership other than those in the Constitution must be dispelled. The long-running neglect and indefinite delay in the promotion of candidate-membership to full membership must be rectified. Party candidate-members must be provided with the basic Party course promptly, tasked and promoted to full membership upon completion of their period of candidature.
After the candidate-member becomes a full member, he/she must take the intermediate and higher Party courses as soon as possible. A full Party member is expected to become more inspired and more active in fulfilling tasks within the Party and the revolutionary mass movement or in any unit of the people's army.
All Party organs must continually conduct assessments and summing up of their experiences to determine their strengths and weaknesses and draw new plans for their work. The Central Committee of the Party must require all regional Party Committees, Commissions and similar leading organs to make reports and recommendations on the status of the revolutionary forces in their respective areas and lines of work, find out from them their strengths and weaknesses, and provide them with guidance for enhancing their strengths and overcoming their weaknesses. It must require strong and well-developed regions to help weaker ones in augmenting cadres and resources for strengthening the Party, the people's army and people's mass organizations and the united front. Every higher Party organ must inquire from the organs below it what are their strengths and weaknesses and what are the errors and shortcomings of leadership as well as the impact of enemy campaigns of suppression and the interrelation of the subjective forces and the circumstances.
2. The Party must direct the New People's Army to increase the number of full-time fighters. Every fully developed guerrilla front must have a total strength of at least one company. It should develop in stages from the seed unit deployed from a previously existing guerrilla front. Developing a guerrilla front entails integration of the revolutionary armed struggle, the agrarian revolution and building the mass base and the organs of democratic political power under the leadership of the Party.
The leadership of the Party over the NPA is ensured with the Central Committee and the Military Commission making the strategic policies and plans on the basis of reports and recommendations below and then issuing the directives to the NPA National Operational Command. At every level of command are a political department and a political officer to maintain the dual leadership with the commander in charge of military command and operations. Every company or platoon has a Party branch and every squad a Party group.
The units of the NPA must be increased by fighting the enemy forces and seizing their weapons. The NPA units must wage only battles that they can win. They do so by concentrating enough strength to wipe out an enemy force, using such elements as surprise, favorable terrain and favorable conditions. They must give priority to battles of annihilation that take the form of ambuscades and raids. By annihilation, we mean taking away by armed force the capability of enemy units to fight but treating the captives leniently after they are disarmed or they lose the ability to fight.
The tactics of annihilation must be complemented by tactics of attrition at the sure expense of the enemy. The NPA must train from the ranks of the full-time fighters and the militia special teams for reconnaissance, sniping, producing and employing command-detonated explosives and other means, with the objective of destroying moving and parked vehicles used for transporting military personnel, weapons, fuel and other war materiel as well as storage facilties for these.
Enterprises that do not comply with the rules and regulations of the people's democratic government, disregard and violate the welfare and interests of the people, and conduct abusive and antagonistic actions against the people must be banned, disabled or dismantled. These include those that engage in destructive large-scale logging, mining and plantations for export; plunder nonrenewable resources; ruin the environment and take land away from land reform. The military forces and security agencies protecting these enterprises are targets for annihilation by the people's army.
As a matter of revolutionary law and justice, those who have committed murder and other serious crimes against the people and the revolutionary forces, including human rights violations and plunder, must be arrested by the people's army and militia, investigated by the people's prosecution and tried by the people's court. Such criminals are subject to the necessary amount of force by the arresting units if they are armed and dangerous, resist arrest or are protected by bodyguards and units of the reactionary military or police.
The NPA must use the tactics of concentration in order to win the tactical offensives against target enemy units. But it must also be vigilant against the enemy using the same tactics of concentration. When a superior enemy force comes looking for a fight and implements a plan to occupy an area, be it a guerrilla front or a part of it, the NPA must be ready to use the tactics of evasion or shifting in order to avoid being put at a disadvantage, to trade space for time and to move to an advantageous position for conducting a counteroffensive at a later time or at a location where the enemy is weak. When the enemy forces set camp, the NPA must harass and inflict damage on them and be on the lookout for opportunities to annihilate any enemy unit or element going out of the camp.
