There is no bounds to the cruelty of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) in its terrorist black operations.

On January 13, 2021, more than two years ago, armed soldiers belonging to the 79th Infantry Battalion conducting combat operations in Hacienda Ambulong, Barangay San Fernando, Talisay City, raided the home of Edwin and Marlyn Madin at 2 a.m. and snatched then 2-month old Baby Marx Cairo Salino from their care. The soldiers also took the baby’s garments and personal belongings of the baby’s guardians.

In its press statement, the AFP declared that they “recovered” an “NPA child” during the combat operation, as if the infant was a war trophy. Spewing wicked lies, the AFP claimed Baby Marx was “abandoned” by his parents. Baby Marx has since been in the custody of the Escalante City social work department, on orders of the military.

Baby Marx is a hostage being kept by the AFP to force his parents to surrender. His parents, Ka Peeta and Ka Jandy, both Red fighters of the New People’s Army (NPA) in Negros, have declared that they will fight for Baby Marx’s rights, and do not have plans to surrender to the AFP nor bring harm to the people. They are determined to continue fighting for the cause of national freedom and social justice.

Baby Marx is a victim of the black operations of the armed agents of the terrorist state. By keeping him away from his family, the AFP is in outright violation of international humanitarian law, especially of its provisions granting special protection for infants, children, and pregnant women. Keeping Baby Marx a hostage constitutes a war crime.

For two years now, Baby Marx’s grandparents have been going through the bureaucratic processes in order to bring him home. Despite having complete papers and documentation, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD)  refuses to give them custody of Baby Marx, saying they still have to wait for the decision of “top officers” of the AFP and DSWD. Baby Marx’s grandparents themselves were subjected to state surveillance and harassment forcing them to leave their home and go into hiding.

The CPP supports the demand of the Salino family for the immediate and safe return of Baby Marx to their familial care. We condemn the AFP for targeting infants and children, as well as pregnant women, in its black operations.

In addition to Baby Marx and his family, thousands across the country have fallen victim to the dirty tactics, war crimes of the AFP. Children and infants are not being spared. Military abuses and violations of civil and political rights continue to run rampant under the Marcos regime. Many of these cases have gone unreported especially in the rural areas, where entire peasant villages are placed under the brutal control of the AFP.

These dirty tactics of the AFP form part of its futile effort to crush the people’s resistance. In resorting to such cruel methods, the AFP is succeeding only in exposing its rottenness and inciting the people to fight back and join the armed revolution.

#Philippines #NewPeoplesArmy #CommunistPartyOfThePhilippinesCPP #Asia

Last week, the family of Carlos Dayot, a farmer who hailed from Sitio Salingkubong, Barangay Tayak, Siaton, expressed outrage when they found out that Master Sergeant Borja of the 11th Infantry Battalion’s Alpha “Hunter” Company posted a death threat to Carlos Dayot, in his Facebook page. “Usa nalang ka adlaw ang imong kinabuhi (you have only a day to live),” the post said.

Dayot is the husband of one of the officers of the red-tagged, but legal and duly accredited progressive peasant organization Tayak United Farmer’s Association (TAUFA). As a result, Dayot is now in hiding and his family’s customary simple Christmas gathering eventually canceled.

“It’s already hard to celebrate Christmas when fascist guns are virtually trained on your head. But it’s much more harder when you are constantly threatened, red-tagged and intimidated on mere suspicion of being an New People’s Army member or supporter without any due process. It’s tantamount to a death warrant that will surely lead to tokhang-style execution and unlawful detention,” said Ka Estrella Banagbanag, the New People’s Army-Southeast Negros (Rachelle Mae Palang Command) spokesperson.

Banagbanag lambasted the 11th for being callous and insensitive to people’s traditions. “It only shows that the 11th IB are spoilers of Christmas like the mythological mischievous creature gremlins that wreak havoc and disorder on Christmas eve,” Banagbanag added.

#Philippines #Asia #PeoplesStruggles #NewPeoplesArmy

One of the masterminds of the brutal Lianga Massacre of 2015 was killed October 4 in an ambush by the Communist-led New People's Army (NPA) in Surigao del Sur against the paramilitary group Magahat-Bagani.

According to reports, Hawudon Jomar Bucales and with two other paramilitaries were killed in a firefight with the people's army in Sitio Mamsapranon, Barangay Banahao, Lianga town, Surigao del Sur.

According to Marco L. Valbuena, chief information officer of the Communist Party of the Philippines, “The NPA unit in Surigao del Sur deserves the highest commendation. The Party and the Filipino people congratulate them for their success. The broad masses of Lianga celebrate the successful NPA ambush. They feel a deep sense of justice with the death of Bucales.”

A people's court in Surigao del Sur had previously been formed to try Bucales and others for the Lianga Massacre. Investigations conducted by the duly-constituted committees have pointed out to the key role of Bucales and the others in the brutal murder of Emerito Samarca, executive director of the ALCADEV community school, and Lumad leaders Dionel Campos and Datu Bello Sinzo on September 1, 2015. Bucales was informed of the charges against him but ignored the summons and refused to stand trial before the people's court.

Bucales was leader of the so-called Magahat-Bagani paramilitary group in the Surigao del Sur and received guns, funding and publicity support from the Armed Forces of the Philippines and mining companies operating in the area.

On behalf of the military, Bucales has recently been issuing renewed threats against the leaders of the ALCADEV community school, which has been active in promoting and defending the Lumad people's ancestral lands and raising their community's social, economic and cultural life.

Lianga and other towns in Surigao del Sur are located in the Andap Valley, an area rich in mineral resources. In recent months, the people of Lianga have been subjected to intense militarization, aerial bombings and gross human rights abuses, in an attempt to break the people's resistance to the further aggression of mining operations in their areas.

#Philippines #PeoplesStruggles #NewPeoplesArmy #Asia

According to reports, the communist-led New People’s Army (NPA) successfully ambushed a platoon of the 15th Infantry Battalion last Wednesday afternoon, July 8, in Brgy. Pinggot, Ilog Town, Negros Occidental, killing at least 12 AFP soldiers and wounding four others.

In a statement, red fighters of the Armando Sumayang Jr. Command (ASJC) of the New People’s Army’s Southwest Negros Front said that the NPA action was in response to the clamor of peasant masses in Southwest Negros seeking redress from the growing cases of arson, destruction of crops, illegal arrest, fake surrender and other rights abuses and criminal acts perpetrated by the elements of the 15th Infantry Battalion and the 32nd DRC, which have intensified military operations in the rural communities of Kabankalan City, Ilog, Hinobaan, Candoni and Cauayan since April this year.

