Lumad NPA Girl, Sexually Abused By Fellow Rebel, Surrenders

                            

Bgy New Visayas, Sto Tomas, Davao del Norte – A minor female member of New People’s Army (NPA), of Guerilla Front 34, voluntarily surrendered without firearms to Patil Patrol Base of 60^th Infantry Battalion at Brgy Gupitan, Kapalong, Davao del Norte at 3:00 pm of April 2.

In her testimony, Ana, (not her true name), 17 years old from Ata Tribe, a resident of Prk 1, Sitio Muling, Brgy Gupitan, Kapalong, Davao del Norte, decided to surrender for she can no longrer endure the hardships coupled with hunger that she experienced in all the tactical operations where she was involved and the constant on-the-run while evading government troops in the mountains.

Her participation in the attempted murder of her uncle and hostage-taking of her two(2) female cousins to facilitate  the  said attempt, made her realized the inhuman side of the movement she was in, aside from the previous kidnappings she was able to participate. 

Worst of all, the declaration of her fellow rebel that she was forced to join and must stay to fullfill the later’s sexual need, had gotten into her nerve. “Pangunsumo lang daw ko.” Ana uttered trembling with tears. “Nisulod lang bya gyud ko kay gibundakan man ko ug AK-47 nga pusil sa atubangan. Kinsay dili mahadlok ana’? Paubanon daw ko sa NPA nga gibuya sa akong papa sa akoa.” (I was just forced to join when the NPA bandits stroke an AK-47, butt on the ground, in front of me. Who will not be afraid of that? They said that I must go with the NPA who had prearranged with my father, to have me as a wife.) Ana further revealed.

Her surrender was made possible through the help of Amy Mier, her former employer prior to her recruitment in the movement, who coordinated with 60IB. She allegedly joined the NPA on December last year and left the group last March 25 this year. She said that being a young female, she was not able to endure the hunger and hardships in the mountains while evading government forces.

LTC LLEWELLYN BINASOY, commander, 60^th Infantry Battalion brought and endorsed the victim to Ms Arlene Semblante, Head of Provincial Social Welfare and Development in Davao del Norte.  She was also taken to Carmen District Hospital (CDH) for medical checkup and Stress Debreifing.  

“We are happy to have saved another life, especially the young soul of Ana. Ibalik natin sya sa kanyang pamilya at tulungan natin, kasama ang lahat ng ahensya ng gobyerno na maaring makatulong para sa bagong buhay ng isa pang anak kasama ang kanyang pamilya.” COL BUENAVENTURA C PASCUAL, 1003^RD (RAPTOR) Brigade Commander, said in an interview as he expresses again the Brigade’s commitment to help and protect our less fortunate constituents, especially our Lumad brothers and sisters who had been deceived and are constantly exploited by the New People’s Army to advance a greedy and inhuman cause. COL PASCUAL added. 

Off-Duty soldiers Massacred in Paquibato

MAWAB, Compostela Valley Province – Four members of 60^th Infantry Battalion’s Peace and Development Team were massacred by more or less ten members of New People’s Army in Sitio Cinco, Brgy. Mapula, Paquibato District, Davao City.

The four were said to be on board three motorcycles, on civilian attire and unarmed when attacked by NPA fighters 5:30 p.m. yesterday, 10^th Infantry Division Spokesperson Lt. Col. Lyndon Paniza said.

He identified the casualties as Pfc Ahian Vir Dolero , Pfc Marvin Lauronal, Pfc Noel  Sigan whose remains are now in Villa Funeral Homes, Panabo City while Private Marcelo Himaya, who is said to be missing earlier, was found dead in a nearby area and believed to be summarily executed.

“They were on their way back to their detachment after marketing when the incident happened”, Paniza said adding that troops are now on hot pursuit operations to apprehend the perpetrators.

PMA Scholarship pushed in Mati

MATI CITY, DAVAO ORIENTAL – About 4,344 high school students, coming from 33 secondary schools from Davao Oriental and 44 school exhibitors from Davao Region, along with two Service Academies from Luzon, attended the two-day Provincial School Fair at SP Compound, Brgy. Dahican, Mati City.

 

Accordingly, the said school fair dubbed as “4^th Davao Oriental School Fair”, hosted by Davao Oriental Vice-Governor Mayo Alamario, intends to provide a broad selection of schools for tertiary and vocational level to students without having them spend much to go to Davao City or farther places to inquire.

 

Almario also mentioned that the said fair may be replicated next year due to its success in encouraging senior high school students in the province in pursuing tertiary education, while providing the opportunity for the exhibitors to meet more than 4,000 probable enrollees and scholars.

 

Col. Rey Leonardo Guerrero, also a member of Philippine Military Academy (PMA) Class of 1984 and commander of 701^st Infantry Brigade, facilitated the booth for PMA.

 

 “We support the noble Davao Oriental School Fair as we also wanted to extend in this province the 4-year scholarship program of PMA in building leaders with sure employment after they graduate”, Guerrero said.

 

“The fair is indeed a genius idea in encouraging our youth to pursue further education for their future.  Our Army units itself will not be able to visit all 33 high schools in this province in a very short span of time, but in partnership with the Government School Fair, thousands of students were informed on the military programs for scholarship and employment,” Guerrero added.

PEACETALK: TSOKOLATENG LIPOS NG KAMANDAG

Usapang pangkapayaan. Peace talk. Mga katagang parang musika pangkaunlaran sa pandinig. Ngunit may pag-asa ba na makamtan ang tunay na kapayapaan tungo sa pagbangon nitong nabulid na sa kahirapan nating bansa sa pag-uusap ng Pamahalaan at CPP-NPA-NDF?

Noong inumpisahan ni Pangulong Cory Aquino ang pakipagdayalogo sa mga komunista bilang bahagi ng kanyang government of peace and reconciliation, tahasang ideneklara ni Luis Jalandoni (Chief Negotiator ng NDF) na ang “…peacetalk is another form of legal struggle that must be utilized to advance the national democratic revolution….”

Nagpalit ang ilang mga Administrasyon hanggang muling naluklok ang isang Aquino muli sa Malakanyang, ganun pa rin ang linyang sinusulong ng CPP-NPA-NDF. At mas kumplikado sapagkat “pumayag” ang mga negosyador ng gobyerno na makipag-usap sa mga komunistang rebelde kahit walang DDR!