The NPA must use the tactics of dispersal to cover a wide area for mass work and develop a wide network of mass organizations, self-defense units and militia against the enemy. In a guerrilla front, the NPA must always maintain a relatively concentrated unit (e.g., a platoon) and relatively dispersed units (e.g., two platoons divisible into squads and propaganda teams).
The NPA can carry out intensive and extensive guerrilla warfare and flexibly use the tactics of concentration, shifting and dispersal only if it has an ever widening and deepening mass base. The peasant masses are ever willing to let their best sons and daughters join the people's army. They are the active base and limitless source of Red fighters and resources for the armed revolution because the NPA is their instrument for fulfilling their demand for land and for realizing their economic, social and political liberation.
The NPA must promote the establishment and development of the mass organizations of workers, peasants, youth, women, cultural activists and other sectors of people in the localities. It must help build the organs of political power. Initially, these are appointive committees of the people and eventually elected by the representatives of the mass organizations or by the entire community. The Party must systematically deploy urban-based mass activists to the countryside so that they can learn from the peasant masses, render service to the peasant communities and in due course join the people's army. Party cadres and members from the ranks of the workers and educated youth are urgently needed for strengthening the people's army and the Party in the countryside.
3. The Party must strengthen the basic alliance of the working class and peasantry. This is the combination of the leading force and the main force of the new democratic revolution. Through the Party as the advanced detachment, the working class is the leading force because it directs the current course of the revolution towards the socialist future. The peasantry is the main force because it is the most numerous exploited class whose struggle for land is the main content of the democratic revolution. The proletariat and the peasantry constitute more than 90% of the people. Their combination is indispensable and decisive for winning the new democratic revolution.
The basic worker-peasant alliance must win over the urban petty bourgeoisie as allies in order to constitute the alliance of progressive forces. The National Democratic Front is the best expression and most consolidated underground alliance of the workers, peasants and the urban petty bourgeoisie. It must be strengthened further. The urban petty bourgeoisie is a small part of Philippine society and constitutes the lower part of the bourgeoisie. It suffers a certain degree of oppression and exploitation and it can be won over to contribute its capabilities and influence to the revolution.
The Party must further win over the middle bourgeoisie to cooperate with the alliance of progressive forces and become active in a formal or informal alliance of patriotic forces interested in strengthening the anti-imperialist and democratic movement of the entire people. The middle bourgeoisie is interested in national industrialization and can understand land reform as a way of releasing capital, expanding the domestic market and serving as the source of food and raw materials for industry. The alliance of patriotic forces is interested in the rise of an anti-imperialist and democratic government.
The Party must be open to the broadest possible alliance, which includes the reactionary forces opposed to the enemy that is the most reactionary and most servile to the imperialists. Reactionaries are temporary and unreliable allies. They join the alliance because of their self-interest and they are inclined to attack the revolution once they come into power. But alliance with them is necessary in order to isolate and destroy the enemy. Relative to the broadest possible alliance, the Party must maintain its independence and initiative and must draw benefits for the revolutionary movement from the conflicts of the reactionaries and build its strength for eventually overthrowing the entire ruling system.
So far, in the history of our Party, the reactionary force considered as the enemy has been the ruling clique. But the Party does not foreclose the possibility of an anti-imperialist alliance and truce with a regime in power that takes an anti-imperialist and democratic position. It considers the GRP-NDFP peace negotiations as a way of encouraging and stimulating the emergence of a government of national unity against the imperialists and their unrepentant puppets.
For as long as no possibility exists for such a government to arise, the Party and the Filipino people must exert all efforts to carry forward the new democratic revolution through people's war. After we succeed in advancing from the strategic defensive to the strategic stalemate, our task is to fully develop the strategic stalemate until the conditions are ripe for the nationwide seizure of power through the strategic offensive.


