Despite 54 years in existence, the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) and its armed insurgents have not achieved any of their stated goals or objectives, and could only watch in frustration as government forces continue to weaken their remaining units.
This was stated by Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) spokesperson Col. Medel Aguilar as the CPP observed its 54th founding anniversary last Monday.
“Fifty-four years after it was founded, the underground movement [UGM] never achieved anything significant to get closer to its goal, violent overthrow of the government, seizure of political power, and overhaul of the political system,” he added.
And despite peaking in 1986 to 1987 with an estimated 28,000 members, the CPP’s strength and support from the masses continue to decrease.
“As the UGM struggled to establish a guerrilla front in every congressional district of the country, its leaders and members can only watch with frustration and helplessness as the government’s security operations and development programs decapitates them,” Aguilar said.
The AFP spokesperson also called claims that the CPP can still achieve its goals as “insanity.”
“To think that they can still achieve their objective is insanity. To insist and continue to exist is selfishness and insensitivity to the call of the people for unity and peace,” he added.
Aguilar said this is reflected by the fact that the UGM is left with 23 guerrilla fronts, five of which are able to implement party programs, while the remaining 18 are weak and gasping for breath.
“This gives the military the opportunity to focus its superior capability against the five, while the civil government needs only to implement programs that will address the source of peoples’ discontent to render the UGM’s AOM [agitate, organize and mobilize] activities inutile,” he added.
Also, neutralization of key CPP leaders in the past few months have noticeably caused a breakdown of communication lines between the CPP Central Committee, its subordinate organs and its armed wing, the New People’s Army.
“This is primarily due to the neutralization of many of the CPP top leaders: Julius Giron; Menandro Villanueva; Jorge Madlos; etc., the silence and long absence of their supposed Chairman now, Benito Tiamzon, and the loss of their mass bases and mass organizations,” Aguilar said.
The death of CPP founder Jose Maria “Joma” Sison last December 16 in the Netherlands has added to its leadership woes as this left them with no more “teacher and guiding light” and no sense of purpose and direction.
“To keep the organization afloat, the CPP through a digital person known as ‘Marco Valbuena’ can only come up with press releases and statement to convey the party’s directive and message to its lower organs and armed group, including its threat of tactical offensives,” the AFP spokesperson said.
He added that the UGM has not totally recovered from the pain of the internal purges in the 1980s.
“The CPP is now more likely to strengthen its hold to what remains of its fighters and followers, hence the directive to conduct tactical offensives, in order to avoid disintegration and collapse. Indeed, 54 years is more than enough. The country’s suffering must end now,” Aguilar added.