Catanduanes Forum

What makes the Marxist-Leninist-Maoist credo still significant to the leaders of the Communist Party-New People’s Army-National Democratic Front? Do they really intend to achieve Karl Marx’s vision of a classless society or are they just using communist rhetoric (which has long been abandoned and consigned to the dustbin of history) to justify their criminal activities like extortion through its “revolutionary tax,” “permit to campaign” (PTC) and “permit to win” (PTW)?

Ironically, hard-line members of the local communist insurgency do not even admit that they are communists. Yet, they continue to use the communist credo to arouse, organize and mobilize would-be members. This they do through deceit. They attack the ills of society, yet they themselves propagate the vicious cycle of injustice, poverty and corruption by unilaterally imposing unlawful schemes like their PTCs and PTWs. And this they do with impunity, coercion and violence. Greed for money and power is what motivates the leaders of the communist insurgency. This is what makes the Marxist-Leninist-Maoist credo still significant to their leaders. And this is what members and supporters of the CPP-NPA-NDF are compelled not to believe.

The CPP-NPA-NDF will dismiss this claim as mere propaganda. Facts and actual events, however, don’t lie. A former political instructor who used to operate in Central Luzon turned her back against the communist movement after discovering that her superiors were just using the organization’s money (apparently extorted from hapless owners of local businesses) for their personal enjoyment. Leoncio Pitao (alias Parago), a communist leader in Compostela Valley, became notorious for enriching himself through a similar scheme. Iglecerio Pernia (alias Ka Choy), a CPP-NPA-NDF finance officer in Bicol region, was caught cockfighting in Bulacan with around P4 million (apparently extorted from community cooperatives and farmers’ organizations) in his possession. Gregorio Rosal (alias Ka Roger) was able to send his children to an exclusive school in Laguna using resources of the communist movement, again collected through extortion activities in Quezon province. Jose Maria Sison (alias Joma), the founding chair of the CPP-NPA-NDF, continues to live in luxury while in exile.

The CPP-NPA-NDF intends to perpetuate its greed for money and power and to realize its quest to replace our democratic way of life. Its leaders’ continued refusal to renounce deceit, coercion and violence attests to their vile objectives. This is the dark reality about the CPP-NPA-NDF which should not only be made to speak for itself. Let it serve as a wake-up call to all stakeholders of democracy. Rest assured that the Armed Forces of the Philippines is one with the Filipino people’s aspirations for a just and peaceful society. Let us all be mindful that the task of keeping the flame of democracy burning is a shared responsibility.

—COL. DANIEL A LUCERO,
assistant chief of staff
for civil-military operations,
Philippine Army

Source : Philippine Daily Inquirer