http://www.philippinerevolution.net/cgi-bin/statements/stmts.pl?author=cc;date=101226;lang=eng

[red cat]

Gov't: Philippine rebels stronger ahead of talks


http://d.yimg.com/a/p/ap/20110214/capt.ac3600b645de43f9be82b2244cc70923-ac3600b645de43f9be82b2244cc70923-0.jpg?x=213&y=149&xc=1&yc=1&wc=409&hc=286&q=85&sig=I7uAQCTxqD9MbxQhKulcLg-- (http://news.yahoo.com/nphotos/protester-displays-heart-shaped-cutout-message-during-rally-near-Presidential-Palace/photo//110214/481/urn_publicid_ap_org_ac3600b645de43f9be82b2244cc709 23//s:/ap/20110215/ap_on_re_as/as_philippines_communist_rebels)

AP – A protester displays a heart-shaped cutout with a message during a rally near the Presidential Palace …





By JIM GOMEZ, Associated Press Jim Gomez, Associated Press – Mon Feb 14, 11:56 pm ET


MANILA, Philippines – Communist guerrillas grew stronger last year after a long period of battle losses, acquiring more fighters and guns and killing more government forces in a spike of attacks, a Philippine government report says ahead of renewed peace talks.


Government and rebel negotiators are to resume talks stalled for more than six years, on Tuesday in Norway. Both sides have declared a weeklong cease-fire to bolster the negotiations aimed at ending one of Asia's longest-running Marxist insurgencies.


Government negotiators have expressed hope that last year's election of reformist President Benigno Aquino III on the promise he would reduce poverty and improve governance would soften the rural-based insurgency, which has survived decades of military crackdown.


A confidential government threat assessment report, however, said the guerrillas managed to recover last year from a decline dealt by battle losses since 2002 with its fighters increasing by 30 to 4,398 and firearms rising by more than 130 in just a year to 4,871.


The rebels managed to re-establish six rural strongholds that had been overrun by the military and staged 413 attacks — 11 percent more than in 2009. Security personnel killed by the rebels rose by nearly 9 percent to 172, including 102 soldiers, due to improved guerrilla capability to make bombs used in ambushes, according to the report. A copy was obtained by The Associated Press.


"Despite what many consider its anachronistic ideology, the insurgency has endured," the Brussels-based International Crisis Group said. "Many of its criticisms of income inequality, human rights abuses and broader social injustice still resonate with some Filipinos."


The report said government forces killed 35 rebels last year and captured 131 others while more than 150 surrendered.


Military chief of staff Gen. Ricardo David Jr. said army troops and police captured Allan Jazmines, a member of the policy-making central committee of the Communist Party of the Philippines, at a rebel safehouse in Baliuag town in Bulacan province before nightfall Monday.


The rebels protested the arrest and demanded his immediate and unconditional release "so that there will be no disruption of the formal peace talks."


Chief rebel negotiator Luis Jalandoni said in a statement that Jazmines is among guerrilla consultants to the talks covered by a government immunity from arrests and prosecution amid the negotiations.


The military has said that it was willing to release Jazmines if he was covered by the government immunity.


David said without elaborating that the arrest of Jazmines, shortly before a cease-fire came into force, was a setback to the Maoist rebels' "organizing, deception and propaganda efforts, adding "arrests of this kind will continue."


Jazmines was captured twice during the reign of dictator Ferdinand Marcos and was among communist leaders who were freed when President Corazon Aquino took power following a 1986 "people power" revolt that toppled the strongman, said Satur Ocampo, a former rebel spokesman and negotiator.


Both sides imposed a weeklong cease-fire that began Tuesday to foster the negotiations, which stalled in 2004 after the Maoist rebels accused then President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo's government of instigating the inclusion of the communist party and its armed wing, the New People's Army, in U.S. and European terrorist blacklists.