Ayon sa United Nations (UN) batay sa karanasan ng mga bansang kasapi nito, ang D-D-R ay disarmament, demobilization at reintegration. Maging matagumpay lamang ang peace talks kung ang mga rebelde ay handang magbaba ng armas upang obhetibo na mapag-usapan ang mga rekisitos tungo sa kapayapaan. Kaagapay dito ang pagtigil ng mga pangangatake at sa tamang proseso at koordinasyon sa gobyerno ang paglatag ng tamang infrastructures upang responsableng makabalik sa mainstream ng lipunan ang mga insurektos.

Subalit, balintuna sa inaasahan - ang Government of the Philippines (GPH) panel sa pamumuno ni Atty. Alex Padilla ay pumayag na manatiling armado ang NPA habang nakikipag-usap! At para malusaw ang mga pambabatikos dahil merong patakaran na “no negotiations with the terrorists” nagawan nang paraan na opisyal nang matanggal ang katawagang terorista sa CPP-NPA-NDF.

Kahit pa man sa mga development na ito, wala pa ring humpay ang armadong pananalakay ng NPA: pag-ambush sa mga sundalo at pulis; pamamaslang sa mga CAFGU at sibilyan; pang-kidnap; pangongolekta ng revolutionary taxations at panununog ng mga taxi, truck at construction equipments sa mga hindi tumalima sa ekstorsyon ng mga rebelde.

Patuloy din ang pagsampa ng CPP-NPA-NDF sa Gobyerno ng mga demands na “palayain” ang mga kasamahan nilang “political prisoners” kahit ang mga ito ay may criminal na mga kaso sa korte. Ayon sa mga komunista, marami sa mga nakukulong na ito ang bahagi ng kanilang negotiating panel bilang consultants at nakalista di-umano sa listahang nakatago sa Netherlands.

Pero noong binuksan ang pinagmamalaking “listahan saved on a diskette” ang lumabas ay machine language and jargons na kahit sino man sa panel ng CPP-NPA-NDF ay walang makaunawa!

Mabilis namang nagpalusot ang mga komunista na “nagkalabu-labo” lang daw ang files kaya bigyan pa sila ng sapat na panahon upang ma-decipher ang laman ng diskette.

Nitong huli, mukhang nagulantang (kuno) mula sa panaginip-habang-gising ang GPH panel na niluluko lamang sila ng CPP-NPA-NDF. Maari daw maantala ang peacetalks dahil sa impossible demands ng mga komunista habang walang humpay sa paglunsad ng mga teroristang gawain.

HABANG inaantabayanan ang open pronouncements hinggil sa developments na ito, sumisingaw naman ang sinyales na may under the table na mga aregluhang nagaganap.

TOTOO BA NA NAKAHANDA NA ANG MGA ISKEMA SA PAGLATAG NG COALITION GOVERNMENT WITH THE CPP-NPA-NDF? Ayon sa mga “usok” may ilang mga elemento mula sa rightist organizations na kasabwat sa balaking ito. The most “un-holy alliance” ba? Gaano ka-totoo na labas-masok sa Palasyo ng Malakanyang ang dalawang kilalang ‘legal personalities’ ng mga komunistang-terorista?

Itong mga paghahabol sa mga korap na kumakulapol sa lahat na media outlets (kasama na dyan ang mga haw shao) ay decoy lang ba sa mas malagim na pakipag-kwalisyon sa mga komunista?

Ano man ang posibleng senaryong magaganap, dapat ang mamamayang nagmamahal para sa progresibo, responsible at organisadong demokrasya ay maging mapagmatyag upang hindi nila maisalaksak sa lalamunan ng republikang ito ang tsokolateng lipos ng kamandag!

KARAHASAN PARA AGAWIN ANG KAPANGYARIHAN

Kumalat na parang virus sa lahat na media outlets ang usapin hinggil sa panununtok ni Mayor Inday Sara Duterte kay Shirriff Abe Andres. Pero pahapyaw lamang na nabibigyan ng pansin ang pangangatake ng mga teroristang CPP-NPA-NDF.

Pinasok ng mahigit 20 NPA ang Phelix Mining Company sa Sitio Vista Alegre, Brgy Nabulao, Sipalay City, Negros Occidental. Dinis-armahan ng mga rebelbe ang mga gwardiya, sinunog ang barracks kasama ang isang carrier truck. Ang dahilan: hindi nagbayad ng revolutionary tax ang naturang minahan sa mga komunistang-terorista!

Noong Hunyo 7, 2011 sa terminal ng bus sa Mati, Davao Oriental tinangkang agawin ng mga NPA ang M16 armalite rifle ni PO3 Alfredo Salva. Pero epektibong nakapanlaban ang nabanggit na pulis, isa sa mga suspect (alyas Bunso) ang namatay at ang isa pa ay nasugatan at kinilala ito na si Ariel Manuray. Inamin ni Manuray na sila ay mga kasapi ng NPA. Nasa ospital at pinapagamot pa nga mga otoridad hanggang ngayon ang naturang suspect.

Sa Bayan ng Pamplona, Negros Oriental anim na mga NPA ang nasawi at ilang mga sundalo ang sugatan sa magkakasunod na mga engkwentro. Samantalang sa Omar Hotel, Bacolod City nahuli ng mga militar si Marilyn Badayos isang high ranking officer ng CPP Southeast front sa Negros.

Sa Compostela Valley ang mga tauhan ng 3rd Special Forces Battallion na patungo sa pag-alalay sa mga empleyado ng DENR “to implement the total log ban in the area” inambus ng mga teoristang NPA. Dalawang sundalo ang nasawi at tatlong rebelde ang sugatan.

Marami pang mga indidente ang pwede nating banggitin, mga naganap sa North Cotobato, Agusan del Sur, Ilocus Sur at iba pang mga lugar.

Lahat ito ay mga patunay na patuloy pa ang sistematikong kampanya sa paghasik ng karahasan ng teroristang CPP-NPA-NDF. Dagdag din ito na patunay na ang pagpasok nila sa “peacetalk” ay isa lamang political ploy para isulong ang protracted people’s war sa panibagong yugto!

Noong ika-41 na anibersaryo ng Communist Party of the Philippines magarbong ideklara nang mga terorista na “in five years time its strength and influence will be already at par with the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP)”. Ito ang tinatawag nilang strategic stalemate – ito ang inaasahang baitang ng mga komunistang terorista kung saan malaya silang makiki-pag-enkwentro sa pwersa ng kasundaluhan at pulis saan mang larangan (sa gusto nilang oras at panahon). Inaasahan din nila, na sa yugtong ito meron nang malawak at nangingibabaw na impluwensya ang komunistang kilusan sa lahat na mga panlipunang usapin.

Nakakabahala ang sitwasyong ito!