The U.S.-backed government of President Duterte is facing growing opposition from the rural- based people’s war, spearheaded by the Communist Party of the Philippines, and a host of national democratic mass movements.

#Philippines #PeoplesStruggles #NewPeoplesArmy #Asia

Over the past few days the Armed Forces of the Philippines (APF) has stepped up in its propaganda drive against the Communist Party of the Philippines and New People's Army (NPA) in a desperate attempt to discredit the ongoing public health and economic campaign of the people's army and the mass organizations to help the efforts to stop the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to an April 11, statement from Marco L. Valbuena, Information Officer, Communist Party of the Philippines, “The AFP's anti-NPA propaganda drive smacks of pure lies and accusations based solely on AFP-manufactured information. What we know is that the broad masses who are gripped by fear of the COVID-19 welcome the NPA's public health campaign. They feel empowered because their awareness and understanding is raised by the information drive. They are enabled to plan and implement the necessary public health measures in their communities to prevent the spread of the disease.”

Valbuena continued, “In the face of the increasing threat of food shortage and hunger, they are also encouraged by the Party’s call to carry out emergency food production through cooperation to help them tide over the lockdown. All NPA units will continue to observe the Party's unilateral ceasefire which remains in effect until April 15 in order to concentrate its energy to attend to the urgent public health and economic needs of the people.”

The stepped-up psywar drive of the AFP shows that it has refused to be diverted from its costly counterinsurgency campaign, even when the country is being confronted with the COVID-19 pandemic.

The AFP aims to prevent the New People's Army from providing the people in the revolutionary territories with all forms of assistance in order to surmount the COVID-19 crisis.

#Philippines #AntiwarMovement #OppressedNationalities #Asia #Healthcare #PeoplesStruggles #NewPeoplesArmy #Antifascism #RodrigoDuterte #COVID19

The communist-led New People’s Army (NPA) command in South Mindanao (SMR) has ordered its units to closely monitor and immediatly report of cases of COVID-19 infection in their respective areas of responsibility. The NPA-SMR command covers Davao City and other Davao regions which are dominated by the Duterte family dynasty. Cases of local transmission have been reported recently in the region.

In an April 1 statement, Rigoberto Sanchez, NPA-SMR spokesperson, ordered all NPA units in the region “to assist all organs of political power and revolutionary organizations in addressing the health crisis in their areas of operation.”

Sanchez continued, “Red commanders and fighters, especially medical officers, are ordered to launch widespread information dissemination, undertake health and sanitation campaigns, and draw up preventive measures.”

The revolutionary movement in SMR is no stranger to coping with natural tragedies. In 2012, it led the reconstruction of communities after the region was hit by super typhoon Pablo. For decades, the NPA in the region has consistently stood for the welfare and interests of the masses, especially during times of calamity and crisis.

#Philippines #PeoplesStruggles #NewPeoplesArmy #NPA #Asia

The communist-led New People’s Army (NPA) inflicted more than 1000 casualties of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) in 2019.

“The NPA continues to reap victories in the field despite massive and intensified combat operations by the AFP,” CPP Chief Information Officer Marco Valbuena announced today, March 29, on the NPA’s 51st founding anniversary.

Quoting the annual anniversary statement released by the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Philippines, Valbuena said that the NPA carried out 710 military actions of varying scale in 2019, which include harassment, disarming, demolition, sapper and partisan operations, to punitive actions, raids on enemy detachments and ambuscades.

Valbuena pointed out that the AFP and other government forces suffered the equivalent of 30 platoons or two battalions. “At least 651 enemy troops were killed, while more than 465 were wounded in action,” said the Central Committee, citing reports of the NPA's National Operations Command.

The NPA is currently on ceasefire, in response to the call of the UN Secretary General for a global ceasefire. The Central Committee issued a unilateral declaration ordering all NPA units to cease and desist from launching offensives during the period effective March 26 to April 15, while remaining vigilant in the face of AFP offensives and maneuvers.

The Communist Party of the Philippines and the NPA are spearheading a massive effort to alleviate the spread and impact of the pandemic.

The NPA, especially its medical units, are working in coordination with revolutionary village health committees to help contain the disease, give special attention to the elderly and pregnant women, help care those who have been infected and promote personal hygiene and community sanitation.

#Philippines #AntiwarMovement #OppressedNationalities #Asia #Healthcare #PeoplesStruggles #CommunistPartyOfThePhilippines #NewPeoplesArmy #Socialism #Antifascism #RodrigoDuterte

Dear Comrades:

We convey our warmest revolutionary greetings on the occasion of the 51st anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of the Philippines. Your achievements are many and we stand with you in your struggle to liberate the Philippines from the yoke of U.S. imperialism, feudalism and bureaucrat capitalism. We are sure you will win many more victories in the coming period.

The Communist Party of the Philippines is in the leadership of a great people’s war that is inspiration to working and oppressed people everywhere. The people's democratic revolution, with socialist orientation, will triumph over reactionaries of all types.

We condemn the murderous regime of President Duterte and brutal wave repression that he has unleashed against the trade unions, mass organizations and all democratic and revolutionary forces. This repression is a sign of desperation. Like President Trump in the U.S., Duterte is a political representative of moribund system that is facing extinction.

We demand that the U.S. government end all aid to the reactionary and repressive government of the Philippines.

The people of the U.S. share a common enemy with the people of the Philippines: the U.S. monopoly capitalists. Every advance of the revolutionary movement in Philippines, like every advance of the revolutionary movement in U.S., brings closer the day of our common liberation.

Marx spoke long ago of working and oppressed people having nothing to lose but our chains. We place great value on the militant friendship between our organizations and our shared view that proletarian internationalism is a vital weapon in our common effort break the chains of monopoly capitalism that bind the peoples of our counties.

Long live the Communist Party of the Philippines! Long live the unity between the people of the U.S. and the people of the Philippines! Together we will win!

With communist greetings,

Freedom Road Socialist Organization

#USA #Philippines #Socialism #Editorials #PeoplesStruggles #frso #NPA #NewPeoplesArmy #Asia

Immediately release Ka Diego!

The Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) denounces the arrest of Jaime “Ka Diego” Padilla, spokesperson of the New People's Army (NPA) -Southern Tagalog (Melito Glor Command).