It was the first time since on-and-off talks started 25 years ago that the rebels have agreed to a cease-fire while negotiations are being held.
___
Associated Press reporter Oliver Teves contributed to this report.


http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110215/ap_on_re_as/as_philippines_communist_rebels

[mosfeld]

PRESS RELEASE
Information Bureau
Communist Party of the Philippines

CPP calls on UN children's rep to look into children terrorized by AFP in SamarApril 18, 2011

The Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) today urged UN Special Representative on Children and Armed Conflict Radhika Coomaraswamy to investigate the incident last March 4 in Matuguinao, Samar where fascist troops of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) carried out military operations against residents of Barangay Carolina subjecting children and their parents to terrorism and abuse.

The CPP said it is also investigating the incident after receiving complaints from residents of Matuguinao that armed soldiers rampaged through their village and forced people to attend an anti-NPA meeting sponsored by the military.

Upon entering the village, a platoon of AFP soldiers fired their guns indiscriminately for five minutes, terrorizing the residents. They then went around the village to round up residents and force them to attend a meeting in the town center. They threw stones at houses to force the people to come out. A house in the outlying parts of the village was razed.
The CPP called on UN Special Rep. Coomaraswamy to look into the particular incident were four siblings were terrorized by soldiers right inside their home. The children whose ages range from four to 12 years old, were left alone in their house after their father was compelled by the military to attend the anti-NPA meeting.

The soldiers forced their way into the house and asked the children where they kept their firearm. The children answered that there was no gun in the house. The military accused the children of lying, and relented only when the eldest child told the soldiers to search the house if they did not believe them.

"The CPP strongly condemns the terrorist treatment of the children of Matuguinao. The military operations carried out by the AFP under its so-called 'Community Organizing for Peace and Development' subjected the children and their parents to human rights abuses," said the CPP.
"The Matuguinao operation conducted by the AFP reveals the hypocrisy of the AFP's declarations promoting human rights. It shows that the so-called civil-military operations under Oplan Bayanihan are as brutal and violent, if not worse, than before," said the CPP.

http://www.philippinerevolution.net/cgi-bin/statements/releases.pl?date=110418;refer=cpp;lang=eng

[mosfeld]

KM salutes student activists for revealing state of nation, exposing Aquino's lies

Calls on the Filipino youth to 'Serve the People' and join the revolutionary movement

As expected, Aquino trumpeted the "Conditional Cash Transfer" and the so-called efforts of his administration to stamp out corruption in government, and claimed these as his major accomplishments in his speech at the University of the Philippines Diliman graduation.

As if having a memory-gap of grand-slashing the social services budget this year, Aquino's contrived flattery would later on fall flat on his face when UP Student Regent Jacqueline Eroles touted him as summa cum laude in budget-cuts and that the university's recognizing him with honorary Doctor of Laws is an insult to the Filipino people.

The Kabataang Makabayan applauds UP students and SR Eroles for standing and not failing to remind Aquino, who earlier sat next to her, that the reality in Aquino's pambobola is this year's huge budget cuts not only to the premier state university and Philippine General Hospital but to other social services as well. Eroles' chanting of "Edukasyon, edukasyon, Karapatan ng mamamayan!" signaled the standing of other graduates who also raised placards stating "Walang pagbabago sa ilalim ng administrasyong Aquino (Nothing has changed under Aquino)".

KM likewise salutes the brave graduating student of the UP Manila for holding a lightning rally during the graduation rites last week and calling attention to the plight of millions of Filipinos and new graduates who are either ending in the league of unemployed or are forced to migrate as the current government offers no decent employment programs for the people.

Aquino's speech writer should have been smart enough. You could not delude the Iskolar ng Bayan and the entire people with the debt-funded CCT subterfuge as this is nothing but "dole-out" and breeds more patronage and corruption through to the lowest level of bureaucracy.