Maraming usapin ngayon sa ating lipunan ang lumulutang na sa unang tingin ay mahalaga pero kung masusing pagmuni-munihan, ito ay bahagi lamang nang mas malalaking problema.

Ang kaso ni Mayor Inday Sara D ng Davao City ay dapat imbestigahan to the fullest! Pero huwag nating kaligtaan ang terorismong nanalasa sa lahat na panig ng ating lipunang Pilipino.

Maging mulat tayo sa katotohanan na marami nang mga komunista ang nakapasok sa Gobyerno. Their creeping invasion is a real threat!

Kumilos, habang hindi pa huli ang lahat.

THE CPP-NPA-NDF CENTER OF GRAVITY (COG) IN WHITE AREA Based on the SOT-WA Operations at NCR Experience

THE CPP-NPA-NDF CENTER OF GRAVITY (COG) IN WHITE AREA
Based on the SOT-WA Operations at NCR Experience

by:Cpt Mario Jose M Chico (QMS) PA

Thrust the Dagger Straight to the Dragon’s Heart

In every fantasy movies featuring monstrous dragons as villain, it is but necessary for the hero to strike the sword to the heart of the dragon to kill the menace. For the very reason that in its heart, is where its strength emanates, and once fatally hit, will cause its demise. Hence, in order to put an end to a known enemy, we must be able to locate its heart, its Center of Gravity, and to thrust the dagger to annihilate the dreaded monster.

Militarily, the Center of Gravity (COG) refers to “the source of power that provides moral or physical strength, freedom of action, or will to act.”[i] It was said that the loss of a center of gravity will ultimately results in defeat. It is therefore a must to identify the COG of the enemy to come up with a precise target where efforts and resources will be focused to achieve the end objective of neutralizing the enemy.

For four decades now, the AFP had launched numerous campaign plans but all failed to end the four decade old insurgency. One glaring fact is that, although we have been hitting the enemy, we failed to hit him where he will suffer the most and will cause his downfall. Hence, there is a need for us to ascertain the center of gravity of the enemy in order for us to craft a campaign strategy that will enable us to ‘thrust our dagger’ and give the enemy the fatal blow.

The SOT-WA Background and Lessons Learned

Prior to the conduct of SOT-WA in the NCR in 2006, we have seen a steady increasing numbers of attendees from various sectoral organizations to anti-government protest actions/mobilizations initiated by the CTM front organizations. This had made us adopt a sense of appreciation that the CTM, through their front organizations, has already gained a stronghold of the different sectoral organizations at the NCR.

However, our experience in the conduct of SOT-WA in the NCR reveals the reality that the grip of the CTM front organizations to the urban poor organizations is not as strong as we have perceived to be. After a series of SOT-WA operations at selected urban poor communities where most of the attendees of CTM initiated protest actions, a continuing decline of attendees to anti-government protest actions/mobilizations by CTM front organizations were noted. Notwithstanding the presence of gargantuan societal issues (ZTE Deal, Fertilizer, etc..), still the CTM failed to mobilize a critical mass to oust the Arroyo administration unlike what they have achieved during the EDSA II. Likewise, we have able to discover that a majority of those who are joining CTM front organization-led mobilizations were being paid for their attendance. Hence, it can be deduced that only a minority from these group joined such mobilizations due to ideological belief.

A deeper scrutiny of the CTM front organizations’ mobilizations reveals the active involvement of the students/youth sector. The following were some of the prominent information observed during CTM initiated mobilizations:

1. There has been no single CTM front organization-initiated mobilization in the NCR conducted without the involvement from the members of Student/Youth Sector (S/YS) whether the issue raised was about land reform, labor concerns, urban poor, human rights, etc.
2. Part of the CTM Recruitment Scheme in the S/YS is the ‘immersion’ phase of their recruits to urban poor communities and workers via what they called ‘Serve The People (STP) teams. These STP teams serve as the CTM machinery operating in the urban poor areas tasked conduct AOM effort.[ii]
3. Exposure to the Countryside (CS) of S/YS recruits from the WA. Undeniably, although we failed to account the actual numbers, the S/YS had been, and still is, the biggest contributor of quality cadres in the Red Area. They play multi-roles that contribute to the eventual growth of the NPA regulars in the RAs. As Joma Sison pointed out, “Alam ko na papalaki ang bilang ng mga kabataan na tumutungo sa kanayunan upang sumapi sa hukbong bayan at gumapan ng gawain sa hanay ng masang magsasaka. Sila ay lumalahok sa iba’t ibang gawain sa hukbong bayan, tulad ng gawain sa edukasyon at kultura, produksyon at pagsasanay militar. Sila ay naglulunsad ng panlipunang pagsisiyasat at gawaing masa. Tumutulong sila sa pagtatayo ng mga organo ng kapangyarihang pampulitika at mga organisasyong masa at nagsusulong ng reporma sa lupa at iba pang kampanyang masa.”[iii]

Center of Gravity as Source of Strength

In the Red Area, the CTM’s Guerilla Fronts establish Guerilla Bases (GB) where they perform their strategic task of preserving and developing their forces in preparation for the General Offensive. It is also where the Center of Gravity (COG) of that particular Guerilla Front is located. In these areas, CTM has been utilizing their operational methodology of Indoctrinalization-Politicalization-Organization (IPO) works. While we have already developed a set of parameters in order to ascertain the COG in the Red Area that we have been using in our planning for clearing of GFs, we still have not come up with a definitive guide to pin point the COG of the CTM in the White Area.

The parameters set in identifying COG in the RA cannot be applied to identify the COG in the WA basically due to the fact that in the WA, CTM adopts the Arouse-Organize-Mobilize (AOM) methodology among the broad masses implemented by their front organizations in order to achieve a critical mass they need to launch the General Uprising that will complement the General Offensive coming from the Red Area. As Joma Sison a.k.a. Amado Guererro said: “We should excel in combining legal, illegal and semi-legal activities through a widespread and stable underground. A revolutionary underground developing beneath democratic and legal or semi-legal activities should promote the well-rounded growth of the revolutionary forces, serve to link otherwise isolated parts of the Party and the people's army at every level and prepare the ground for popular uprisings in the future and for the advance of the people's army”[iv].

Relatedly, this AOM methodology does not conform to ‘territorial boundaries’ but rather by the sectoral organizations they infiltrate and influence. Analyzing their TTPs in the WA, we can deduce that;

A + O = M

Wherein the effectiveness of their ‘A’ (Arouse) and ‘O’ (Organize) efforts can be measured by the number of people they were able to ‘M’ (Mobilize) during mass actions or protest actions against the government.

The question now is where does the CTM derive their moral or physical strength, freedom of action, or will to act in their AOM effort in the WA?