Ka Diego, who is in his senior years, is suffering from heart problems and various physical ailments. With the material support and various assistance of friends and allies of the CPP and NPA, he was brought to Manila to undergo diagnostics and medical treatment. He was confined in a Manila hospital when he was arrested last night.

The CPP demands the immediate release of Ka Diego and his three companions and the dropping of all trumped-up criminal charges filed against him to prolong his detention. He must be given full access to his lawyers as well as doctors and medical care services. The Party demands that he be accorded full respect which he deserves as a revolutionary activist and humble servant of the people.

Indeed, the toiling masses and people of Southern Tagalog consider the arrest of Ka Diego as a setback to their revolutionary cause. In the past three years, the NPA spokesperson has ably represented the NPA forces in Southern Tagalog in his interaction with the media and the public in general. He has consistently exposed the disinformation and fake news churned out by Duterte's factory of lies. He has exposed and denounced as well the grave crimes and rights abuses perpetrated by the AFP against the people of Southern Tagalog.

The AFP has long wanted to silence Ka Diego. His arrest, however, will fail to suppress the truth about the oppression and the struggles of toiling masses of Southern Tagalog against the tyranny and state terrorism of the Duterte regime, the grave exploitation of workers and peasants, and the imperialist and big corporate plunder of the rich resources of the region.

#Philippines #AntiwarMovement #OppressedNationalities #Asia #PeoplesStruggles #AsianNationalities #CommunistPartyOfThePhilippines #NewPeoplesArmy #Antifascism #KaDiego

The Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) condemns in the strongest terms the mass arrest of activist workers, peasants, women, and media practitioners over the past few days in Bacolod, Escalante and Manila. Police arrested and detained more than 60 people belonging to various sectoral organizations. More than five children were also accosted.

The CPP condemns the statement issued by Malacañang which makes the patently false claim that the arrested activists in Bacolod City were members of the New People's Army (NPA). This brazen lie aims to conceal the martial law crackdown on mass-based organizations.

The mass arrest marks a heightening of the Duterte regime's fascist drive against all democratic forces. It is a brazen display of force and abuse of state powers. It seeks to terrorize the people and their democratic forces. It aims to silence the broad masses against worsening oppression under the Duterte regime.

The mass arrest is an unbridled exercise of military and police power in Negros, which together with Bicol and Samar, are under Duterte's Memorandum Order 32. This is combined with Executive Order No. 70 through which Duterte has established a virtual civil-military junta and placed the entire country under undeclared martial law. The mass arrest is a dress rehearsal for a nationwide crackdown against all democratic forces.

Duterte's all-out campaign of suppression are driving the broad masses to join the revolutionary underground. In the face of Duterte's brutal fascist drive, many are encouraged to join the New People's Army or seek its protection.

The Party calls on the Filipino people and the broad democratic forces to condemn the Negros mass arrest and demand their immediate release. They must firmly oppose the attempt of the fascist regime to take away completely the people's democratic rights. They must rise up in protest, continue to defend their democratic rights, especially their right to organize and to oppose government treachery, corruption and tyranny.

The Party urges the NPA in Negros and across the country to heed the Filipino people's demand for justice against Duterte's abuses. They must exert all effort to mount tactical offensives against the AFP and PNP units, especially those behind fascist crimes.

#Philippines #InJusticeSystem #OppressedNationalities #Asia #PeoplesStruggles #AsianNationalities #CommunistPartyOfThePhilippines #NewPeoplesArmy #PoliticalRepression #Socialism #Antifascism #RodrigoDuterte

Dear Comrades,

It has been 50 glorious years since the Communist Party of the Philippines founded the New People’s Army, and Freedom Socialist Organization sends our warmest greetings to your commanders and fighters on this significant occasion. From modest beginnings, the New People’s Army has grown into a mighty force that is establishing red political power in the countryside and carrying forward the national democratic revolution with a socialist orientation. We wish you every success. Your struggle is our struggle.

We condemn U.S imperialism for the crimes it has committed and continues carry out in the Philippines. We demand that the U.S. government end all aid to its puppet President Duterte and withdraw its troops at once.

The people’s war spearheaded by the New People’s Army, and led by the Communist Party of the Philippines, is an inspiration to progressive and revolutionary people everywhere, including in the U.S. In a world that the imperialists and their lackeys seek to dominate, the people’s war in the Philippines illuminates a road to liberation.

On this important occasion, we also take note of the critical role played by Jose Marie Sison, who took the lead in the refounding of the Communist Party of the Philippines and the New People’s Army. A brilliant Marxist-Leninist, Comrade Sison has made huge contributions that extend well beyond the shores of the Philippines, to the entire world revolutionary movement.

The people of the Philippines and those of the U.S. face a common enemy – the Wall Street bankers and bosses, who have bought-and-paid-for politicians in Washington DC and Manila. Every advance in the revolutionary process in the Philippines hastens the demise of our common oppressor, and we bear that in mind as we build a revolutionary movement in the U.S.

Our future is bright. Nothing can hold back our struggles for liberation and socialism. Victory is certain.

Long Iive the New People’s Army!

Long live the Communist Party of the Philippines!

Long live the unity between the people of the Philippines and the people of the U.S.!

#UnitedStates #Philippines #PeoplesStruggles #NewPeoplesArmy #Asia

The Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) joins the Filipino people in strongly denouncing the stepped-up surveillance by Duterte’s police forces against members of the Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) as well as other democratic mass organizations.

The surveillance was exposed after leaders of ACT revealed that officials of the Department of Education in Metro Manila and other provinces were being asked to inform the police of the roster of ACT’s membership. Its members reported being tracked down by police operatives to their homes.

The police surveillance on ACT clearly aims to harass and intimidate the organization which has staunchly advanced the welfare and interests of teachers and the people’s democratic cause. It also aims to bully the teachers to make them submit to the scheme of the Duterte regime to manipulate the upcoming mid-term elections which employ public school teachers.

The surveillance against the teachers is an affront against their democratic rights. Duterte has mobilized state forces to subject his critics and opposition forces to so-called intelligence operations. Instead of addressing the demand of public school teachers for salary increases, Duterte is using public money to harass and intimidate them.

It forms part of the massive surveillance against students, journalists, lawyers and other various democratic sectors and their organizations and alliances, as well as progressive party list groups, to set them up for arrests or extrajudicial killings. Duterte has earlier ramped up his Red-tagging of these organizations using the old Marcos tactic of labeling them as “communist fronts” in a futile attempt to justify vicious all-out suppression. He has openly threatened to murder their members whom he called as “potential members” of the NPA.

