The Communist Party of the Philippines – New People’s Army – National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF) should altogether give up their rebellion and work with the government towards sustaining a just and lasting peace.
This was the call made by Col. Medel Aguilar, acting spokesperson of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), on Tuesday, July 19.
“Patuloy at unti-unting humihina ang CPP/NPA/NDF. Tunaw na ang baseng masa na kanilang pinagtataguan. Salat na sila sa suportang pagkain at pagod na sila sa walang humpay na pagtugis sa kanila ng mga sundalo at kapulisan, kasama ang taong bayan (The CPP/NPA/NDF is weakening. Their mass bases and hideouts are long gone. They have insufficient food supply and they are exhausted from the relentless pursuit operations of the military and police,” Aguilar said.
Data from the AFP showed that the number of NPA guerilla fronts in the country was reduced from 80 to 23 under the administration of former President Duterte.
The military also estimated that the NPA’s armed component has diminished to 2,000 although the data is still subjected for validation, according to Aguilar. Still, this was a big reduction compared to its peak strength at 25,000 in the 1980s.
“Huwag na nilang ipilit ang rebolusyon na siyang nagdulot ng malaking pinsala sa ating bayan (They should give up the revolution which only caused a big damage to our country),” he added.
The military spokesperson’s comments came after ranking rebel-returnees reportedly revealed that the CPP “triad” was using various online platforms to recruit new members after their websites were blocked by the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC).
The NPA was reportedly using Spotify, an audio streaming platform, to create podcasts that will disseminate the propaganda of the organization under the supervision of the CPP and recruit young members, according to Joy James Saguino, a former secretary of the NPA’s Guerilla Front 20, in an interview with state-run Philippine News Agency (PNA).
Saguino urged the government to remove such contents since these are “plain rebellion taught in online platforms.”
Aguilar said that the CPP triad should take the initiative, surrender to government forces, and start working with the government to address the root causes of insurgency.
“Mas nararapat na sabay-sabay na lang nating harapin ang mga suliraning panlipunan upang matulungan natin ang sambayanang Pilipino lalo na iyong mga nahihirapan sa buhay (We should face these social problems to help our fellow Filipinos, especially those who are experiencing hardships in life),” he noted.
National Security Adviser Clarita Carlos had said that she wouldn’t recommend to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. the resumption of peace talks between the government and the CPP-NPA-NDF after it was terminated by Duterte.
Carlos, however, “strongly” advised the provision of amnesty to communist leaders and members to prevent the resurgence of insurgency.