Armed Struggle and Legal Struggle

“Insurgencies are revolutionary wars that are won or lost based on who wins the support of the local population”.[v] Likewise, Mao Zedong told, “Wherever our comrades go they must build good relations with the masses, be concerned for them and help them overcome their difficulties. We must unite with the masses, the more of the masses we unite with, the better.”[vi] The CTM acknowledges the importance of these idioms the very main reason why they are devoting more time and effort on IPO works than conducting tactical offensives in the Red Area.

The same is true in the White Area as the CTM also stressed the fact that they are waging two classes of struggle as part of their tactics to defeat the government; the Armed Struggle (AS) and the Legal Struggle (LS), with the latter as the primary means of struggle. In one of Jose Maria Sison’s writings published in one of the edition of PRAXIS (Theoretical Journal of LFS), he said that: “Papel ng ligal na porma ng pakikibaka sa mga sentrong urban – Bagamat prinsipal at mapagpasyang porma ang armadong pakikibaka para durugin ang kapangyarihang pampulitika ng mga nagsasamantala at para itatag ang bagong demokratikong kapangyarihan ng manggagawa at magsasaka, hindi ito ang tanging porma ng paglaban. Ang mahusay na pagsasalimbayan ng armado at ligal na porma ng pakikibaka ay lahatangpanig nagsusulong ng rebolusyonaryong tunguhin”.[vii]

Understanding the Role of the Student/Youth Sector in the Philippine Insurgency

Historically, the birth of the CPP from the old merger of CP-SP party was greatly attributed to the contribution of the Student/Youth Sector that have initiated the mass protest actions. “The single event that broke the long period of reaction and began to inspire the resurgence of the mass movement was the demonstration of 5000 students, mostly from the state university, to oppose and stop the anti-communist witch-hunt in 1961”.[viii] From then on, we have witnessed the active involvement of the Filipino youth in the CTM front organization-initiated mobilizations as well as the influx of young, idealistic, dynamic youth in the long list of NPA cadres in the countryside. At one point, Joma stressed the importance of the Filipino youth, “The students/youth are an important force assisting the proletariat in the spread or revolutionary propaganda on a nationwide scale. The people’s democratic revolution cannot be advanced without the participation of revolutionary intellectuals. It is important to rely on the youth in a protracted revolutionary struggle. The mobilization of the youth ensures the continuous flow of successors in the revolutionary movement”.

The Student/Youth Sector as the CTM’s Center of Gravity in the WA

A closer look at the group of people that attend anti-government demonstrations initiated by CPP-NPA-NDF front organizations reveals that they have two definitive purposes. One is because of financial promise to be given after joining the mobilization in which the majority of these came from the urban poor sector. The other reason was those who joined because of their belief that what they are doing is just, and majority of these came from the student sector.

The Filipino youth sector provides the CTM with bright, energetic, and dedicated cadres that proven efficient to arouse, organize, and mobilize thousands of peasants, workers, and students to go against the government. The CPP-NPA-NDF has managed to achieve an effective system of recruitment in the S/YS that has been going on for decades and continuously supplying young, idealistic, and dynamic cadres to the countryside. This is the very main reason why the CTM remains vibrant despite numerous AFP campaigns and hundreds of soldiers’ lives sacrificed to end this war.

With these as premises, the writer suggests the idea that the CTM’s source of strength in its White Area operations is being derived from the active participation of the members of the young, progressive, and idealistic Filipino youth. They, the Filipino Youth, had been the center of gravity of the CTM in regards to their WA operations. It is the particular sector of our society that if we will be able to win, will cause the eventual downfall of the CPP-NPA-NDF.

We can therefore conclude that, the CPP-NPA-NDF was comparable to an engine that has been running for over four (4) decades now, with the idealistic minds and active lives of the Filipino youth as its fuel. Now is the time to remove the fuel and make the engine conks out from running.

The CPP-NPA-NDF Deceptive Recruitment in the S/YS

The AOM methodology employed by the CPP-NPA-NDF has been successful in agitating the minds of the Filipino youth, and has made joining the armed struggle as the only solution to solve our societal problems. Utilizing the systematic and deceptive mode of recruitment through their front organizations, and capitalizing on societal issues that affects our way of life, the CPP-NPA-NDF has; by far, mobilized thousand of Filipino youth to join their two forms of struggle, the legal and armed struggles. It is also worthy to note that their recruitment have gone down to the level of high school students as evident by the chapters of LFS and ANAKBAYAN being organized in secondary schools not only in NCR but also in other regions. These developments were even praised by Joma Sison saying, “Ako rin ay nagagalak ay inoorganisa na ang LFS sa mga magaaral sa highschool”.[x]

Common to the basic characteristics of the Filipino youth are their being inquisitive and adventurist. The more intellectually challenging and exciting a thing is, the more they try to engage themselves into.

The deceptive recruitment of the CPP-NPA-NDF in the student/youth sector capitalized in challenging the intellect of the students and by providing an environment of secrecy (e.g. giving of code names, telling them not to tell their parents what they are doing for the ‘kilusan’ because their ‘level of awareness’ are not equal, the books they are reading is way above the average students, among others) as they get engage deeper in the organization. Hence, from being a mere student activists recruited by a CPP-NPA-NDF front organization in their university, the poor victim has become a party member of the CPP. A situation that was never discussed to him/her right at the very start that he/she was recruited by the front organization, a situation that he/she never ever dreamed of the very first day he/she has entered the university.

The Challenge: Rechanneling S/YS Activism to Nation Building

“A victory is that plus the permanent isolation of the insurgent from the population, isolation not enforced upon the population but maintained by and with the population.”[xi]

Since we are dealing with youthful idealism, our actions should start at the point in time where we can best achieve positive effects of channeling these idealism the way we envisioned it to be. There are certain ways that we can address the problem that will help eradicate the menace of our society that has been victimizing the Filipino youth since its inception on 1968, the year the CPP was organized by Jose Maria Sison.

To channel S/YS idealism from negativism to positivism is to create a situation that will challenge the intellect and crave for excitement and thrill of the Filipino youth, in order to capture their interest to participate in worthy societal activities.

There is also a need to formulate a systematic and sustaining awareness campaign exposing the evils of the deceptive recruitment of the CPP-NPA-NDF that will eradicate the thrill and excitement factors and will make such recruitment ineffective to the S/YS.

The challenge for the Philippine Army with its vast resources is to find ways on how to redirect their idealism, since it is not possible to take it away, from the active minds of the Filipino youths. We need to create a systematic approach of channeling youth idealism from a destructive mode of embracing the armed struggle espoused by the CTM, to a productive mode of participating in nation-building activities in partnership with government entities, legitimate peoples/private organizations, and non-governmental organizations.