Duterte desperately aims to preserve his power by cracking down against the legal democratic forces which are at the forefront of the anti-fascist united front of all groups opposing Duterte’s tyranny and de facto martial law rule.

Duterte’s fascist suppression will, however, succeed only in arousing ever wider opposition and fiercer resistance to his rule. Contrary to his aim, more and more are being enjoined to close ranks with a broad united front to call for an end to Duterte’s state-sponsored killings and terrorism, corruption, and servility to foreign powers.

He is also succeeding only in closing legal avenues of dissent and unwittingly encouraging more people to support and join the New People’s Army (NPA) to wage armed struggle.

#Philippines #Labor #OppressedNationalities #Asia #PeoplesStruggles #WorkersAndGlobalization #NewPeoplesArmy #CommunistPartyOfPhilippines #TeachersUnions #AllianceOfConcernedTeachersACT

The Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) unequivocally denies claims of a so-called Red October plot of the CPP and New People’s Army (NPA) to overthrow the Duterte regime by October. The CPP denounces the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) for conjuring this fictional plot which clearly aims to set the stage for applying increasingly draconian measures against the Filipino people.

This so-called Red October plot is nothing but an Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) invention. Like the rest of the AFP’s fakery, it is a poorly concocted story. They came up with this “intelligence information” as early as July. Duterte, himself, claimed around a week ago of a recorded phone conversation proving such a conspiracy between the CPP and other groups. Neither Duterte nor the AFP could show the public proof of their claims.

Actually, the real question is not whether there is such a conspiracy, but what Duterte and the AFP are plotting for October? Is this a foreshadowing of a declaration of martial law by October? Indeed, “Red October” sounds very similar to 1972 claims of a “Maoist rebellion” which Marcos used as justification for declaring martial law and imposing his fascist dictatorship.

In hyping up this so-called conspiracy, the clear aim of the AFP is to justify the implementation of increasingly severe measures in the name of “defeating the plot” to target legitimate protest actions which express the sentiments of a disgruntled people. The so-called plot is a Duterte straw man for him to beat and make himself look strong and invincible.

The AFP’s proposal to set up a task force to supposedly direct all efforts of government agencies to fight the CPP harks back to the 1950s McCarthyist red-baiting and finger-pointing to justify the suppression against various democratic sectors. In particular, the AFP targets student activists who are among the most active in the anti-Duterte movement. The AFP has gone berserk in linking various organizations and political forces as fronts or in conspiracy with the CPP.

It has become very apparent that Duterte and the AFP are increasingly insecure amid the rising economic and political crisis. By dispatching his defense secretary to Washington, Duterte has gone the lengths of seeking the assurance of US support. All these show Duterte’s kapit-tuko desperation to cling to power amid the increasingly acute crisis and mounting clamor for his ouster.

In fact, Duterte has only himself to blame for his regime’s destabilization. By turning a deaf ear to the Filipino people’s most urgent demands for an end to the burdensome TRAIN taxes, solution to incessant price increases, wage increases, jobs and job security, as well as their clamor for an end to state terrorism, rampant violations of human rights, narco-politics and bureaucrat capitalist corruption, Duterte is inciting more and more people to rise up in protest and resist his rule.

Since late last year, the Party has called on the Filipino people to unite and wage all forms of struggle to put an end to Duterte’s fascist and puppet regime. A broad united front of democratic forces has emerged in both formal and informal alliances bringing together a broad range of progressive and patriotic forces, as well as various strands of politicians, religious and business groups. Disenchanted officials in the military and police patiently wait for the right moment to join in.

The NPA will continue to wage revolutionary armed struggle in the countryside as it advances the people’s war and defend the people against the fascist and terrorist onslaught of the AFP. However supportive of the people’s clamor for Duterte’s ouster, the NPA, at this stage, is not yet strong enough to cause the overthrow of Duterte and the ruling system. Similarly, while the NPA was among the strongest force which helped sustain the struggle against the Marcos dictatorship and dealt it with strong blows, it was ultimately the confluence of various forces which brought down Marcos through a popular unarmed uprising in 1986.

Given the increasingly difficult economic conditions of the people and rising internal political conflicts within the Duterte regime, the Party anticipates protests to continue to mount in the coming months.

Duterte is walking the edge of a precipice where a misstep can accelerate his downfall.

#Philippines #AntiwarMovement #Asia #PeoplesStruggles #NewPeoplesArmy #PoliticalRepression #CommunistPartyOfPhilippines #Antifascism #RedOctoberPlot

Fight Back News Service is circulating the following Sept. 15 statement from the Communist Party of the Philippines.

Units of the New People’s Army (NPA) and all revolutionary forces in North and Central Luzon, as well as in Metro Manila and the rest of Luzon, are geared to carry out rescue, relief and rehabilitation work for millions of people whose homes and livelihood were ravaged by strong winds and rains brought about by typhoon Ompong.

Over the next few days, local commands of the NPA can concentrate primarily in civic action amid the disaster even as they remain vigilant over the relentless offensive operations of the AFP.

The Party urges the Filipino people and international humanitarian agencies to unite and extend all possible help to address the welfare of the people. It urges all democratic sectors to establish Serve the People brigades to help collect and distribute relief assistance.

The broad masses of workers, peasants, minority people, fisherfolk and other basic sectors suffer the most from the damage wrought by typhoon Ompong. There is urgent need to mobilize them to carry out collective effort from the devastation and facilitate the entry and equitable distribution of all financial and material assistance.

As in the past, the people will be burdened by rampant corruption and inefficiencies in the Philippine reactionary government whose agencies always fail to squarely address their conditions.

Their clamor for wage increases, land distribution, cancellation of debt, agricultural subsidies, free irrigation and livelihood assistance and economic relief demand immediate attention and resolution.

#Philippines #Socialism #Manila #NewPeoplesArmy #Filipino

Fight Back News Service is circulating the following statement from the National Democratic Front of the Philippines – Mindanao.

The New People’s Army must redouble its effort to fulfil the required steps to advance the people’s war towards a higher stage, bringing the Filipino people ever closer to its socialist future

The National Democratic Front of the Philippines in Mindanao (NDFP-Mindanao), resonating the collective voice of its allied revolutionary organizations in the island, unites with the Filipino people in celebrating with utmost pride the 49th anniversary of the New People’s Army (NPA), which was founded on the 29th of March 1969.

