AUGUST 08, 2020
We in the National Council of the National Democratic Front of the Philippines convey our most heartfelt condolences to the wife of Ka Fidel, their children and grandchildren, his brother and sisters. We mourn with you the passing of Ka Fidel.
Ka Fidel as a very young activist helped found the Kabataang Makabayan in 1964. He also played a significant role in the First Rectification Movement criticizing the revisionist Communist Party for its fundamental ideological, political and organizational errors. This led to the reestablishment of the Communist Party of the Philippines firmly guided by Marxism, Leninism and Maoism on December 26, 1968.
Ka Fidel was one of the young leaders of the revolutionary movement who founded the National Democratic Front of the Philippines on April 23, 1972. Since then, this broad united front has grown to 18 allied revolutionary organizations, with mass organizations and organs of political power in 74 out of the total 81 provinces in the country. It has more than 110 guerrilla fronts of the New People’s Army under the leadership of the Communist Party of the Philippines.
In 1970, during the historic First Quarter Storm, Ka Fidel was not in the limelight, but he was very active doing back-up work. This FQS spread the national democratic movement to provinces throughout the country.
Ka Fidel did not have any hesitation in carrying out the most sensitive and dangerous missions for the revolutionary movement in the early 1970s. He carried out these tasks effectively.
He, however, became a prime target of the Marcos dictatorship. He was arrested together with his wife and two children in 1974. He was subjected to intense torture. He remained firm. For almost 11 years, he was the longest detainee under the Marcos dictatorship. During the long detention, he was outstanding in caring for his co-political prisoners. He was among the leaders who led strikes and other mass actions in prison.
When the Pope visited the Philippines, the political prisoners were transferred to the Bilibid, the national prison. Criminal gangs in prison threatened the political prisoners. Ka Fidel decided to call a meeting with the leaders of the criminal gangs. Looking the gang leaders straight in the eye, he told them firmly: “We know you are all armed. But we political prisoners, we have an army outside prison, the New People’s Army. If you harm any of us, you will be held accountable by the NPA.” From then on, the criminal gangs befriended Ka Fidel and the political prisoners. And later joined protest actions initiated and led by the political prisoners.
After Ka Fidel was released, he bravely took over the leadership of Partido ng Bayan, after its Chairperson, Rolando Olalia and his driver, Leonor Alay-ay, were brutally murdered by military officers. These officers also threatened the new Corazon Aquino administration.
When the threats to his security increased, the revolutionary movement decided he should go to Europe. He got employment with an anti-imperialist NGO in Spain. From there, Ka Fidel helped in arranging peace negotiations with the Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP).
After the foundation and framework agreement of the peace negotiations, The Hague Joint Declaration was signed in September 1992, Ka Fidel joined the NDFP Negotiating Panel. He became the Chairperson of the NDFP Reciprocal Working Committee on Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law.
Ka Fidel spent many long nights, drafting the section on violations of Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law. He made sure the violations listed were the concrete experience of the Filipino people. He wanted to make sure that the Comprehensive Agreement on Respect for Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law (CARHRIHL) would be meaningful to the people. The CARHRIHL, the first substantive agreement of the NDFP-GRP peace negotiations was signed in 1998.
While abroad in Europe, Ka Fidel did much effective work in developing relations with numerous anti-imperialist political parties, organizations and key individuals. He was well appreciated for the concrete help he arranged for them. He thereby strengthened the solidarity for the revolutionary struggle of the Filipino people.
While staying in Utrecht, he welcomed visitors from the Philippines and other countries. He helped take care of their needs. He explained the situation in the Philippines and the stand of the NDFP.
In October 2016, Ka Fidel took over as Chairperson of the NDFP Negotiating Panel from Ka Louie Jalandoni. He made sure that the GRP Negotiating Panel agree to respect the basic peace agreements, The Hague Joint Declaration, the Joint Agreement on Safety and Immunity Guarantees, the Reciprocal Working Committee Agreement, and the CARHRIHL. He was particularly insistent on the release of all political prisoners.
As Chairperson of the NDFP Negotiating Panel, Ka Fidel was very firm on principles yet flexible on matters of policy. During the breaks, he related well with his counterparts in the GRP Negotiating Panel, such as GRP Chairperson Secretary Silvestre Bello and Vice Chair Hernani Braganza. He won their respect, friendship and goodwill. The same for the Royal Norwegian facilitators.
Ka Fidel was a highly effective peacemaker. He never tired of pursuing a just and lasting peace for the Filipino people.
The National Democratic Front of the Philippines, all its 18 allied revolutionary organizations, and the National Council, render the highest honors to Ka Fidel V. Agcaoili for his almost sixty years of unflinching service to the Filipino people.
We convey our most heartfelt gratitude to his wife, children, grandchildren and the rest of his family, for this most precious gift to the Filipino people, Ka Fidel, undying hero of the Filipino people!
Long live Ka Fidel V. Agcaoili! May his noble memory and heroic legacy be a lasting inspiration to the Filipino people in their struggle for national and social liberation and for a just and lasting peace.
https://cpp.ph/statement/ndfp-national-council-renders-highest-honors-to-ka-fidel-v-agcaoili/
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