In order to finally achieve an end to this over four (4) decade-old insurgency problem, we must be able to transform the passive mode of the majority of the Filipino youth to become active catalysts of change. Only by achieving this feat we will have an environment, where the youth themselves, will protect their fellow youth from becoming unknowing victims of the deceptive recruitment of the CPP-NPA-NDF.

The challenges to finally put an end to this insurgency problem are well defined. What we need is to accept to ourselves that the facets of war have drastically changed, and we should not be left behind!

In doing so, bear in mind that…

“No chess player has ever found, nor is any likely to find, a sure way of winning from the first move. The game contains too many variables even for one of today’s nerveless electronic computers to plot out a guaranteed checkmate”.[xii]
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**This article was written by: Cpt Mario Jose M Chico (QMS) PA

The author rose from the ranks and a proud member of OCC Class 20-2000. Prior to his designation as Chief, Combat Service Support Branch at 3rd Army Training Group, TRADOC, Philippine Army based in Cebu City in 2010, he was the Chief, Force Integration Branch of OG3, Philippine Army. He also served as the Intelligence and Operations Officer (S2/S3) of the CMO Battalion, CMOG, PA concurrently as the Operations Officer of the Joint CMO Task Force-NCR, NCRCOM, AFP operating at the National Capital Region. He also served as Public Information Officer and Chief, DPAO, 8ID, PA in Region 8 and Company Commander of Alfa Co., 52IB (CAFGU), 8ID, PA in Samar and Leyte Islands.

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i] 6-35, FM 3-0 Operations Headquarters Department of the Army, 27 February 2008

[ii] LFS Memo “Programang integrasyon sa batayang masa sa bakasyon” dated 17 March 2009

[iii] Task and Prospects of the Filipino Youth, by Jose Maria Sison, LFS Praxis, November, 2005

[iv] Amado Guerrero, Specific Characteristics of our peoples war, December 1, 1971

[v] Counterinsurgency Warfare: Theory & Practice by David Galula, 1964

[vi] On the Chungking Negotiations", October 17, 1945, Selected Works, Vol. IV, p. 59.

[vii] Praxis:Theoretical Journal of the LFS, Task and Prospects of the Filipino Youth, November, 2005

[viii] The Gestation of the CPP, 1959-68, Armando Liwanag, Chairman, CC-CPP, November 6, 1993

[ix] Philippine Society and Revolution, Amado Guerrero, 1970

[x] Praxis:Theoretical Journal of the LFS, Task and Prospects of the Filipino Youth, November, 2005

[xi] Counterinsurgency Warfare: Theory & Practice by David Galula, 1964

[xii] Counterinsurgency Warfare: Theory & Practice by David Galula, 1964

NPA’s Abduct Non Combatants, Stage Highway Robberies

Camp Panacan, Davao City- Simultaneous highways robbery and abduction incidents happened early this morning eight days before the resumption of formal peace talks between the government and the CPP/NPA/NDF in Oslo, Norway on February 15, 2011.

The New People’s Army staged highway robbery and abductions at 5:30 this morning, February 7, 2011, in four different areas in Southern Mindanao. These areas were in Sto. Nino, Bansalan; Astorga, Sta. Cruz, both in Davao del Sur; Brgy. Marapat, Compostela, Compostela Valley Province and in Buddha Highway going to Bukidnon.

The armed group robbed one calibre .45 pistol from PO1 Edwin Antipuesto of Philippine National Police (PNP) Magsaysay, Davao del Sur at 5:30 this morning. Based on reports he was onboard a vehicle going to his office when the armed group flagged the vehicle he was riding.

While the calibre .45 pistol of P01 Ace Villapaz who was onboard of a passenger van going to Davao City was also robbed by the armed group clad in black fatigue uniforms. Undetermined numbers of NPA from SECOM 51 Command also blocked the road in Sta Cruz, Davao del Sur Highway and help up a Weena Bus and the passenger van where Villapaz is onboard. Villapaz, from the Regional Monitoring Group 11 (RMG11), was about to report to his station after a week end vacation.

Meanwhile, two military soldiers were abducted. An army trooper driving his motorcycle while on a weekend vacation was flagged down by 30 NPA members who escaped in an elf truck with the victim in Monkayo Comval Province.

A Retired Army soldier was also abducted along Buddha Highway, going to Bukidnon, at around 6:00 am yesterday, February 6, 2011.

LTC JOSHUA SANTIAGO, Spokesperson of 10ID said, “These incidents are clear demonstrations of CPP/NPA’s deceptive nature which is a clear violation of CARHRIHL. The two soldiers are non combatants when they were abducted. We therefore challenge the human rights advocates to look into and act on these violations.”

“The irrational behaviour of the communist terrorists only shows their criminal tendencies and may be seen as acts of desperation. Clearly, they gain nothing from these stunts”, LTC SANTIAGO added.

“TUWID NA LANDAS”: Patungo ba sa kaliwa?

SANTAMBAK ang mga maseselang usaping kumakaladkad sa sambayanan tungo sa hindi pa siguradong direksyon.

Nakikipag-usap para sa “kapayapaan” ngayon ang Gobyerno sa maoistang CPP-NPA-NDF. Ngunit ang pamamaraan ay balot ng hindi malinaw na mga pamantayan. Ayon kay Cong. Jun Alcover ng ANAD Partylist “kaduda-duda ang mga personalidad na bumubuo ng Government Panel sapagkat gaya ni Atty. Alex Padilla (Chairman) ay galing sa samahan ng mga abogadong nakahanay sa front organizations under the NDF”.

Kasama rin sa pinagdu-dudahan ni Cong. Alcover si Secretary Leila Delima ng Department of Justice na kamag-anak ni Juliet Delima –ang asawa ni Jose Ma. Sison (a.k.a Amado Guerero/Armando Liwanag) na s’yang Chairman ng maoist Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP).

Tadtad ng mga elemento mula sa “kaliwang pwersa” ang Administrasyong Noynoy Aquino. Nandiyan si Etta Rosales sa Commission on Human Rights (CHR), si Joel Rocamora sa Anti-Poverty Commission. Rolando Llamas bilang Presidential Adviser on Political Affairs at iba pa sa mga hindi gaanong pansinin na mga posisyon.