On this occasion, we salute and applaud all Red commanders, fighters, political officers and members of the People’s Militia, local guerrilla and self-defense units who have rendered invaluable service to the masses of peasants, workers and the national minorities. They have effectively carried out their revolutionary tasks of defending the people’s welfare by delivering decisive blows against the fascist forces of the US-Duterte regime. They have taken significant strides to bring the people’s war to a new and higher level with the end in view of ushering in the victory of the national democratic revolution towards the country’s socialist future.

We also take this opportunity to express our profound gratitude to the masses, the weavers of the fabric of history, who have offered their good sons and daughters to take conscious and active part in the undertakings of the true army of the people, the NPA. We thank all our allies as well, who, throughout these years, despite the all-out vain effort by the ruling classes and its reactionary government to malign and crush the revolutionary movement, have not wavered in their support.

We render our highest red salute to all revolutionary martyrs who have lain down their lives for the people and for the victory of the people’s democratic revolution.

The NPA has remained true to its revolutionary tasks and responsibilities and has reaped numerous victories against enemy forces because of the absolute guidance of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP), which is celebrating the 50th anniversary of its re-establishment this year. The founding of the NPA in 1969 was a bi-product of the re-birth of the CPP, which launched the First Rectification Movement in 1968 that repudiated the ideological, political and organizational errors of the old party under the revisionist leadership of the Lava-Taruc-Sumulong clique.

From a handful of comrades and fighters armed with a few rifles and hand guns in the 2nd district of Tarlac, the NPA began to expand, spanning the entire archipelago – from Luzon to Visayas to Mindanao. Correctly guided by the CPP through the 2nd rectification movement, the NPA was able to repudiate the right and left opportunist errors of the early 80’s and reaffirmed the basic principles under the guidance of Marxism-Leninism-Maoism.

The Party currently mobilizes the entire structure of the NPA in an all-round way to overcome its conservative tendencies, and to fulfil the requirements necessary in pushing towards a more advanced phase of the people’s war.

The people suffer from worse forms of exploitation and oppression under the US-Duterte regime

The US-Duterte regime further deepens the semi-feudal and semi-colonial crisis by completing the implementation of neoliberal policies imposed by US imperialism. Duterte’s grand plan for the economy is to inundate the country with an infrastructure frenzy (Build, Build, Build) of roads, railways, bridges and other structures, whose actual implementation will be fueled by gigantic loans from China, Russia and the US. This will bury the country in insurmountable debt, which only serves to eternally trap us within the stranglehold of servility to US imperialist dictates.

Duterte will also open the country for the entry of more imperialist mining firms and capitalist plantations, which will further denude Mindanao’s remaining forest cover and rapidly deplete its mineral resources. Under Duterte’s “environmental policies,” stringent restrictions will be relaxed as more incentives and protection will be given to these imperialist companies, for them to continue ravaging the environment and rake in super profits from exploiting Mindanao workers and syphoning out non-renewable raw materials, to the detriment of future generations.

The country’s economy is made afloat by OFW remittances, but the level of remittances has gone down. The Duterte regime in the meantime continues with the policy of exporting human labor abroad even as overseas Filipino workers are being subjected to maltreatment and other despicable forms oppression in other countries, similar to what Joanna Demafeliz and Josie Lloren suffered in Kuwait that led to their tragic deaths.

The state of unemployment in the country is at its worst in years at 9%, or between 70,000 to 1.4 million out of work. This will further debilitate the labor sector unless thorough-going national industrialization is implemented. Labor policies imposed by the Duterte regime continue to deprive Filipino workers of job security, totally reneging on its promise to eradicate contractualization. More and more Filipino workers, especially those in Mindanao, are losing their trust of Duterte and are readying themselves to strongly oppose his anti-labor policies.

The US-Duterte regime seethes with fascism as it continues to employ militarism and other draconian measures to suppress any and all forms of opposition and dissent. Duterte seeks to wipe-out the NPA by end of 2018 through his AFP’s bloody Oplan Kapayapaan (OpKap), which employs a smattering of vile military and psywar tactics rehashed from the failed internal security plans of previous regimes.

In his desperation, he has issued Proclamation 347 that tags both the CPP and the NPA as “terrorists.” He has gone to lengths of almost sociopathic proportions as to offer “P25,000-P100,000 for every NPA fighter killed,” or exclaim the even more despicable “shoot a captured woman NPA in her private parts.”

Under the direction of the US-Duterte regime, the AFP/PNP has resorted to the psywar tactic of subterfuge, perfidy and black propaganda. AFP psywar experts employ orchestrating the murder of civilians, make it appear like it was executed by “terrorists,” and impute the crime on the NPA. Then, through their trolls, they poison both social and mainstream media with such fake news. For instance, AFP-sponsored bandit groups beheaded a CAA member in San Miguel, Surigao del Sur, and in another incident, state agents murdered Datu Tiambong, a Mamanwa local chieftain, in Alegria, Surigao del Norte, both treacherous acts aimed at maligning the credibility of the NPA.

This also holds true with “fake surrenders,” with which the AFP uses, but in vain, to paint a portrait of a “weakening NPA.” But, the masses in Mindanao are well aware of the real nature of their own army, a people’s army that adheres to a strict code of discipline and fundamental rules that hold paramount the well-being of the masses and, without second thought, defend them whenever under attack.

OpKap has resulted in some of the gravest manifestations of human rights abuses in Mindanao since the US-Marcos dictatorship, which, from March 2017 to March 2018, has already victimized hundreds of thousands in the island. In particular, extra-judicial killings have snuffed out 127 mass leaders and activists in Mindanao.

Some of the more grisly crimes of the AFP in the past couple of years include: the torture and frustrated murder by setting on fire two young activists on December 6, 2017 by elements of the 71st IBPA in Maco, Compostela Valley; the massacre of eight Lumad villagers in Lake Sebu, South Cotabato on December 3, 2017 by elements of the 33rd and 27th IB; the murder of 19-year old Lumad student Obillo Bay-ao by CAFGU elements on September 5, 2017 in Talaingod, Davao del Norte; and the shooting of a pregnant woman by elements of the 8th IBPA in Bukidnon on July 2016.