By dole-outs and anti-corruption antics, Aquino and his propagandists try to hide the real systemic inequality and root cause of social problems like poverty, hunger, unemployment, land monopoly, and US intervention.

Aquino's shallow anti-corruption slogans are itself eaten away by his administration's policies. Despite flagrant corruption in the Armed Forces of the Philippines, Aquino approved recently a whopping 11billion peso additional budget for weapons purchase and to appease the demoralized military.

What about the Kamag-anak Inc. who comprise his family and the biggest bourgeois compradors in the country like Danding Cojuancgco benefit? Is it a coincidence that Aquino is now sending the US troops and the AFP in the disputed Hacienda Luisita in the name of Balikatan Exercises to give medical and dental mission or to terrorize the farmers and dissuade them from militant struggle for land reform?

What about all the rhetoric that hinges on change? Aquino administration's neo-liberal policies that mimic Arroyo's, unmask his administration as truly allied to its comprador-landlord class and its US imperialist master.

Aside from Aquino's CCT, Private-Public Partnership as his central economic policy is pushing for greater privatization, deregulation and liberalization of country's economy. These have immediately resulted to further commercialization of education, diminishing budget to education and social services, sky-rocketing prices of oil products, food and basic necessities, rising transportation costs, attacks on urban poor livelihood and demolitions, wage freeze and anti-worker policies.

Aquino regime remains subservient to the dictates of US imperialism not just with the perpetuation of the Visiting Forces Agreement and implementation of Oplan Bayanihan after the US Counter-insurgency guide. It connives in burdening the people with pro-imperialist K12 education reform plan, and sells out the nation's natural resources for the plunder and exploitation of multi-national corporations and big extractive companies.

Aquino's incompetence and anti-people regime drives more youth to be awakened and that will hound Aquino with protests in wherever part of the country he goes in the coming days.

Thus, KM urges the students and youth to hold similar protest actions in your graduation rites and beyond. Being critical, the youth can speak truth by exposing the real issues of the day and the anti-people policies of the US-Aquino regime.

KM urges the youth and students to go to the basic masses, make-use of your energy, talents, skills, or whatever profession and hone them for the benefit and service to the people. The countryside is a vast area where we can learn that only through changing the current system, which breeds exploitation of peasants and workers, will there be a bright future for the Filipino youth and people. Only through genuine agrarian reform and national industrialization can the road of progress and justice be led to the people, and proceed to socialist transformation and construction.

So long as the rotten, corrupt and unjust semi-feudal and semi-colonial system pervades and maintained by US imperialism, the Filipino youth and student will continue to rise in bigger number, and together with the people seek for the revolutionary transformation in our country.

We welcome all progressive and freedom-loving youth to join the ranks of the revolutionary youth under the Kabataang Makabayan and embrace armed struggle of the people.

Filipino youth, go and learn from the basic masses!

Join the New People's Army!
http://www.philippinerevolution.net/cgi-bin/statements/stmts.pl?date=110419;author=km2;lang=eng

[mosfeld]

Desperate Panabo PNP falsely arrests civilians as NPAs

Humiliated, paranoid and obviously reeling from the impact of the New People's Army raid at the police headquarters, the criminal Panabo City police arrested and severely mauled civilians Toto Ancahas and Gerald Robles last week and presented them to the media as petty criminals-turned-NPA members.

Civilian Robles, on parole after serving in the nearby Davao Penal Colony rehabilitation center, earned the ire of the Panabo police after he refused to cooperate and join a police-masterminded extortion and illegal drugs racket and armed robbery. Civilian Ancahas was placed on the PNP Panabo wanted list after he brought the bail bond to the local reactionary court on behalf of the families of four arrested NPA members last 2009.