Ang tatlong nabanggit ay mga pangunahing lider ng AKBAYAN Partylist. Binuo ito noong Enero 1998 mula sa apat na makakaliwang-bloke: Bukluran para sa Ikauunlad ng Sosyalistang Isip at Gawa (BISIG); Christian socialists; social democrat group ng Pandayan, at Siglo ng Paglaya (Siglaya) –mula sa hanay ng mga rejectionist sa diktadurya ni Joma Sison. Itong panhuling grupo ay nagkawatak-watak din at ang pumalit sa loob ng AKBAYAN ay ang grupong tinaguriang Padayon.

Kahit saang anggulo sisilipin, ang mga grupong nabanggit ay panay mga MAKAKALIWA. Bagay na pinagmulan ng pagka-dismaya ng nakakarami, sa loob at labas ng Gobyerno.

Lalong umigting pa ang mga pagdududa kung saan ang tungo ng “tuwid na landas” noong pinalaya ni P-Noy ang ‘Morong 43’. Kumprehensibo ang datus ng AFP/PNP na ang mga ito ay kasapi at aktibong mga kadre sa National Health Staff ng NPA. Pinagtibay pa ito ng lima (5) sa 43 na nahuli sa pamamagitan ng boluntaryong paglagda sa affidavits na nagpapatunay na sila ay bahagi ng armadong pwersa ng teroristang NPA.

SA LAHAT ng mga “makakaliwang elemento” na ito, ang pinaka-organisado, brutal at well finance ay ang maoistang CPP-NPA-NDF. Nakalatag sa mga estratehikong sector ang kanilang mga sectoral at multi-sectoral front organizations. Ang kanilang goons (NPA) ay may kakayahang maglunsad ng kahit anumang-karahasan sa lahat ng oras.

ANG MALAKING pinagtatakahan ko ngayon ay ang “timing” ng mga pangyayari. Sabi ko nga kanina, ang pagpasok nila sa Administrasyong P-Noy ay pinagmulan ng pagka-dismaya ng nakakarami, sa loob at labas ng Gobyerno. Pero noong nag-umpisang lumutang na ang mga usapin hinggil sa infiltration ng mga makakaliwang ito in the key government positions bigla namang umiba ang senaryo sa opinyon publiko.

Naganap ang sunod-sunod na mga brutal kidnappings/carnappings. Nabunyag ang pagbili ni P-Noy ng Porsche. Binomba ang isang bus sa EDSA kung saan lima (5) ang patay at 15 ang sugatan. Sumabog ang “paba-on scandal” sangkot ang mga matataas na opisyal ng militar. Tumaas ang flag-down rate sa taxi ganun din ang presyo ng petroleum products at mga toll gate fees sa SLEX at NLEX.

Natabunan ng mga ‘headlines’ ang usapin hinggil sa pag-posisyon ng mga kaliwete sa Pamahalaan!

Ang tanong: meron bang sistematikong ‘smoke screening’ activity ang mga MAKAKALIWANG PWERSA para sa mas malaki pa nilang maniobra? O sadyang nagka-timing lamang ang mga kaganapan batay sa mas malawak na desenyo ng mga maoistang-terorista sa pag-agaw ng pampulitikang kapangyarihan?

Maging mapag-masid, baka ang “tuwid na landas” ay mahatak ng mga makakaliwa at mai-biglang liko sa komunistang komunoy!

-o0o-

CONGRATULATIONS kay Congressman Jun Alcover ng ANAD Partylist, nominated by GNN/Congress Magazine as one of the 30 Outstanding Congressmen of 2010. Awarding: February 16, 2011 sa Manila Garden Hotel

MALINAMNAM NA PANLILINLANG!

Kinondena ng Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) ang pambobomba ng pampasaherong bus sa EDSA noong Enero 25, 2011. Sa naturang insidente limang (5) na ang namatay at 15 ang sugatan. With reference to Marco Balbuena sinabi ng CPP na “The NPA does not engage in such senseless acts of violence that cause death and injury to ordinary people….” (www.philippinerevolution.net, Jan 27, 2011)

Deklarasyong ala-Ponso Pilato. Nakakapang-akit na parang katotohanan!

Yan din ang awtomatikong tono ni Jose Ma. Sison (a.ka. Amado Guerero/Armando Liwanag) noong may sumabog na bomba sa rally ng Liberal Party (Agosto 21, 1971) sa Plaza Miranda. Mabilis nilang isiniwalat na ang pambobomba ay pakana ng Diktadurang Rehimen ni Marcos.

Sa ngayon, parang mga ibong loro at kalusasising naghihiyawan sa iba’t ibang nota ang makinarya ng maoistang CPP-NPA-NDF at mga legal na prenteng organisasyon nito upang ibunyag ang mga pagdududa na “…the bombing was carried out just a few days before the scheduled Strategic Dialogue between top security and defense officials of the Philippine and US governments. The bombing is now being portrayed as a confirmation of a recent US advisory about an imminent terrorist attack in the country…”

Ayon pa rin sa naturang Website ng CPP, “It is also curious that the bombing was carried out amidst some positive developments in the realm of peace negotiations between the Philippine government and the NDFP, which fascists and ultra-reactionaries have been trying to scuttle and saddle with difficulties. Preliminary consultations for the resumption of peace talks between the Philippine government and the MILF are also about to begin. These dark forces operating in the defense and security agencies have gone to great lengths to hinder progress in political negotiations and assert the primacy of the military in the counterrevolutionary war effort and in the so-called "maintenance of peace and order."

Naala-ala ko tuloy ang mga katagang laging binibitawan ni Bal Domingo, sa kanyang programa sa DZRB-Radyo ng Bayan, “…itong mga komunistang-terorista kung mananalita ay parang katabi nila ang mga nagplano sa kung anumang karahasan!”

Ang Plaza Miranda Bombing ay naging ‘kagagawan ni Diktadurya’ resulta ng masinop na propaganda ng mga komunistang-terorista. Sinamantala nila ang “mabaho na reputasyon” ni Marcos upang gatungan ang oposisyon na tumahak sa landas ng rebolusyonaryo at armadong pakikibaka para mabago ang sistema.

Ngunit pagkalipas ng ilang taon, lumabas ang katotohan. Ang nagpa-bomba ng Liberal Party Rally sa Plaza Miranda ay hindi si Marcos bagkus kauutusan ni Jose Ma. Sison “to create a quantum leap in the revolutionary situation” (Building a Better Nation by Jovito R. Salonga, page 65). Pinagtibay din ang rebelasyong ito ng mga dating kasapi ng CPP-NPA na bumalik-loob na sa Pamahalaan.

Ang kasinungalingan ay hindi pwedeng gawing pantabun upang lumabas na parang katotohanan ang isang mapanlinlang at demonyong adhikain! Naukit na sa mga pahina ng kasaysayan ng bansa ang pagkadalubhasa ng maoistang CPP-NPA-NDF sa paggamit ng dahas.