The AFP also deploys its attack helicopters, fighter jets and combat-capable drones to conduct bomb runs as well as its 105 mm cannons to launch artillery attacks on areas near or on hinterland Lumad and peasant villages. For instance, the nearly five hour aerial bombing and artillery attack on May 25, 2017 against several barangays in President Roxas, North Cotabato and Damulog, Bukidnon combined with ground operations of the 39th and 72nd IBPA; almost incessant bombings and shelling on areas in close proximity to Lumad schools and communities in the hinterlands of Lianga, Surigao del Sur and Gigaquit, Surigao del Norte; and, the attack of drones with combat capabilities on farms and hinterland communities of peasants and Lumad in several towns in Surigao del Norte.

Drones are being used by AFP units to assist them to either survey the area for their targets or to launch via remote control “rockets” to decimate whatever they consider their “enemy target,” which include civilian communities.

The extension of the implementation of martial law in Mindanao has left leaders and members of open and legitimate mass organizations to brutal attacks by the reactionary state, which employs the filing of trumped up charges, warrantless arrests, imprisonment and torture, surveillance and profiling of targeted individuals, enforced disappearances, extrajudicial killings and other means of psywar and intimidation. The AFP also uses its “recruitment” activities in schools and colleges as a cover to conduct surveillance on students whom they suspect to be “recruiting for the NPA.”

The Duterte regime recently filed a case against more or less 600 individuals whom it claims to be members of the CPP, NPA and NDFP and aims to officially declare the CPP and the NPA as “terrorists.” This is a virtual hit list of the AFP’s targets for arrest, persecution or political assassinations, as many of the names, more than half of which are from Mindanao, include those from legal organizations, human rights workers and activists, prominent individuals and leaves space for those whom they wish to add later. This is also farcical because it also include names of people who are long dead and even some are elements who are now in cahoots with the AFP.

The regime’s Oplan Tokhang/Double barrel has not only been used to capture and kill small-time drug users and peddlers but also to arrest and even murder political activists. Duterte recently revealed his “true colors” when drug charges against drug lords Peter Lim and Peter Co and self-confessed drug kingpin Kerwin Espinosa were dropped by the courts on mere technicality. These big time drug dealers are in fact close buddies of Duterte.

After the five-month brutal siege of Marawi City, no clear and significant rehabilitation effort that serves the needs of the Bangsamoro who evacuated from the city is underway; Bangsamoro civilian leaders/representatives of the people who were deprived of their homes and livelihood have not been consulted by the Task Force Bangon Marawi. Marawi residents now reside in make-shift tents located in the outskirts of the city.

The US-Duterte regime remains unrelenting in its war against the Bangsamoro and continues to intensify it even after the Marawi seige and as it extends martial law in the island. On one hand, it engages in direct attacks against the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF); continuing its bombing/shelling on Moro communities such as the S.K. Pendatun incident, which has resulted in the evacuation of a number of Moro communities.

While on the other, it continues to contain the MILF and the BIAF by dangling the enactment of the BBL into law, as well as the federal form of government as an assurance that the Bangsamaoro will have a “share” in the state’s power. However, the enactment of the BBL into law remains far from being realized and creates a more volatile condition for the rekindling of an even bigger Moro armed resistance against the reactionary government.

The intensified war against the Bangsamoro is part of the Asia-pivot design of US imperialism to buttress its hegemony in the Asia-Pacific region, where China is also increasing its hold. The US Armed Forces has launched Operation Pacific Eagle–Philippines, an all-out US counter-insurgency operation in the country which replaces Operation Enduring Freedom. This gives full license to US military forces to directly operate against “terrorists,” establish new military bases with more than 6,000 heactares of land in Marawi City granted to them as military reservation, and use all their deadly hi-tech weaponry against the people of Mindanao. This will also serve as a launch pad for its war against China and North Korea, and establish its claim over the South China Sea.

The NPA in Mindanao continues to surge in an all-round way

Despite the all-out attacks of the US-Duterte regime, the NPA is making headway in 46 guerrilla fronts in Mindanao, where its units are operating in more than 2,500 barrios in over 200 municipalities in 20 provinces in the island. In these areas, hundreds of thousands are directly organized, while tens of thousands are covered by the people’s revolutionary government at the barrio level, and a few at municipal levels.

In the first quarter of the year alone, the combined strength of all NPA units in the five regions of Mindanao have launched a relatively significant number of tactical offensives against enemy troops, which have been inflicted with more casualties.

NPA units are hard at work cooperating alongside revolutionary masses in launching agrarian revolution. Thousands have benefitted from its minimum program of agrarian reform, which include reduction in the rent of land, farm animals and tools and in the levels of usury, while striving to increase wage rates of farm workers, as well as the level of productivity in the base areas. NPA units also provide social services, such as medical services, and conduct revolutionary cultural campaigns which help raise the level of consciousness among the organized masses.

Under the absolute leadership of the CPP, the NPA is imbued with Marxism-Leninism-Maoism as its ideological guide. Contrary to the claim that it has veered away from its principles, the NPA is strict in the implementation of its basic education, which is a collection of basic courses under the Pambansang Demokratikong Paaralan (PADEPA). It has made sure that members of the NPA who qualify for Party membership undergo the Basic Party Course (BPC) and the Intermediate Party Course (IC), and for cadres, the Advanced Party Course (AC).

NPA units regularly take stock of statements and articles featured in Ang Bayan, the official national publication of the CPP. At the same time, Red fighters are encouraged to read articles that feature burning issues of the day and, if they are able, to read revolutionary classics to help them strengthen their resolve and sharpen their analytical skills, especially in the midst of ever changing social conditions.

Red fighters are steeled and guided by its 3 Main Rules of Discipline and 8 Points of Attention enshrined in the Basic Rules of the New People’s Army in all their political and military undertakings. For instance, the NPA has displayed utmost discipline in the proper handling of prisoners of war and hors d’combat, taking into account the strict adherence to the CARHRIHL, Protocols, the Geneva Conventions and other international laws that govern civil wars.

NPA platoons and companies in Mindanao are now spread all over their base areas, helping the masses to defend themselves from impending attacks of enemy forces, recovering those relatively disrupted by enemy troops and re-invigorating revolutionary mass organizations into launching agrarian revolution campaigns and participating in meaningful activities that help advance the people’s war.

Further strengthen our efforts to reap more victories

Thus, on the occasion of the 49th anniversary of the founding of the New People’s Army, the NDFP–Mindanao resoundingly applauds the accumulated victories in the past year, and calls upon all Red fighter units to redouble efforts in launching more and more tactical offensives against operating enemy troops, utilizing a wide array of tactics and technics in order to achieve our strategic revolutionary goals.