The arrest of the two civilians shows the desperation of the PNP Panabo to deodorize its criminal image as a protector of underground syndicates and mastermind of the wave of criminal activities in the city. Hyped as the public safety battalion, the PNP is wanting to score pogi points against the people's army following the March 19 NPA punitive action against the criminal Panabo police force. Also last month, the Panabo police has indiscriminately strafed two civilians onboard a van parked near the police station, wounding a woman who is now in jail.

If the claims of the Panabo police were true that civilians Ancahas and Robles are set to liquidate police personnel and CSU members who are connected to armed robbery and illegal drugs; then, understandably, Panabo Police Chief Supt Alexander Serrano Jr. must be at the height of paranoia. One, because the criminal Panabo PNP is further exposed as coddlers of criminals, if not, are in fact hoodlums in uniforms; and second, because the civilians have taken it upon themselves to act against the criminal PNP Panabo police.

Bien Sumuroy (http://www.philippinerevolution.net/cgi-bin/statements/stmts.pl?author=asc)
Spokesperson
Amoran Saripada Command
Front 52 Operations Command
NPA-Southern Mindanao
April 24, 2011
http://www.philippinerevolution.net/cgi-bin/statements/stmts.pl?author=asc;date=110424;lang=eng

[mosfeld]

No to Kamag-Anak Inc.'s destructive industries and its continuing plunder of our natural resources in South Central Mindanao!

Within just ten months of Benigno Aquino III's rise to power, Kamag-Anak Inc has moved in to wrest control of the vast resources in south central Mindanao -- from large scale mining to power generation to agribusiness. Eduardo Cojuangco, through San Miguel Corporation (SMC) now has a 10% equity in Xstrata-SMI which will be the country's biggest and most destructive copper gold mine. He also acquired three coal mines in coal rich Daguma range spanning Sarangani, Sultan Kudarat and South Cotabato. SMC announced it will soon build coal fired power plants in General Santos, Sultan Kudarat and Davao.

Overweening with wealth and power, Cojuangco and his nephew, P-noy seem totally immune to the people's urgent and widespread clamor to stop this wanton plunder of our mineral resources and the imminent threat of environmental disasters like landslides, air and water pollution and the destruction of our river systems and coastal areas.

In Far South Mindanao, the large-scale mining of Xstrata SMI of which Cojuangco is a part owner poses the biggest threat to the environment. No less than the provincial government of South Cotabato in its environmental Code and the Diocese of Marbel have continuously expressed their vehement opposition to the large scale open pit mining of this multinational company. But the Aquino regime and its Kamag-anak Inc are deaf to the dire warnings of ecologists, scientists and concerned citizens -- all for the sake of revenues and profit.

Using the most lethal coercive instrument of the state, all opposition to large scale mining, coal fired power plants and agribusiness plantations are being silenced by the Armed Forces of the Philippines. Its newest strategy is Oplan Bayanihan whose rhetoric of "peace and development" are used as cover for an extremely fascist militarization of those areas targeted for mining and plantations.

Under the name of Oplan Bayanihan's 'counterinsurgency' program, thousands of lumad and settler communities in FSMR are being eased out of their homes and farms to give way to imperialist mines and plantations. Moro communities along Liguasan Marsh also face the threat of eviction, once the US oil companies start siphoning the natural gas and other minerals from this area.

Fully aware of these realities, the revolutionary forces of the National Democratic Front are committed to continue fighting for the people's welfare and the protection of the environment. We will not allow these foreign monopoly capitalists and their local partners, the comprador big bourgeoisie to continue their wanton plunder of our natural resources at the expense of our environment. We will fight them to the end or until national democracy is achieved -- when we would have chartered a rational, pro-people, eco-friendly economic policy.

Ka Efren (http://www.philippinerevolution.net/cgi-bin/statements/stmts.pl?author=ndffsm)
Spokesperson
NDF-Far South Mindanao
April 24, 2011


http://www.philippinerevolution.net/cgi-bin/statements/stmts.pl?author=ndffsm;date=110424;lang=eng