PEACETALK. Mula pa noong Administrasyong Cory Aquino walang humpay na kinakausap ng Pamahalaan itong mga komunistang-terorista. Seryoso ang Gobyerno na bigyan na ng tuldok ang insurgency para magkaroon ng kapayapaan at kaunlaran. Subalit, sa mahigit 22 taon nang patigil-tigil na negosasyon walang matinong nangyayari.

Ngayon naglalaway na naman ang maoistang CPP-NPA-NDF sa usaping ito sapagkat “friendly” sa kanila ang komposisyon ng Government Peace Panel. Ayon kay Cong. Jun Alcover (ng ANAD Partylist) “kaduda-duda ang mga personalidad nitong mga bumubuo ng ating panel dahil sa kanilang background galing sa kaliwang kilusan….”

Hindi pakay ng CPP-NPA-NDF na makamit ang “kapayapaan at kaunlaran”. Itinuturing nila ito na isang pagkakataon at instrumento upang medaling maagaw ang pampulitikang kapangyarihan. Ayon kay Luis Jalandoni, “..peacetalk is another form of legal struggle” na kinakailangang gamitin upang isulong ang rebolusyon.

Ano ngayon ang maasahan ng sambayan sa mga teroristang ito? Isa lang ang masisigurado ko, ang malinamnam na panlilinlang!

“GOOD VERSUS EVIL”: SAAN PATUTUNGO?

Naala-ala n’yo ba yong yugto na ikinakasa pa lamang ang kandidatura ni Noynoy Aquino para Pangulo? Iba’t-ibang mga grupo noon ang nananawagan ng pagbabago. Naging sandalan pa ang pagpanaw ni dating-Pangulong Cory Aquino para mabuo ang nagkakaisang pwersa laban sa pangkat ng Lakas-NUCD-KAMPI ng Administrasyong Arroyo.
Kanya-kanya sila sa pag-agaw ng pampublikong atensyon. Maniobrahan sa poll survey at mga opinyon, higit sa lahat pagandahan sa pormulasyon ng mga islogan para makahatak ng malawak na suporta.

Naging paborable sa oposisyon ang klema ng kampanya hanggang pumasok na sa 90 days official campaign period. Pumatok ang taktika na “this is a fight between good and evil”. Ang kampo ng pagbabago ay “good” at ang sinumang haharang ay kampon ng “evil”. Kinakailangang tahakin ang “tuwid na landas”.

Hindi kampo ni Noynoy ang nauna sa kampanyang “good and evil tactics”. Una itong ginamit ni George Bush para maipinta ang sarili “as the only moralist alternative with broad ethical personality to solve the crucial crisis plaguing the American people”. Pero natapos lang ang Administrasyong Bush, hindi naibsan bagkus mas tumindi ang economic crisis sa Estados Unidos. Ang patakarang “good versus evil” ay walang nagawa para magkaroon ng matatag na estabilidad sa Afghanistan at Iraq.

Dalubhasang sinakyan lamang ng kampo ni Bush (noong ito ay nangangampanya) ang “emosyon” ng mga Amerikanong sensitibo para sa pagbabago at manalo sa eleksyon. At ‘yan din ang nangyari dito sa ating bansa!

Parang tele-serye, pero taal sa kaugaliang Pilipino ang pagka-emosyunal. Kung ihalintulad sa isang piging –napanis ang inihain na “galling at talino”, “ibalik ang pwersa ng masa”, “sipag at tyaga” at mas nangulelat ang “pagbabago, ngayon na - batay sa pananampalataya”.

Sa masinop na kumbinasyon ng mga pulpito (ng Simbahang Katoliko) at media, tumimo sa emosyon at damdamin ng nakakarami ang panawagan para sa “tuwid na landas”. At kahit walang klarong direksyon kung saan susuong ang paglalakbay, nanalo si Noynoy Aquino bilang Pangulo ng Republika.

Poko-mas o menus walong buwan matapos ang May 10, 2010 national and local elections, umiba na naman ngayon ang pihit-ng-hangin. Muli ang target: emosyon at damdamin ng sambayanang Pilipino para makabuo ng malawak na pwersang pam-presyur upang maisaktuparan ang mga pangakong napaloob sa panawagang “tuwid na landas”.

Sabi ng isang Arsobisbo kay Pres. Noynoy, “…wag patakbuhin ang bansang ito sa pamamagitan ng Gabinete na parang Student Council”. Tumbok din ng mga pambabatikos ng tri-media ang mga personalidad na pumasok sa bagong Administrasyon, lalo na ‘yong mayayabang-na-tirador na sa maiksing panahon ay nagmamay-ari na ng mga magagarang sasakyan at sa mamahaling condominium na lumipat.

Sa isang tabloid minsan, tono ng kanilang headline na “playboy” ang Pangulo. At ngayon maanghang na pulutan ang pagbili ni P-Noy ng porche.

Ang nakikita ko dito ay isang sistematikong smokescreen. Sekondaryong mga usapin ang pinagkakaguluhan sa media. Mga paraan ito para hindi mapapansin ang unti-unting pagposisyon ng mga makakaliwang-pwersa sa loob ng Administrasyon at gobyerno.
Nakaligtaan na, ng mga kinauukulan ang batayang ugali ng mga komunistang-terorista. Ayon kay Lenin “use democracy to destroy democracy, join the government to destroy the government”. At ‘yan ang maniobra nila sa ngayon.

Resulta, maraming kaganapan na naging dehado ang gobyerno at lalong nagpa-igting ng mga pampulitikang bangayan.

Pinalaya ang “Morong 43” kahit ang mga ito ay kumpirmado ng military “na mga aktibong kasapi at kadre sa National Health Staff ng NPA”. Papasok sa peacetalk ang Administrasyong Aquino kahit na napatunayan na, batay sa 22 taon nang pakikipag-usap sa maoistang CPP-NPA-NDF na wala itong patutunguhan. Ayon kay Cong. Jun Alcover (ANAD Partylist) “…dehado ang gobyerno sa sitwasyong ito kasi binibigyan lamang ng pagkakataon ang CPP-NPA-NDF na makapag-konsolida ng kanilang hanay at malawak na entablado sa propaganda….” Nakapagtataka din na isang masugid na galling sa kaliwa ang ginawang political affairs adviser ng Pangulo.

Bahagi pa rin ba ito lahat ng “good and evil” tactics? Baka darating ang oras na paglalaruan na lamang tayo ng mga “evil” dahil ito ay “good” strategy!