The NPA must also make it a point to pay more attention in the intensification agrarian revolution campaigns, mobilizing the masses in their hundreds of thousands in order to bring about significant victories, both in the minimum and even in the maximum program.

We encourage NPA units in Mindanao to mark their every political and military undertaking this year as a tribute to the 50th anniversary of the re-establishment of the Communist Party of the Philippines. We must take this opportunity to sum-up, learn from past mistakes, and aim ever higher to fulfil the requirements to help usher the people’s war towards the strategic stalemate phase and bring the nation ever closer to its glorious socialist future.

Long live the New People’s Army, the real people’s army! Long live the Communist Party of the Philippines! Long live the People’s Democratic Revolution with a Socialist Perspective!

#MindanaoPhilippines #Mindanao #Philippines #NewPeoplesArmy #Asia

Red fighters of the New People’s Army (NPA) in Mindoro (Lucio de Guzman Command, LDGC) wounded one soldier in their recent attack against a paramilitary detachment in Brgy. Morente, Bongabong, Oriental Mindoro they identified as “enemy of poor women and children of Mangyan villages,” Mar. 8.

This offensive took place on Women’s Day as the guerilla forces charged the Civilian Auxilliary Force Geographical Unit (CAFGU) as “perpetrators of anti-social acts faced usually by poor women and children in Mangyan villages targeted by military operations,” said Ka Madaay Gasic, spokesperson of NPA-Mindoro.

The NPA received complaints from local villagers accusing CAFGU elements as protectors of illegal logging and looting of minorities’ poultry and agricultural produces during military combat operations.

“The usual victims of military operations are Mangyan women and children who are left at home while their male counterparts are tending their swidden farms,” Ka Madaay stated.

“This offensive is second of a series of punishment of the guerilla forces against the AFP-CAFGU for turning local villagers against their own communities,” he continued. “CAFGU recruitment is part of AFP’s tactics of poisoning Mangyan communities within the indigenous peoples (IP)-centric approach of the anti-people Development Support and Security Plan Kapayapaan.”

On Feb. 23, Red fighters attacked a CAFGU detachment in So. FF Cruz, Brgy. Cambunang in Bulalacao town leaving the unit’s commanding officer Domingo Berber dead.

“May these offensives also send warning to those who willfully join the CAFGU and take up arms against their own communities. There are no justifiable reason for such, and will never provide any good and instead will only aggravate the ever-worsening exploitation and oppression of the Mangyan people,” Ka Madaay ended.

Meanwhile, the guerilla forces hold an early celebration of their anniversary in a guerilla zone in Mindoro on Women’s Day to honor female Red fighters, revolutionaries and martyrs.

#Philippines #WomensMovement #InternationalWomensDay #NewPeoplesArmy #Asia

The Rosario Lodronio Rosal Command (RLRC-NPA-Mt. Sierra Madre-Southern Tagalog Sub-Regional Command) congratulates again the red fighters and commanders of Narciso Antazo Aramil Command (NAAC-NPA-Rizal) in their another successful counter-attack against police and military forces conducting counter-insurgency operations in the mountain villages of Antipolo City, Baras, Tanay, San Mateo and Rodriguez, Rizal.

A squad-size of NPA-Rizal red fighters successfully ambushed police officers from Rizal Police Mobile Force Company (PMFC) aboard a police mobile car in Barangay Pinugay, Baras, Rizal at noontime yesterday, February 21, 2018. Three (3) Police officers including the Rizal PMFC head, Supt. Melchor Agusin, Police Officers 2 Manuel Fang-asan and Jimmy Talupa were wounded in the ambush while the NPA forces suffered no casualties.

The said police officers were going to the 80th IB-PA Headquarters in Pinugay, Baras, Rizal for the case conference to evaluate the ongoing joint operation of Philippine Army (PA)– Philippine National Police (PNP) against the people and the revolutionary forces in the rural villages in Rizal province. This joint police-military operation in the guise of conducting counter-insurgency operations against the CPP-NPA is directed against the farmers, settlers and Dumagat Tribesmen who are protesting against the landgrabbing and dislocation that they are suffering from the proponents of anti-people project such as WAWA-VIOLAGO DAM in Antipolo City and Rodriguez, LAIBAN DAM in Tanay, and ATN-SOLAR ENERGY PROJECT in Rodriguez, Rizal. The police and military forces are being used by the Duterte government favored capitalists like Danding Cojuangco, Violago Clan and Chinese Capitalist to silence the people’s opposition to these projects

This counter-offensive once more proves that the NPA forces are capable enough to counter any attack of the fascist AFP-PNP forces. With the support of the people, the NPA can defeat any campaign of suppression by the government troops because the AFP-PNP are just paper tigers who are superior in arms and numbers and are paid to serve the land grabbers, the big landlords, capitalist bureaucrats and their imperialist masters but cannot defeat the people’s army who genuinely serve the interest of the poor farmers, workers, the toiling masses and the Filipino people. The Filipino people support the NPA because they knew that without their people’s army, the people have nothing. Only with the support of the NPA that the people will get justice they deserved from those who abuses and oppresses them. The Filipino people together with the peoples’ army can resist and oust the fascist US-Duterte Regime and his cohorts and replace it with a new social system that genuinely serves the interest of the Filipino people.

While the NPA forces continue to defend themselves against AFP-PNP attacks we reiterate our call and support the resumption of the peace talks between the Government of the Philippines (GPH) and the CPP-NPA-NDFP. But, if the Duterte Government does not order his AFP-PNP troops to stand down and will continue his campaign of armed suppression against the CPP-NPA in order to justify Martial Law and fascist dictatorship, there is nothing that the NPA can do but to pursue the people’s democratic revolution though protracted people’s war. Then, more counter attacks and tactical offensives of the NPA will continue until such time that a new government is established by the people.

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!

#Philippines #NewPeoplesArmy #Asia

Fight Back News Service is circulating the following Feb. 18 statement from the New People’s Army, Regional Operations Command, Southern Mindanao Region.

The Regional Operations Command of the New People’s Army (NPA) in Southern Mindanao commends the 1stPulang Bagani Battalion for carrying out revolutionary justice and inflicting heavy casualties against AFP (Armed Forces of Philippines) troops following three coordinated tactical offensives in Paquibato and Calinan Districts, Davao City on February 16. At least 12 AFP soldiers were killed while more than 20 more were wounded. In unrestrained fury over the toll, AFP troops manning the checkpoints after the successful NPA attacks retaliated by taking aside two civilians and summarily killing both of them.