Soldiers for peace and development murdered

Three Army soldiers deployed for peace and development outreach program were murdered on Thursday morning, January 6, 2011 in Southern Mindanao. The soldiers belong to the Peace and Development Team 905 of the Philippine Army’s 3rd Special Forces Battalion.

The three soldiers were riding a motorcycle heading towards Purok 4, Barangay Magdum, Tagum City when they were fired upon by suspected members of the New People’s Army belonging to Guerilla Front 33. Two of the soldiers died instantly while the third casualty expired while being treated at the Davao Regional Hospital in Tagum City.

“This is a case of murder,” said Lieutenant Colonel Ferdinand Napuli, Commander of the 3rd Special Forces Battalion. “Our soldiers were there for community works but the assailants want to destroy the peace that the soldiers are offering to the people,” he added. With the heavy downpour of rain in 10ID AOR, the soldiers were also alerted for the conduct of needs assessment and disaster response operations.

Implementation of the peace and development outreach program started in September last year. This program has resulted to the implementation of various humanitarian assistance programs including dengue prevention, clean up drives, blood letting, medical and dental mission, book distribution, supplemental feeding and gift giving. The program also resulted to the surrender of hundreds of former NPA members and supporters.

Major General Jorge Segovia, Commander of the 10th Infantry Division based in Davao City condemned the killing as a cowardly act of peace saboteurs. He said that the peace and development outreach program which is being implemented under the AFP’s Campaign Plan “Bayanihan” will continue to contribute in solving the root causes of insurgency. “The CPP plan to divert our attention away from community works will fail,” he said.

Nevertheless, he reminded his field commanders to be on the alert to prevent the recurrence of similar incident.

(As emailed by LTC MEDEL M AGUILAR PA. 10ID Public Information Officer)

THE ROLES OF PAST PRESIDENTS OF THE REPUBLIC IN SEARCH FOR LASTING PEACE (1st of 5 parts)

The time of the late-President Corazon Cojuanco-Aquino (1986-1992)

Former President Corazon C. Aquino carved out her own niche in Philippine history when she claimed the presidency through the peaceful People Power I known as the EDSA People’s Revolution in February of 1986.

She tried to heal the wounds of a divided nation when she announced her policy of reconciliation through peace negotiations with the communist insurgents and the Muslim secessionists. For a start, and as a showcase of her sincerity, she issued an executive clemency to political detainees that included Joma Sison. On top of this, she repealed all oppressive martial law decrees of her immediate predecessor, former President Marcos. And on April 20, 1986 she issued her clarion call for an indefinite ceasefire to clear the path for the peace talks.

In May 1986, preliminary negotiations between the government and the NDF began with a focus on possible cessation of hostilities; her government also provided safety guarantees for communist and Muslim representatives to the peace talks. Between the Muslims and the communists, the first to come to the peace talk were the latter. On June 26, 1986 the first three-man GRP Peace Panel was constituted with the following as members: then Chairman of the Commission on Human Rights Jose Diokno (who was later replaced by Ma. Serena Diokno when he fell ill and could no longer perform his duties); then Agriculture Sec. Ramon Mitra, Jr.; and Commission on Audit Chairman Teofisto Guingona. The NDF Panel was made up of four-person team consisting of Antonio Zumel, Satur Ocampo, Rafael Salas and Carolina Malay.

For reasons that were not made clear, the initial negotiations were held in secret before the ceasefire agreement of November 27, 1986 and then openly during the 60-day ceasefire that followed. On December 5, 1986 a five-member National Ceasefire Committee was formed to supervise the ceasefire; it was headed by Bishop Antonio Fortich of Bacolod City.

On December 10, 1986 a nationwide ceasefire took effect. In a joint statement, the government and NDF panels affirmed their commitments to uphold the ceasefire and asked for full cooperation from all sides to support the peace effort. During this period, the government proposed a P1-Billion program for the rehabilitation of rebels but the NDF insisted on a radical land reform to be implemented instead.

On December 23, 1986 the NDF panel submitted a counter-proposal for a negotiated settlement outlining “basic premises and objectives.” The NDF Paper define the roots on insurgency as “poverty, violation of civil liberties, lack of participation of the working classes, and the continued US domination” even as it sought the creation of a new coalition government and the calling of a constituent assembly. The government panel presented its proposal untitled, “Proposal of the government of the Republic of the Philippines to the NDF” with the general goals of alleviating poverty, generate productive employment, and promoting equity and social justice. The government proposed socio-economic programs as starting points, but the NDF wanted too begin with human rights issues. From the very start, both Panels were “clawing at each other.”

A compromise formula was proposed by the GRP panel head, the former Senator Jose Diokno which was “Food and Freedom, Jobs and Justice” in an attempt at a compromise but to no avail. In January 1987, the first formal peace negotiations dealing with substantive issues took place but it was short-lived. The differences between the frameworks presented by both sides to address socio-economic and political issues proved to be huge hurdles.

On January 22, 1987 the NDF walked out of the negotiations in the Netherlands after farmers and demonstrators threw stones at anti-riot police in Manila. The demonstrators tried to enter the area near Malacanang (official residence of Philippine President) but were prevented from doing so by the anti-riot police in a bloody clash. The NDF and GRP decided to suspend the negotiations while keeping ceasefire in effect. And down south Philippines in Mindanao Island many families were displaced in the barangays of Kiwalan and Dalipuga, all of Iligan City when army troopers continued to clash with the NPAs who were extorting money or harassing the people in the area. It could be gleaned that the communists, right from the very start of the peace talks, were using violent means as possible bargaining chips but the government refused to be intimidated and pursued the peace process, through a clear and defined path, instead.

After this sad episode, the government changed strategy: pursue peace talks through dialogues with the regional leaders of the CPP-NPA-NDF. A news set of government peace negotiators was created headed by then Senator Teofisto Guingona, Jr. as the GRP panel chairman with Jaime Guerrero and Alice Villadolid as members. Guingona appointed regional peace negotiators in all 12 regions of the country. He appointed the Roman Catholic Bishops, who also served in the ceasefire committees, as regional negotiators.

In 1987, President Cory Aquino created the Office of the Peace Commissioner (OPC), forerunner of the OPAPP, under Administrative Order No. 30, “Defining the Systematic Approach and Administrative Frame work for the Government’s Peace Effort” under the join Executive-Legislative Peace Council. She also appointed then Health Secretary Alfredo Bengson as Peace Commissioner. While the government was pursuing peace for the people it swore to protect, the CPP-NPA-NDF refused to condescend to peace for the sake of the Filipino people.