A company of Red fighters attacked the detachment of the 72IBin Sitio Binaton, Brgy. Malabog in Paquibato District at around 5:30 in the morning. The military action was in response to the masses’ demand to punish the mercenary enemy troops, especially in perpetuating and protecting the illegal drug trade in the district and in neighboring areas. In exchange for monthly payola, the detachment ensured unhindered traffic of drugs between the city’s districts and provided security for notorious drug operator Neptali AlfredoPondoc, who was executed by the NPA on January 23. A Red fighter was martyred in the engagement. One enemy was killed while several others were wounded.

At around 4:00 in the afternoon, the 5-truck reinforcement of the 3IB was hit in Brgy. Lamanan in Calinan District. Three of the five KM450 trucks were blasted and upturned when several command-detonated explosives were triggered by Red fighters, killing at least 7 and severely wounding more than 10 enemy troops. Thirty minutes later, another 3IB reinforcement onboard 2 military truckswasagain blocked down by command-detonated explosives in Brgy. Lacson, Calinan District, killing 2 and wounding 17 AFP troopers.

While cordoning off the highway to the clash sites, AFP soldier stook aside for no reason civilian commuters Roel Satingasin of Brgy. Tamugan and Ariel Gelbero of Brgy. Lamanan and summarily killed both of them in Calinan. AFP troops, by their very disposition, are incapable of resisting the fascist nature sto take it out on hapless civilians when they suffer heavy casualties in the battle field. The NPA assures the families that revolutionary justice will be meted out against the perpetrators of the heinous crime.

The tactical offensives were carried out by the NPA as fitting punishment for the AFP’s numerous human rights violations of extra-judicial killings, illegal arrests, harassments and artillery bombardments that resulted to thousands of displaced Lumads and peasants during and after their so-called unilateral ceasefire. The heavy casualties inflicted against these fascist troops serve as revolutionary justice long demanded by the masses who continue to fall victim to state-sponsored terrorism.

Despite their supposed millions in intelligence resources, the top honchos at the 10ID are beside themselves in rage that a series of tactical offensives have been successfully carried out by the NPA in broad daylight in Davao City. They are fuming at the mouth that the all-out war they so bullheadedly declared has completely backfired and is costing them men and means in the face of coordinated NPA offensives not only in the region but across the country.

RIGOBERTO F. SANCHEZ Spokesperson Regional Operations Command NPA-Southern Mindanao

#Philippines #NPA #Mindanao #NewPeoplesArmy #Asia

According to Jaime “Ka Diego” Padilla, spokesperson of MGC – NPA ST, “His series of statements against women even before his statement regarding our female red fighters are irresponsible sexist remarks unbecoming of a leader.”

Duterte previously stated that he will allow his soldiers to repeatedly rape women during the implementation of martial law in Mindanao.

Comrade Kathryn, a female red fighter of the MGC-NP ST, also condemned his statement, “He is a deranged president who is ignorant of women’s role in the society, further proving his incompetence in office.”

MGC-NP ST also expressed concern that more women in the countryside will be victims of sexual violence and abuses by the mercenary Armed Forces of the Philippines, Philippine National Police and other paramilitary groups in the conduct of their military operations.

Ka Diego said, “His statement gives further license to military, police and paramilitaries to conduct heinous crimes and sexual violations against militant Filipino women in the countryside in an attempt to suppress their revolutionary sentiments.”

Ka Diego explained that human rights violations and sexual abuses against women will continue under Duterte’s fascist and tyrannical rule and the rotten system in the country.

“Men and women alike should stand together to fight the atrocities of the U.S.-Duterte regime and forward their struggle to overthrow and end the fascist and tyrannical U.S.-Duterte regime,” Ka Diego concluded.

MGC-NP ST calls the Filipino people to unite and triumph the people’s democratic revolution and establish a people’s government that genuinely respects people’s social, economic and democratic rights.

#Philippines #Asia #PeoplesStruggles #NewPeoplesArmy #Duterte

According to a statement from Rigoberto F. Sanchez, spokesperson for the New People’s Army (NPA), in Southern Mindanao, Red fighters under the Mt. Apo Sub-Regional Command arrested Police Inspector Menardo Nisperos Cui, Philippine National Police (PNP), Badge No. 0-28281, on Dec. 28, 2017, in North Cotabato and subsequently declared him NPA Prisoner of War.

The Regional Operations Command of the NPA in Southern Mindanao also condemns the illegal arrests of farmers Jarold Adiaton, Jean Solis and Datu Maylan Andas, on Jan. 9.

POW Cui, age 48, is the designated Deputy Police Chief of Pres. Roxas Municipal PNP. A 9mm pistol was seized from his possession during his arrest. He is currently being investigated for his counterinsurgency activities and possible crimes against the masses and the revolutionary movement. As a legitimate exercise of belligerent political authority on behalf of the People’s Democratic Government, the NPA is tasked to arrest, detain and investigate personnel of the reactionary armed forces who are actively engaged in the armed conflict.

POW Cui, as with other previous prisoners of war, is being given political education that includes short courses on the history and problems of Philippine society and the need for people’s war while under the custody of the NPA. Under guerilla conditions, he is treated with leniency and provided with all basic needs in accordance to NPA rules of discipline, the CARHRIHL and other international conventions.

In a video released by his custodial force, POW Cui shared his experience regarding the commendable treatment of his custodial force. He also reflected on the people’s war, the need for armed struggle and why the counterinsurgency campaign Oplan Kapayapaan is bound to fail in the face of the people’s contempt of the Duterte regime and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP). POW Cui appealed to President Duterte to resume talks with the NDFP and for the AFP to suspend military operations to make way for his safe release. He also assured his family of being treated well by the New People’s Army.

The mettle of discipline that the NPA demonstrates with regards to its prisoners of war stands in stark contrast to the reactionary armed forces’ deplorable treatment of political prisoners languishing in various jails around the country. The abject conditions which these political prisoners are being made to suffer, notwithstanding the fabricated charges that supposedly led to their arrests, bear witness to the state of injustice that continues to victimize the Filipino people, especially under the fascist U.S.-Duterte regime.

The NPA in the region calls on all peace advocates and human rights defenders to join the demand for the unconditional and immediate release of the three farmers and all political prisoners in the country.

#MindanaoPH #AntiwarMovement #Philippines #PeoplesStruggles #NewPeoplesArmy #Antifascism #NPA #Asia